--- title: "Computer ethics" chunk: 2/2 source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_ethics" category: "reference" tags: "science, encyclopedia" date_saved: "2026-05-05T06:58:31.724981+00:00" instance: "kb-cron" --- == Concerns == Computer crime, privacy, anonymity, freedom, and intellectual property fall under topics that will be present in the future of computer ethics. Ethical considerations have been linked to the Internet of Things (IoT) with many physical devices being connected to the internet. Virtual Crypto-currencies in regards to the balance of the current purchasing relationship between the buyer and seller. Autonomous technology such as self-driving cars forced to make human decisions. There is also concern over how autonomous vehicles would behave in different countries with different culture values. Security risks have been identified with cloud-based technology with every user interaction being sent and analyzed to central computing hubs. Artificial intelligence devices like the Amazon Alexa and Google Home are collecting personal data from users while at home and uploading it to the cloud. Apple's Siri and Microsoft's Cortana smartphone assistants are collecting user information, analyzing the information, and then sending the information back to the user. === Internet privacy === Computers and information technology have caused privacy concerns surrounding collection and use of personal data. For example, Google was sued in 2018 for tracking user location without permission. also In July 2019, Facebook reached a $5 billion settlement with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission for violating an agreement with the agency to protect user privacy. An industry of privacy and ethical tools has grown over time, giving people the choice to not share their data online. These are often open source software, which allows the users to ensure that their data is not saved to be used without their consent. === Artificial intelligence === == Ethical standards == Various national and international professional societies and organizations have produced code of ethics documents to give basic behavioral guidelines to computing professionals and users. They include: Association for Computing Machinery ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct Australian Computer Society ACS Code of Ethics ACS Code of Professional Conduct British Computer Society BCS Code of Conduct Code of Good Practice (retired May 2011) German Informatics Society Ethical Guidelines of the German Informatics Society (revised June 29, 2018) Computer Ethics Institute Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics IEEE IEEE Code of Ethics IEEE Code of Conduct League of Professional System Administrators The System Administrators' Code of Ethics == See also == Cyberethics Ethics of artificial intelligence Copyright infringement Programming ethics Social informatics Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics Who Controls the Internet? == References == == Further reading == == External links == American Philosophical Association's Newsletter on Philosophy and Computers. A short history of computer ethics Ethics in Computing - a list of links to ethical discussions in Computer Science courtesy of North Carolina State University Undergraduates with guidance from Dr. Edward F. Gehringer IEG, the Information Ethics research Group at Oxford University Bynum, Terrell. "Computer Ethics: Basic Concepts and Historical Overview". In Zalta, Edward N. (ed.). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. ISSN 1095-5054. OCLC 429049174. Coleman, Kari Gwen. "Computing and Moral Responsibility". In Zalta, Edward N. (ed.). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. ISSN 1095-5054. OCLC 429049174.