ethics + computer folks

Al Macintyre wrote:
>
>We do have several "code of conduct/ethics" to live by, depending on what 
>organizations you are in ... when I learned the profession
>in the 1960's there were several professional organizations I joined, > 
>such as DPMA & I cannot remember the names of others ...

Here are some other organizations... Seems to me there is no shortage of 
computer organizations that have a code of ethics...

Association for Computing Machinery at (www.acm.org)

Founded in 1947, ACM is the world's first educational and scientific 
computing society. Today, our members over 80,000 computing professionals 
and students world-wide and the public turn to ACM for authoritative 
publications, pioneering conferences, and visionary leadership for the new 
millennium.

Computing and Public Policy

ACM is responding to the increasingly powerful effects that computing and 
communications are having on the way the world works by extending the 
Association's influence and expertise into matters of public concern and 
policy. The first instance of this was the Code of Professional Conduct 
developed by a special ACM panel that set ethical standards for computer 
scientists and information technologists.

The Association works closely with the Institute of Electrical and 
Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in a joint task force on Software Engineering 
Ethics and Professional Practices (SEEPP) . SEEPP's mission is to codify and 
document the software engineering profession's collective wisdom for 
resolving ethical conflicts and delivering high quality care and service, 
especially in difficult situations and across national boundaries. A draft 
of the Software Engineering Code of Ethics is now available.

ACM has also formed a U. S. Public Policy Committee (USACM) as a platform 
for addressing issues that have national, international and global 
ramifications which involve or have an impact upon computing and 
telecommunications. Concerned about a decline in the number of women in the 
computing professions, ACM formed a Committee on the Status of Women In 
Computing. The committee conducts a mentoring program to encourage women to 
enter the profession and to advance the professional standing of women 
already in the profession.

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IEEE - The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (at 
www.ieee.org)

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers helps advance global 
prosperity by promoting the engineering process of creating, developing, 
integrating, sharing, and applying knowledge about electrical and 
information technologies and sciences for the benefit of humanity and the 
profession.

The IEEE and its predecessors, the AIEE (American Institute of Electrical 
Engineers) and the IRE (Institute of Radio Engineers), date from 1884.

From its earliest origins, the IEEE has advanced the theory and application 
of electrotechnology and allied sciences, served as a catalyst for 
technological innovation and supported the needs of its members through a 
wide variety of programs and services.

IEEE Code of Ethics

We, the members of the IEEE, in recognition of the importance of our 
technologies in affecting the quality of life throughout the world, and in 
accepting a personal obligation to our profession, its members and the 
communities we serve, do hereby commit ourselves to the highest ethical and 
professional conduct and agree:

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CPSR - Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility
                       (at www.cpsr.org)

CPSR is a public-interest alliance of computer scientists and others 
concerned about the impact of computer technology on society. We work to 
influence decisions regarding the development and use of computers because 
those decisions have far-reaching consequences and reflect our basic values 
and priorities.
As technical experts, CPSR members provide the public and policymakers with 
realistic assessments of the power, promise, and limitations of computer 
technology. As concerned citizens, we direct public attention to critical 
choices concerning the applications of computing and how those choices 
affect society.

The CPSR Ethics Working Group strives to stimulate and heighten awareness of 
the social and ethical implications of all aspects of computers and 
information technology, including design, manufacture, disposal, and 
applications derived for any purpose. To this end, the group will initiate 
discussion of relevant questions that face corporations, computer 
professionals and the general public. The group will develop and disseminate 
educational materials to educate and assist others regarding the 
implications and possible consequences of the use and mis-use of this 
technology and its artifacts.

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Share (at www.share.org)

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Common (at www.common.org)

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