| The focus of Ethics and the Internet (E&I) are on | | | | predictions are anything to go by, the pace of |
| us rather than on the technology itself. At great | | | | change will only increase. Ethical and moral issues |
| human and economic cost, resources drawn from | | | | in computer ethics and are among the most vital |
| governments, industry and the academic | | | | social aspects of information technology. But, |
| communities have been assembled into a | | | | there are currently two major problems in the |
| collection of interconnected networks called the | | | | area. First, inconsistent moral behavior, leading to |
| Internet. Begun as a vehicle for experimental | | | | immoral acts such as virus creation and capital |
| network research in the mid-1970's, the Internet | | | | theft and second, lack of awareness concerning |
| has become an important national infrastructure | | | | information technology security and IT-related |
| supporting an increasingly widespread, | | | | crimes. Not even IT experts have an adequate |
| multi-disciplinary community of researchers | | | | knowledge of computer ethics, though there is |
| ranging, from computer scientists and electrical | | | | every indication that ethics should be a part of |
| engineers, to mathematicians, medical researchers, | | | | their professional baggage. As for the |
| astronomers and space scientists.As is true of | | | | development of ethical skills, it is not just a |
| other common infrastructures (e.g., roads, water | | | | matter of education; rather, it is an on-going |
| reservoirs and delivery systems, and the power | | | | process that every professional should be aware |
| generation and distribution network), there is | | | | of.Educational institutions play an important role in |
| widespread dependence on the Internet by its | | | | this respect. In addition to imparting technical |
| users for the support of day-to-day activities. | | | | knowledge, they should also teach computer |
| The reliable operation of the Internet, and the | | | | ethics. Educational issues and ethical awareness |
| responsible use of its resources, is of common | | | | are important as they provide the motivation for |
| interest and concern for its users, operators and | | | | complying with learned ethical principles. Ethical |
| sponsors. Network infrastructures underscore the | | | | decision-making formulas and applicable theories |
| need to reiterate the professional responsibility | | | | are helpful for sharing information about the |
| every Internet user bears to colleagues and to | | | | application of ethics. This information can then be |
| the sponsors of the system. Abuse of the | | | | disseminated by educational institutions. |
| system thus, becomes a matter above and | | | | Professionals must have the capability to make |
| beyond simple professional ethics.Information | | | | broad-minded, objective ethical decisions based on |
| means power. This old maxim has become more | | | | know-how. They also have to do their level best |
| and more pertinent in our modern information | | | | to create a working environment and atmosphere |
| society. The development of information | | | | where ethical dilemmas can be discussed openly, |
| technology has been dashing and, if future | | | | objectively and constructively. |