A Gift of Fire Social Legal and Ethical Issues for Computing Technology

1. Introduction to Ethical Issues in Computing

Q: What is ethics in computing?
A: Ethics in computing refers to the study of moral principles and decision-making in the use of technology.
Q: What is a key theme of A Gift of Fire?
A: The balance between technological benefits and the ethical, social, and legal challenges it creates.
Q: What is the difference between deontological and utilitarian ethics?
A: Deontological ethics focus on duties and rules, while utilitarian ethics prioritize outcomes and consequences.
Q: What does “responsible use of technology” mean?
A: Using technology in ways that respect ethical standards, laws, and societal values.
Q: Why is critical thinking important in technology ethics?
A: It helps analyze complex situations, weigh ethical considerations, and make informed decisions.

2. Privacy and Surveillance

Q: What is the “right to privacy”?
A: The right to control personal information and protect it from unauthorized access.
Q: What is data mining?
A: The process of analyzing large datasets to discover patterns, often raising privacy concerns.
Q: What are cookies in web browsing?
A: Small files stored on a user’s computer by websites to track online activity.
Q: What is the impact of government surveillance on privacy?
A: It can enhance security but may infringe on individual freedoms and civil liberties.
Q: What is GDPR?
A: The General Data Protection Regulation, a European Union law protecting user data.

3. Freedom of Speech and Content Regulation

Q: What is freedom of speech in the digital age?
A: The right to express opinions online without undue censorship or interference.
Q: What is net neutrality?
A: The principle that all internet traffic should be treated equally, without discrimination.
Q: What is content moderation?
A: The process of monitoring and managing online content to enforce platform rules.
Q: How do hate speech laws vary globally?
A: Some countries strictly regulate hate speech, while others prioritize free expression.
Q: What is the ethical dilemma of censorship?
A: Balancing the protection from harmful content with the preservation of free speech.

4. Intellectual Property

Q: What is intellectual property (IP)?
A: Creations of the mind, like inventions, literary works, and software, protected by law.
Q: What is copyright?
A: Legal protection for creators of original works, preventing unauthorized use.
Q: What are software licenses?
A: Agreements that specify how software can be used, shared, or modified.
Q: What is the difference between open-source and proprietary software?
A: Open-source software is freely available and modifiable, while proprietary software is restricted.
Q: What is plagiarism in the context of computing?
A: Copying code, content, or ideas without proper attribution.

5. Security and Cybercrime

Q: What is cybersecurity?
A: The practice of protecting systems, networks, and data from digital attacks.
Q: What are phishing attacks?
A: Fraudulent attempts to steal sensitive information by pretending to be a trustworthy entity.
Q: What is ransomware?
A: Malware that encrypts a victim’s data and demands payment for its release.
Q: What is ethical hacking?
A: The authorized practice of identifying and fixing security vulnerabilities.
Q: What are the ethical concerns of surveillance technology?
A: It can invade privacy and be misused for oppressive purposes.

6. The Impact of Computing on Work

Q: What is telecommuting?
A: Working remotely using digital communication tools.
Q: How has automation affected employment?
A: It increases efficiency but can lead to job displacement.
Q: What is the digital divide?
A: The gap between those with access to technology and those without.
Q: What are gig economy platforms?
A: Platforms like Uber and TaskRabbit that connect freelancers with clients.
Q: What is the ethical concern of worker monitoring software?
A: Balancing productivity tracking with employee privacy.

7. Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies

Q: What is artificial intelligence (AI)?
A: Technology that simulates human intelligence, including decision-making and learning.
Q: What is machine learning?
A: A subset of AI where algorithms improve through data exposure.
Q: What is the ethical concern of biased AI?
A: Algorithms may reinforce societal biases present in training data.
Q: What is the Turing Test?
A: A measure of a machine’s ability to exhibit human-like intelligence.
Q: What are the ethical issues of autonomous weapons?
A: Questions about accountability and the morality of delegating life-or-death decisions to machines.

8. Computing and Society

Q: What is digital addiction?
A: Over-reliance on technology, leading to negative impacts on mental health.
Q: How does social media influence public opinion?
A: It can amplify voices but also spread misinformation.
Q: What is online harassment?
A: Abuse or bullying that occurs through digital communication platforms.
Q: What is the impact of video games on behavior?
A: Debate exists on whether they encourage aggression or provide stress relief.
Q: What is crowd-sourced activism?
A: Using online platforms to organize and promote social movements.

9. Ethical Challenges in Computing

Q: What is whistleblowing in tech?
A: Reporting unethical or illegal activities within an organization.
Q: What is the ethical responsibility of software developers?
A: Ensuring that their creations do not harm users or society.
Q: What are the consequences of poor data ethics?
A: Breaches of trust, financial loss, and legal repercussions.
Q: What is the ethical dilemma of autonomous vehicles?
A: Balancing safety, decision-making in accidents, and liability.
Q: What is predictive policing?
A: Using algorithms to forecast crimes, raising issues of fairness and bias.

10. Professional Ethics and Responsibilities

Q: What is the ACM Code of Ethics?
A: A set of guidelines by the Association for Computing Machinery to promote ethical behavior among computing professionals.
Q: What is the IEEE Code of Ethics?
A: Ethical principles established by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers to guide professional conduct.
Q: What does “duty to report” mean in tech professions?
A: The ethical responsibility to disclose unethical or harmful practices within an organization.
Q: What is the importance of whistleblower protections?
A: They safeguard individuals who expose unethical or illegal activities from retaliation.
Q: Why are professional certifications in technology important?
A: They validate expertise and adherence to industry standards.

