Modern society is permeated with computers, and the software that controls them can have latent, long-term, and immediate effects that reach far beyond the actual users of these systems. This places researchers in Computer Science and Software Engineering in a critical position of influence and responsibility, more than any other field because computer systems are vital research tools for other disciplines. This essay presents several key ethical concerns and responsibilities relating to research in computing. The goal is to promote awareness and discussion of ethical issues among computer science researchers. A hypothetical case study is provided, along with questions for reflection and discussion.
Computers and the software that makes them work have penetrated into nearly every niche of modern life. Manufacturing, transportation, communications, medical care, financial, and government systems, among others, are highly dependent upon computers and software systems. This places the disciplines of Computer Science and Software Engineering in a particularly critical position, wielding more influence over the day-to-day lives of people all over the world than any other single field of research and application. Writing about engineering in general, Bugliarello[2005] • Wright notes that "...ethics of engineering must go beyond broad generalities and codes of professional good conduct modeled after the Hippocratic oath." Little of modern engineering could be accomplished without computers and software, and computer scientists and software engineers must be aware of the broad range of ethical responsibilities that come with being direct or indirect enablers of change.
Science and engineering are commonly distinguished as two different sorts of activities. Science, generally speaking, is the pursuit of theoretical results, while engineering seeks to apply those results through the creation and refinement of technology. Computer science, as it is generally organized, taught, and researched, stands in a unique position, intimately involved in both theoretical and applied research. If engineering requires an ethical position beyond professional codes of conduct, as Bugliarello notes, then a discipline that spans both theory and application, and that touches so many facets of life, should be grounded in an equally (or stronger) ethical foundation.
In discussions of ethics and computing, topics such as hacking, computer viruses, software piracy, privacy, and security often come to mind. These subjects are commonly collected under the heading of “Computer Ethics.” This essay, however, is directed towards researchers in computer science and software engineering, and is concerned with the ethical conduct of research in these and related fields. Concern for research ethics is growing throughout the research community in general. Given the impact research in computer science has had, and will continue to have, on a global scale, it is important that researchers in this discipline understand potential ethical dilemmas in their research.
In the LANGURE 1 series of modules, ethics is defined as the study of arguments about right and wrong, good and bad. We have identified four theories that offer guidance in this decision process, and in this essay we assume that the reader has been introduced to these theories and how to apply them. As a basis for analyzing the dilemmas we will discuss, we propose to use a simple and straightforward principle: if everyone engaged in a particular behavior, would we consider that behavior correct and proper? It is important to note that this perspective is concerned both with the act or behavior itself as well as the results. Judging the rightness or wrongness of an act consequentalist and nonconsequentalist considerations is an important task in any area of research. The reader is, of course, free to apply their own ethical analysis of the situations presented.
The intent of this paper is not only to point out concerns and potential dilemmas, but also to build awareness and to provoke discussion of these important issues within the discipline of Computer Science. Computers have become nearly ubiquitous in modern society, and their influence reaches to the most remote parts of the globe. Research in computer science can often find a place in real-world applications far faster than in any other discipline. As Wulf notes, the ripple effects from innovations and technological achievements are often impossible to predict [2000], and can affect the lives of millions of people. Furthermore, many sources for research • 3 funding require ethical review of research projects, especially when these projects involve human subjects. In many fields the line of demarcation regarding human subjects or participants is clear. This is often not the case in computer science research. How this discipline responds to growing economic and regulatory pressure will directly affect researchers in computer science, and indirectly influence research in other disciplines that depend on innovations in computing for their livelihood.
The immediate goals of this essay are twofold: first, to identify some critical ethical concerns and responsibilities relating to research in computing; and second, to promote awareness and discussion among researchers in this field about ethical concerns and issues. Section 2 examines practical aspects of computer science research that involve ethical judgement. Section 3 reflects upon the preceding discussion in conjunction with the reader’s own experiences and observations in an attempt to evaluate the current level of ethical awareness in the discipline, and what can (and should) be
