cyberethics
"Cyber-ethics is the discipline of using appropriate and ethical behaviors and acknowledging moral duties and obligations pertaining to online environments and digital media." This was quoted by the Internet Keep Safe Coalition. Cyberethics includes many categories, such as copyright laws and licensing, cyberbullying, hacking and more. I will discuss three topics that deal with cyberethics, including Hackers, the National Security Agency, and Cyberbullying.
Hackers
There are many controversies about the definition of hacking, but a simple one is that a hacker is someone who "seeks and exploits weaknesses in a computer system or network." Hackers are able to use their knowledge to change information on a website from the authors original information, or retain someone's personal information. There are many types of hackers, some do it for personal benefit, for unethical purposes or for reasons they think are ethical.
Hackers get a negative reputation from the media, but there are many hackers who help better society. Hackers follow a basic trust policy, and many engineers, such as software engineers created their own trust guidelines. Their system designs follow "layer models" such as the 7-layer "ISO networking model." Some hackers correct grammar, bugs or viruses, and fix problems other hackers have done unethically. Not all hackers are bad, and some aren't given enough credit for the things they do to better the internet and society.
Hackers get a negative reputation from the media, but there are many hackers who help better society. Hackers follow a basic trust policy, and many engineers, such as software engineers created their own trust guidelines. Their system designs follow "layer models" such as the 7-layer "ISO networking model." Some hackers correct grammar, bugs or viruses, and fix problems other hackers have done unethically. Not all hackers are bad, and some aren't given enough credit for the things they do to better the internet and society.
National Security Agency
The National Security Agency (NSA) has gotten a lot of criticism from the American public due to the agency's ability to track people's searches, tap in on phone calls, and record almost everything a person does on the internet or phone. The NSA is the biggest, best funded spy agency in the world, and many people wonder if what this agency does is ethical. The NSA was created in 1952 under President Truman after World War II to provide security to the nation, but after the attacks in 9/11, President Bush and his administration began phone tapping and recording internet web searches. Citizens feel they are being stripped of their privacy and don't feel comfortable with the idea that the government could be listening to their phone calls or reading their emails. The government, however, believes they are stopping terrorism and other harmful acts that could take place on the country. The NSA has stopped many criminal acts from occurring, but should there be some limitations to the extent on what they track and should citizens be informed of what the agency is doing?
Cyber Bullying
Before social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter and Myspace, bullying was typically done in person. At the turn of the century as technology advanced with smartphones, faster internet networks and computers, and cheaper costs of these technologies, more and more people began using the internet. With this came some negative impacts, such as cyberbullying. Cyberethics has to do with how a user uses the internet ethically and morally, and cyberbullying shows how some people go against these moral guidelines and harass others, make fun of others, and emotionally harm them through embarrassment or verbal violence. Many states have now adopted laws to deal with this emerging issue, and a particular state was New York, who in 2012 extended the 2010 Dignity for All Students Act which is an anti-bullying law. Senator Jack Martins helped add cyberbullying to this Act, and said, "“If cyberbullying detracts from a student’s ability to take part in the learning process, this new law will allow steps to be taken by the school districts to ensure that the victims and their parents receive justice and peace of mind. The reporting of these incidents also provides a new step towards keeping our schools safe." Senator Martin wanted to make sure students live in a safe environment in and outside of the school. If students are being harassed and bullied online or through text, this may take away from their learning because they will be scared to go to school, or distracted when in school. It's important to educate students on cyberbullying in topics life prevention, causes and consequences in order to eliminate this hateful crime.