DAT21502: Information Technology

Professional Ethics

CHAPTER 1
Introduction to Professionalism and
Ethics in Computing
Slides by Rosfuzah Roslan
 LEARNING OUTCOME

• Upon completion of this course, students should

be able to:

distinguish between the various ethical theories and

code of ethics which can be used to form the basis of
ethical computing.

Slides by Rosfuzah Roslan

 PROFESSIONALISM AND
ETHICS
• Ethics :
• Derived from the Greek word “ethos”, which means
“custom”, “habit”, and “way of living”

• Ethics is concerned with human conduct, i.e., behavior of

individuals in society

• Ethics is a system of morals of a particular person, religion

or a group

• In general, ethics is a moral philosophy where a person

makes a specific moral choice and sticks to it.

• On the other hand, ethics in computing means moral

guidelines to refer to when using the computer and
computer networks. This includes the Internet.
Slides by Rosfuzah Roslan
 PROFESSIONALISM AND
ETHICS
• Professionalism

• Doing things right and doing the right things

• Professionalism is an aspirational standard, the

essential elements of which are:
 Competence - Kecekapan
 Personal integrity - Integriti merujuk kepada sifat jujur dan
telus dalam menjaga nama baik daripada melakukan sebarang
bentuk penyelewengan.

 Personal responsibility and accountability

Slides by Rosfuzah Roslan

 PROFESSIONALISM AND
ETHICS
• Law :
• Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are
enforced through social institutions to govern behavior

• Law is a legal system comprising of rules and principles

that govern the affairs of a community and controlled by
a political authority. Law differs from one country to
another.

• Computer law refers to all areas in law that requires an

understanding of computer technology such as
hardware, software and Internet.

• E.g: Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Act, the

Computer Crime Act 1997

Slides by Rosfuzah Roslan

 PROFESSIONALISM AND
ETHICS
Ethics: concepts of right and wrong; moral principles
guiding behavior.

Professionalism: conduct or qualities, marking a

professional person.

• Why do we need ethics & law in computing?

• Ethics and law are needed in computing to:

 Respect Ownership
 Respect Privacy & Confidentiality
 Respect Property

Slides by Rosfuzah Roslan

 PROFESSIONALISM AND
ETHICS
• Respect Ownership

• We must respect ownership by not stealing

other people’s work either by duplicating or
distributing it.

• Duplicating and distributing copies of audio,

video and computer programs without
permission and authorization from the
individual or company that created the
program are ‘immoral’ and ‘illegal’.

Slides by Rosfuzah Roslan

 PROFESSIONALISM AND
ETHICS
• Respect Privacy & Confidentiality

• We should respect other people's privacy and

confidentiality by refraining ourselves from
reading their mails or files without their
permission. If we do so, it is considered as
violating an individual’s rights to privacy and
confidentiality.

Slides by Rosfuzah Roslan

 PROFESSIONALISM AND
ETHICS
• Respect Property

• Property here means ownership. Since an

individual data and information are
considered as property, therefore, an act of
tampering and changing electronic
information is considered as vandalism and
disrespect for other people’s property.

Slides by Rosfuzah Roslan

 PROFESSIONALISM AND
ETHICS
• Differences between ethics & laws in computing
ETHICS LAWS

Guideline: As a guideline to computer users. Control: As a rule to control computer

users.
Moral Standards: Ethical behaviour is Judicial Standards: Law is judged by judicial
judged by moral standards. standards.
Free To Follow: Computer users are free to Must Follow: Computer users must follow
follow or ignore the code of ethics. the regulations and law.
No Punishments: No punishment for Punishments: Penalties, imprisonments and
anyone who violates ethics. other punishments for those who break the
law.
Universals: Universal, can be applied Depends On Country: Depends on country
anywhere, all over the world and state where the crime is committed.
Produce Ethical Computer Users: To Prevent Misusing Of Computers: To prevent
produce ethical computer users. misuse of computers.
Immoral: Not honouring computer ethics Crime: Not honouring the law means
means ignoring the moral elements committing a crime.
(immoral).
Slides by Rosfuzah Roslan
 PROFESSIONALISM AND
ETHICS
• What is professional ethics, engineering ethics and
computer ethics?

• Professional ethics
• Professional ethics encompass the personal,
organizational and corporate standards of behaviour
expected of professionals

Slides by Rosfuzah Roslan

 PROFESSIONALISM AND
ETHICS
• Engineering ethics
• Engineering ethics is the field of applied ethics and
system of moral principles that apply to the practice
of engineering.
• The field examines and sets the obligations by
engineers to society, to their clients, and to the
profession.

• Computer ethics
• Computer Ethics is a part of practical philosophy
which deals with how computing professionals
should make decisions regarding professional and
social conduct

Slides by Rosfuzah Roslan

 PROFESSIONALISM AND
ETHICS
• How ethics, professionalism and law be related?

