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