Computer Ethics

Tavani Chaps 6, 7.2

Ethical Significance of the Internet

 

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1. What is the ethical significance of the Internet? Global Scope Anonymity/Pseudonymity Reproducibility What are the benefits and drawbacks of each of these? 2. The challenge is to maximize the potential of the Internet while at the same time limiting the potential for abuse. 3. How do we do this? What are some of the issues associated with regulating cyberspace? How does it affect the legitimate user?

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Hackers and Crackers

 

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Who are the hackers?

http://www.ted.com/playlists/10/who_are_the_hackers.html What is the justification for their attacks? Spafford Article: 1. How does Spafford use the quote,"it isn't how you win or lose, it's how you play the game" to dicuss what we really need to look at when deciding what is ethical? 2. List the 5 main arguments that hackers have used to justify their actions that Spafford lists and refutes in his article.  3. Do you agree with Spafford's argument that break-ins are never justifiable? OR Do you think that there are certain cases that can call for such security breaches; if so, what would be an example in your opinion other than one given by Spafford. What is the new hacker ethic for the90's?  How has it changed: According to Steven Mizrach in "Is there a Hacker ethic for 90's Hackers?" published in 1997, there have been some changes:

· Do no harm

· Protect privacy

· Waste not, want not

· Exceed limitations

· Communicate

· Leave no traces

· Share

· Fight cyber-tyranny

· Trust but test

What seems to be the emphasis here?  Is it different from the previous values espoused by Stallman early on?

Robert Morris Case

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Hactivism: 

· Civil disobedience in cyberspace

· Political Activism (electronic)

· Someone with a particular agenda (personal or political)

· p. 188 Tavani  The form of the argument is true but the premises are controversial

· p. 189  How can an act qualify as civilly disobedient?

. No damage to persons or property

. Non violent

. Not for personal profit

. Ethical motivation -- law is  unjust or unfair to the common good

. Willingness to accept personal responsibility for the outcome of actions

· Scenario 6-3  p. 189   Was this a hactivist attack or a cyber terrorist attack?

Cyberterrorism (according to Dorothy Denning 2007)

· Activities intended to cause great harm: loss of life, economic damage

· Performed by non state actors

· How do we distinguish acts: cyberterrorism or hacktivism?

· Can they be ethically justified?  Who gets hurt? Collatoral damage?  Give examples

· Ethical scenarios  p. 198