Ethical and Social Issues in the Information Age (Undergraduate Texts in Computer Science)

This textbook provides an introduction to the social and policy issues which have arisen as a result of information technology. Whilst it assumes a modest familiarity with computers, its aim is to provide a guide to the issues suitable for undergraduates. In doing so, the author prompts the students to consider questions such as: * How do morality and the law relate to each other? * What sould be covered in a professional Code of Conduct for Information Technology professionals? * What are the ethical issues relating to copying software? * Is electronic monitoring of employees wrong? * What are the moral codes of cyberspace? Throughout, the book shows how in many ways the technological development is outpacing the ability of our legal systems to keep up, and how different paradigms applied to ethical questions may often offer conflicting conclusions. As a result students will find this to be a thought-provoking and valuable survey of the new and difficult ethical questions that the Internet, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality have created.