Too often, we view computers simply as machines and algorithms, and we do not perceive the serious ethical questions inherent in their use … Computers are used to design, analyze, support, and control applications that protect and guide the lives and finances of people. Our use (and misuse) of computing systems may have effects beyond our wildest imagining. Thus, we must reconsider our attitudes about acts demonstrating a lack of respect for the rights and privacy of other people’s computers and data. We must also consider what our attitudes will be toward future security problems. In particular, we should consider the effects of widely publishing the source code for worms, viruses, and other threats to security.
Predictor: Spafford, Eugene
Prediction, in context:The 1997 book “Computers, Ethics, and Society,” edited by M. David Ermann, Mary B. Williams and Michele S. Shauf, carries the 1993 article “Are Computer Hacker Break-ins Ethical?” by Eugene H. Spafford. Spafford argues that the actions of hackers, not the rationalizations they offer, should be judged. He writes: ”Too often, we view computers simply as machines and algorithms, and we do not perceive the serious ethical questions inherent in their use … Computers are used to design, analyze, support, and control applications that protect and guide the lives and finances of people. Our use (and misuse) of computing systems may have effects beyond our wildest imagining. Thus, we must reconsider our attitudes about acts demonstrating a lack of respect for the rights and privacy of other people’s computers and data. We must also consider what our attitudes will be toward future security problems. In particular, we should consider the effects of widely publishing the source code for worms, viruses, and other threats to security … Publication should serve a useful purpose; endangering the security of other people’s machines or attempting to force them into making changes they are unable to make or afford is not ethical.”
Date of prediction: January 1, 1992
Topic of prediction: Community/Culture
Subtopic: Ethics/Values
Name of publication: Computers, Ethics, and Society (book)
Title, headline, chapter name: Are Hacker Break-ins Ethical?
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Pages 86, 87
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Guarino, Jennifer Anne