11. Environmental Impact of Computing

Q: What is e-waste?
A: Discarded electronic devices that pose environmental and health hazards.
Q: How does computing contribute to energy consumption?
A: Data centers and devices require significant energy, contributing to carbon emissions.
Q: What is green computing?
A: Designing and using computing resources efficiently to reduce environmental impact.
Q: What are the ethical implications of rare earth mining for technology?
A: Mining harms the environment and raises concerns about labor exploitation.
Q: How can technology help combat climate change?
A: Through innovations like smart grids, renewable energy management, and environmental monitoring.

12. Social Media and Online Behavior

Q: What is the ethical concern with social media algorithms?
A: They can prioritize sensationalism or misinformation for engagement.
Q: What is cyberbullying?
A: Online harassment or abuse targeting individuals or groups.
Q: What are echo chambers?
A: Environments where individuals are exposed only to opinions that reinforce their beliefs.
Q: How do bots affect social media discourse?
A: They can manipulate conversations, spread misinformation, and amplify polarization.
Q: What is the role of digital literacy in responsible social media use?
A: It helps users critically evaluate content and avoid falling for misinformation.

13. Globalization and Cultural Impacts of Computing

Q: How has globalization influenced computing?
A: It has connected people worldwide but raised challenges like digital inequality.
Q: What is cultural homogenization in technology?
A: The dominance of certain cultural norms and values through widespread technology use.
Q: What is the digital divide?
A: The gap between those with access to digital technology and those without.
Q: How do international laws affect tech companies?
A: Companies must navigate varying regulations across countries, such as GDPR compliance.
Q: What is ethical relativism in global tech use?
A: The idea that ethical standards may vary across different cultures and contexts.

14. Autonomous Systems and Robotics

Q: What are autonomous systems?
A: Technologies that operate without human intervention, like self-driving cars.
Q: What are ethical concerns with drones?
A: Privacy violations, misuse in warfare, and public safety risks.
Q: How do robots challenge employment ethics?
A: They may displace human workers while creating efficiency and cost savings.
Q: What is the ethical dilemma of lethal autonomous weapons?
A: Delegating life-or-death decisions to machines.
Q: What is robot ethics?
A: A field studying moral issues related to designing and using robots.

15. Ethical Issues in Data Analytics

Q: What is data ethics?
A: The responsible collection, analysis, and use of data respecting privacy and rights.
Q: What is predictive analytics?
A: Using data to forecast future trends or behaviors, which can raise fairness concerns.
Q: What is anonymization in data?
A: Removing personal identifiers to protect user privacy.
Q: What is algorithmic bias?
A: Systematic errors in algorithms that disadvantage certain groups.
Q: What are the ethical issues with facial recognition technology?
A: Potential for racial bias, privacy violations, and misuse by authorities.

16. Education and Computing Technology

Q: What is e-learning?
A: Education conducted via electronic media, often online.
Q: How has computing changed education?
A: By enabling remote learning, personalized instruction, and access to global resources.
Q: What is the digital literacy gap?
A: Differences in individuals’ ability to use digital technologies effectively.
Q: What is the ethical concern with proctoring software?
A: Potential invasions of student privacy.
Q: How can technology address educational inequality?
A: Through initiatives like free online courses and affordable devices.

17. Health and Biotechnology

Q: What is telemedicine?
A: Providing healthcare services remotely using digital technology.
Q: What are the ethical concerns of genetic data collection?
A: Privacy, consent, and potential misuse by insurers or employers.
Q: What is the role of AI in healthcare?
A: AI assists in diagnosis, treatment recommendations, and personalized medicine.
Q: What is biohacking?
A: Experimenting with biology using technology, raising safety and ethical questions.
Q: What are wearable health devices?
A: Gadgets that track health metrics like heart rate and sleep, raising data privacy concerns.

18. Future Challenges in Computing

Q: What is quantum computing?
A: A technology that uses quantum mechanics to perform complex computations.
Q: What is transhumanism?
A: Enhancing human capabilities through technology, raising ethical concerns.
Q: What is the ethical concern with brain-computer interfaces?
A: Risks to mental privacy and potential misuse for control or surveillance.
Q: How will automation affect society in the future?
A: It may increase productivity but also exacerbate inequality.
Q: What is the ethical dilemma of digital immortality?
A: Questions about identity and rights for consciousness uploaded to digital systems.

19. Case Studies in Computing Ethics

Q: What was the Cambridge Analytica scandal?
A: Misuse of Facebook user data for political campaigns.
Q: What are the lessons from the Therac-25 incident?
A: The importance of rigorous software testing in critical systems.
Q: What is the significance of the Snowden revelations?
A: Highlighted global surveillance practices and privacy concerns.
Q: What was the ethical issue with Volkswagen’s emissions scandal?
A: Use of software to cheat environmental tests.
Q: What is the Stuxnet worm?
A: A cyber-weapon used to disrupt Iran’s nuclear program, raising questions about digital warfare.

20. General Reflections

Q: Why is ethical decision-making important in computing?
A: To ensure technology benefits society while minimizing harm.
Q: How can ethical guidelines improve tech development?
A: By fostering trust, accountability, and fairness in innovations.
Q: What is the role of education in computing ethics?
A: To prepare professionals for making responsible decisions in complex situations.
Q: What is the future of computing ethics?
A: Adapting to emerging technologies and their societal impacts.
Q: Why is A Gift of Fire relevant today?
A: It addresses timeless and evolving ethical issues in computing technology.