• to guide user from misusing computers

• to create a healthy computer society, so that
computers are used to contribute to a better
life
• to prevent any crime

Slides by Rosfuzah Roslan

 COMPUTER ETHICS

• Computer Ethics is an application of classical ethical

principles to the use of computer technology

• Computer ethics as a unique kind of ethics;

• are characterized by the primary and essential
involvement of computer technology,
• exploit some unique property of that technology,
and
• would not have arisen without the essential
involvement of computing technology

Slides by Rosfuzah Roslan

 Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics
1. Thou shalt not use a computer to harm other people.
2. Thou shalt not interfere with other people's computer work.
3. Thou shalt not snoop around in other people's computer files.
4. Thou shalt not use a computer to steal.
5. Thou shalt not use a computer to bear false witness.
6. Thou shalt not copy or use proprietary software for which you have
not paid.
7. Thou shalt not use other people's computer resources without
authorization or proper compensation.
8. Thou shalt not use other people's intellectual output.
9. Thou shalt think about the social consequences of the program you
are writing or the system you are designing.
10. Thou shalt always use a computer in ways that ensure
consideration and respect for your fellow humans. Slides by Rosfuzah Roslan
 Computing Ethics and Guidelines - Example

i. Respect privacy of other users and do not share your

account with others
ii. Respect appropriate laws and copyrights
iii. Obey established guidelines for any network or system
used
iv. Do not use computer resources for unauthorized purpose
v. Do not use computer resources for commercial endeavors
vi. Do not use computer resources in ways detrimental to
normal operation

Slides by Rosfuzah Roslan

 IMPORTANCE OF COMPUTER ETHICS

✔ Prevents Misuse of Personal Information

Most of us find it more convenient to shop online. On the

contrary, if you have read their privacy policies and know that
they abide by the cyber laws and computer ethics, you know
for a fact that your personal information will not be misused.

✔ Prevents Theft of Intellectual Property

What is intellectual property?

The property created by the mind includes works of various
researchers, writers, song artists and so on. Without the
presence of computer ethics, easily copied and plagiarized
by someone else. Slides by Rosfuzah Roslan
 IMPORTANCE OF COMPUTER ETHICS

✔Keeps you from being Unethical!

A school had to pay almost $5 million as fine for using pirated

software, it was later that they realized that getting a license
would have been much more economical.

✔ Makes Your Computer a Better and Safe Place to be at

If you get involved in downloading information or accessing

portals that you are not allowed to, you are opening the doors
of various issues and threats like viruses and Trojans that can
illegally enter your system and crash it completely!

Slides by Rosfuzah Roslan

Slides by Rosfuzah Roslan
 Services-Learning Malaysia–
University for Society (SULAM)
Services-Learning Malaysia–University for Society (SULAM)
ialah satu program yang menggabungkan objektif
pembelajaran dan khidmat komuniti bagi memupuk
hubungan kerjasama antara institusi pendidikan dan sesebuah
komuniti.

Antara contoh program-program yang telah dijalankan oleh

JTM, PPD ialah;
 https://ppd.uthm.edu.my/berita/432-ceds-anjur-sulam-digi
tal-entrepreneurship-workshop-bersama-smk-bukit-gambir
https://ppd.uthm.edu.my/berita/431-lukisan-karakter-anim
asi-sebagai-medium-kerjasama-komuniti
Slides by Rosfuzah Roslan
 Services-Learning Malaysia–
University for Society (SULAM)
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BPBsRhZYf0
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHufNxWQtv8
 https://news.uthm.edu.my/ms/2023/06/program-sulam-sha
ping-the-livable-nature-galak-masyarakat-manfaatkan-sisa-sa
mbil-jana-pendapatan/

Slides by Rosfuzah Roslan

 SULAM + Course Assessment

Assessment CLO % Week

1 Test (Objective Questions - Online) 1 10 5

2 Assignment (1 Poster Infographic size A2, A4

size infographic poster + SULAM activity plan)
2 15 7

3 Project Report 1 5 11

4 Project Development (SULAM Video -

Computer Ethics Awareness & Reflection)
2 20 8

5 Presentation 1,2,3 10 10

Slides by Rosfuzah Roslan

 Services-Learning Malaysia–
University for Society (SULAM)
Cadangan Pelaksanaan
Pelaksana di site:
 1 orang wakil dari setiap kumpulan = Total 35/36 orang
Persiapan bahan/kandungan & peralatan
 Ahli lain dalam kumpulan
Pra-Implementasi:
 Pembentangan atau simulasi pelaksanaan dilakukan terlebih dahulu
di hadapan saya sebelum sesi implementasi di lokasi sebenar (site)
Lokasi:
 Sekolah Kebangsaan Kota Raja, Panchor
 Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (T) Ladang Lanadron, Panchor
Slides by Rosfuzah Roslan