Ethical Decisions, particularly after Sept' 11, 2001

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Ethical Decisions, particularly afterSept. 11,
2001

• Marsha Woodbury, Ph.D.
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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What a difference a day makes
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Terrorism

• "The single common denominator is that it is a
  psychological weapon, intended to erode trust and
  undermine confidence in our government, its
  elected officials, institutions or policies."
• A "photo op" attack is what a terrorist prefers,
  not the unseen cyber terrorism that we also worry
  about. The sympathizers who don't train at camps
  can do major damage online.

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• Ethics is the study of rational decision making
  toward just action
• (Doing what we ought to do in situations where we
  have time to think!)
• We may not be as rational
• as we once thought we were.

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Maslows Hierarchy of Needs

• Needs for Self-Actualization

• Needs for Esteem

• Needs of Love, Affection
• and Belongingness

• Safety Needs

• Physiological Needs

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Maslows PyramidWe dropped a notch

• A need is no longer a motivator when it is
  satisfied. Needs are motivators when they are not
  met.
• After a terrorist attack, in countries with
  strong rights traditions, many people feel that
  they are at level two, even if they are not near
  that level.

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Journalism Ethics
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Journalism Ethics

• Bodies falling photos
• Self-censorship out of "patriotism" (or was it
  fear of economic backlash?Bill Maher)
• WMD
• Repeating what those in authority saywithout
  question

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Business Ethics

• Profiting off stocks rising and falling after a
  disaster
• Laying off large numbers of workers while drawing
  huge CEO salaries
• Selling guns to developing countries
• Nike sweat shops, etc.

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Computer Ethics

• Big choices right now!
• Will your skills be used to end terrorism, secure
  privacy, harass the poor, advance a police state,
  or what?

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Along with the power to change the world comes
the duty to execute that power responsibly
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Ethics lt gt Rules or Laws
Ethics
Laws
Death Penalty?
Taking away human rights
Vietnam?
Marijuana?
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About Ethics

• The point is to be somewhat logical, to justify
  your actions following moral principles
• The struggle is the important partgoing through
  the thinking process
• Guidance from Codes of Ethics (particularly on
  the social consequences of the program that you
  are writing)

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Before a terrorist attack

• We weigh our obligations
• to society (a hard-sell)
• to our families
• to our employer (another hard-sell)
• to our clients
• to our colleagues
• to our students

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After an attack

• We weigh our obligations
• to our country (patriotism)
• to our families
• to our employer
• to our clients
• to our colleagues
• to our students

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Key Issues in Computer and Information Ethics
before Sept. 11

• Privacy (would not link databases)
• Ownership
• Security (the WTC backups showed responsible use)
• Access (the web was a helpful tool for
  communications)
• Authenticity

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Worth rememberingfrom the ALA

• "freedom is not some arbitrary right that is
  bestowed upon us because of the virtuous nature
  of our national character. It is a right we must
  protect and defend in both times of promise and
  peril if we are to remain in the future what we
  are in the present -- a free and honorable
  people."
• --Abraham Lincoln

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In summary

• Ethics implies rational decision-making
• After terrorist attacks, we react differently,
  not as rationally
• Thus, there is a real threat that our decisions
  will hurt our own interest

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Any questions?

• Please email me at marsha_at_uiuc.edu