PROFESSIONAL
AND ETHICAL
RESPONSIBILITIES
WHAT IS PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY?
Professional responsibility is a set of duties within the concept of
professional ethics for those who exercise a unique set of knowledge and
skill as professionals
Professional responsibility applies to those
professionals making judgments, applying their
unique skills, and reaching informed decisions for, or
on behalf, of others, as professionals. Professionals
must be seen to exercise due care and responsibility in
their areas of specialisation – known as professions.
THE IMPACT OF UNETHICAL DECISIONS IN
COMPUTER ENGINEERING
Unethical decisions in computer engineering can
have far-reaching consequences, impacting both
individuals and society as a whole.
Engineers play a crucial role in developing
technologies that people use daily, from software
applications to security systems.
When ethics are compromised in these processes,
the consequences can be disastrous.
EXAMPLES OF UNETHICAL DECISIONS
LEADING TO NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES
One well-known example is the Volkswagen emissions scandal.
Engineers designed software to cheat emissions tests, leading to
significant environmental damage.
Another instance is data privacy violations, such as the Facebook-
Cambridge Analytica scandal. In this case, unethical handling of
personal data compromised the privacy of millions.
The Equifax data breach, caused by negligence in patching known
vulnerabilities, exposed sensitive information of 147 million people.
CODE OF ETHICS OF COMPUTER ENGINEERING
Data Privacy and Protection - Collecting and storing data ethically
requires transparency and consent. User privacy is fundamental to
maintaining trust in technology.
Intellectual Property Rights - Intellectual property
rights protect creators’ work, ensuring that their
efforts are recognized and compensated.
Plagiarism in computer engineering involves
using someone else’s code, design, or ideas without
giving proper credit.
Bias and discrimination in algorithms - Computer
engineers must ensure that AI systems are built
on fair and unbiased datasets to avoid discrimination.
CODE OF ETHICS OF COMPUTER ENGINEERING
Accountability and responsibility - Computer engineers hold
significant responsibility because their work influences numerous
industries and communities. Engineers must own the outcomes of
their projects, whether successful or flawed.
Ethical Decision - Engineers consider both the
positive and negative consequences of their
actions and aim to choose the option that
maximizes benefits while minimizing harm.
Effective ethical decision-making requires
careful consideration of consequences.
ETHICS FOR IT
WORKERS AND IT
USERS
Navigating Responsibilities in the Digital Age
As we, the society, ventures more into the digital and technological
world, it is not a surprise that IT workers and users are becoming more
integral to our day-to-day life as they play a critical role in our use of
technology.
Their ethics plays an important role as it reflects how they make
decisions and the application of responsible behavior in their work as
their actions have impact not only on individuals but also the world at
large.
With that, it is important for them as IT professionals and users to
put Ethics in IT in practice.
Ethics for IT Workers and IT Users
Understanding Ethics in IT
Ethics in IT is about how IT workers and users will
be handling the technology, data and digital
systems.
It involves respecting privacy, upholding
security, ensuring fairness and transparency while
using and developing technology.
Not complying may cause unsolicited access of
data which leads to losing trust, financial loss and
possible harm to users and organizations
Ethics for IT Workers and IT Users
Ethical Responsibilities of IT Workers
Key Ethical Responsibilities for IT
professionals:
Privacy and Data Protection
Security
Integrity and Honesty
Accountability
Intellectual Property Respect
Ethics for IT Workers and IT Users
Ethical Responsibilities of IT Users
Key Ethical Responsibilities for IT
users:
Respect for Privacy
Compliance with Laws and Policies
Avoiding Malicious Behavior
Informed Consent
Ethical Use of Information
Ethics for IT Workers and IT Users
Challenges and Dilemmas in IT Ethics
Common Ethical challenges in IT:
Balancing Privacy and Security
AI and Automation Ethics
Digital Divide
Big Data and Analytics
Ethics for IT Workers and IT Users
Best Practices for Upholding Ethics in IT
Ethics Training and Awareness
Clear Ethical Guidelines
Transparency
Collaborative Responsibility
