Computing, Ethical Issues in

Computer ethics deals with new ethical issues that distinctly arise out of the use of computer technology. This focus excludes, for instance, the ethical assessment of embezzlement even if carried out with the aid of a computer, since the discussion of computer-based embezzlement hardly differs from traditional discussions of theft. In contrast, an assessment of computer hacking raises some distinctive issues. Although hacking initially resembles a traditional act of misappropriation, it also raises special issues in computer ethics dealing with how one assesses the level of responsibility that lies with the supposed victims that [Page 391]permitted some amount of open access to their computers. That is to say that the open environment for Web-based file sharing has created a context where is it not clear ...