Using Technology :What’s Right? What’s Wrong?What’s Okay?

~

Technology Ethics

--Thanks to Doug Johnson, Director of Media and Technology in the Mankato (MN) Schools; www.doug-johnson.com;

What is technology?

Technology =

What is ethics?

Ethics =

What (Internal) Devices Make People Act Ethically?

(Why do we usually do the right thing?)

What Societal (External) Devices Make People Do the Ethical Thing ?

(How do we make sure people do the right thing ?)

There can be good consequences…

And Not-so-good consequences…

Berkley High School

Personal Responsibility Infraction

Name_______________________

Grade ________

Date: _______________________

Infraction

Attire____

Comment ____________________

____________________________

Why talk about technology & ethics?

Because technology changes things

How does technology change things?

• Technology allow us to do new things

• Technology reaches more people

• Computers sometimes make the sender (and receiver) invisible

• The real world “versus” the virtual world: sometimes it makes a difference

Technology allows us to do new things

Technology reaches more people

Computers sometimes make the sender (and receiver) invisible

True story

South Korean actress Choi Jin Sil killed herself after chat room attacks on her character

-- Lee, B.J. “Death by Web Posts.” Newsweek, October 27,2008. p.51

The real world vs. the virtual world:Sometimes it makes a difference

www.girlsgonewild.com

www.cancer.org

BSD ISAUP =

The Berkley School District Internet Safety and Acceptable Use Policy

BSD ISAUP Who Does it Affect?

• “All District technology resource users are required to sign … and to abide by the terms and conditions of the District’s Internet Safety and Acceptable Use Policy.”

• “Each student … is required to sign an acknowledgment form stating that they and their parent/guardian has read [the Berkley SD ISAUP].

Berkley SD Internet Safety and Acceptable Use Policy

BSD ISAUP Prohibited Use (No-Nos)

• “Any use that is illegal or in violation of other board policies, including copyright laws

• “Any use involving materials that are obscene, pornographic, etc.

• “Any use for private financial gain.• “Communicating by e-mail with other school

users for… non-school sponsored activities or organizations.”

BSD ISAUP Prohibited Use (…more No-Nos)

• “Malicious use or disruption of the district's computers, networks and Internet services

• “Misuse or damage to the district's computer equipment.

• “Misuse of computer passwords or accounts.• “Failing to report a known breach of computer

security to a teacher or building administrator.”

BSD ISAUPOther things you should know

• “The district reserves the right to monitor all computer and Internet activity by students and other system users.”

• “The student shall be responsible for any losses, costs or damages incurred by the district related to violations of these rules

• “The district assumes no responsibility for any unauthorized charges made by students, including but not limited to: credit card charges, subscriptions, long distance telephone charges… and copyright violations.”

BSD ISAUP

What happens when you are caught violating the BSD ISAUP ? …

… it depends!

What is Copyright ? ©

• Copyright is the law of the United States that protects the works of authors, artists, composers from being used without permission

– Cyberbee.com

• Whenever you write something new, create artwork, or write some original music… you automatically own the copyright to it.

– Copyright Kids!.org

The rights of Copyright…

As the author of the work, you alone have the right to do any of the following or to let others do any of the following:

-make copies of your work;

-distribute or share copies of your work;

-perform your work publicly (such as for plays, film, dances or music);

-display your work publicly – Copyright Kids!.org

A True Story about CopyrightCecilia Gonzalez was sued by the RIAA (Record Industry of America

Association) on January 7, 2005 for downloading illegal copies of songs.

What was her defense?• she was simply "sampling" songs to see if she wished to buy them• she was an "innocent infringer" unaware that she was violating

record company copyrights.What happened to her?A U.S. District Court. ordered her to pay damages of $750 for each

song she was found to have downloaded illegally. 30 songs x $750 = $22,500. …

The Rest of the Story...The original complaint filed against Gonzalez claimed that she had

downloaded nearly 2,500 songs and the RIAA could have charged $1,000 per song. $1,000 x 2,500 songs = more than 2 million dollars!!

--Mamatas, Nick. “Meet John Doe.” The Village Voice, March 7th, 2005

Gonzalez update• She appealed and … lost on 12 December 2005 *

• As of November 2005, the recording industry has sued…

over 15,000 people **

• The RIAA shows no signs of slowing down… its lawsuit campaign… announcing approximately 700

new suits each month.***

* the Register

** See RIAA Continues Enforcement Of Rights With New Lawsuits Against 784 Illegal File Sharers, RIAA Press Release, Jun. 29, 2005.*** Bruce Gain, “RIAA Takes Shotgun to Traders,” Oct. 4, 2005, Wired News.

A True Story about Computer Use…Details

On Dec. 4, 2006, a Rochester Hills teenager, 17, sent an instant message to his 15-year-old ex-girlfriend saying he would go to [the R H Alternative HS] with a gun & shoot 6 people, including her new boyfriend.

What has he been charged with?

a) Using a computer to commit a crime

b) Making a false threat of terrorism

How has he been punished so far?

a) He was suspended and, later, expelled.

b) If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison. --Damron, Gina. “Teen Arraigned in Online Death Threat,” Detroit Free Press, January 5, 2007. p.

6B.

To Do the Right Thing, Think of 3Ps :

• Privacy

• Property

• aPpropriate use

The 3 Ps of Ethical Use of Technology:

1. Privacy

I will protect my privacy and respect the privacy of others

The 3 Ps of Ethical Use of Technology:

1. Privacy

2. Property

I will protect my property and respect the property of others

The 3 Ps of Ethical Use of Technology :

1. Privacy

2. Property

3. aPpropriate Use

I will use computers and technology in constructive ways and in ways which do not break the rules of my family, faith, school, or government.

CASE STUDY…

Computer Capers

When they arrive in the computer lab, Troy takes Jackson’s pencil. To get back at him, Jackson reaches over and unplugs Troy’s mouse when he’s not looking. Troy can’t get his computer to work and so moves to a new machine.

In this Case Study…

• Who is hurt by these actions?• Who benefits from these actions?• Does it violate the BSD ISAUP ? • Does it violate any Copyright Law/s?• Is it about: Privacy? Property? or aPpropriate Use ?• Is what happened right? Wrong? Sometimes right /

Sometimes wrong?

• Think of a real world application; does that make a difference in your opinion/s ?

Case Study: A Closer Look

Questions

• Who is hurt by these actions?• Who benefits from these actions?• Does it violate the BSD ISAUP ? • Does it violate any Copyright

Law/s?• Is it about: Privacy? Property? or

aPpropriate Use ?• Is what happened right? Wrong?

Sometimes right / Sometimes wrong?

• Think of a real world application; does that make a difference in your opinion/s ?

Computer Capers

When they arrive in the computer lab, Troy takes Jackson’s pencil. To get back at him, Jackson reaches over and unplugs Troy’s digital mouse when he’s not looking. Troy can’t get his computer to work and so moves to a new machine.

When Using ComputersWhat’s Right? What’s Wrong? What’s Okay?

~Obey:

Berkley SD Internet Safety & Acceptable Use PolicyUS Copyright Laws

~Consider: the 3 ps of ethical use:

PrivacyProperty

aPpropriate Use~

Be an Ethical User of Technology!