There are several ethical theories
described in Module 1: Ethical
Theories. Module
2, Methods of Ethical Decision Making, describes 3 frameworks for
ethical analysis. For this paper, the
following elements must be addressed:

• Describe a current IT-related
  ethical issue; and define a problem statement
• Analyze your problem using a
  decision-making framework chosen from Module 2.
• Discuss the applicable ethical
  theory from Module 1 that supports your decision.
• Prepare a minimum 3- 5 page,
  double-spaced paper and submit it to your Assignments Folder as an
  attached Microsoft Word file.
• Provide appropriate American
  Psychological Association (APA) reference citations for all sources
  you use. In addition to critical thinking and analysis skills, your
  paper should reflect appropriate grammar and spelling, good organization,
  and proper business-writing style.

Students must identify the ethical approach used. The steps
in the approach must be used as major headings in the paper. For example, Kidder’s approach has nine
steps:

Kidder’s
Nine-Steps are:

• Recognize
  that there is a moral issue.
• Determine
  the actor (whose moral issue is it?).
• Gather the
  relevant facts.
• Test for
  right-versus-wrong issues.
• Test for
  right-versus-right paradigms (what sort of dilemma is this?).
• Apply the
  resolution principles (ends-based, rule-based, or care-based).
• Investigate
  the “trilemma” options (look for common ground or compromise).
• Make the
  decision.
• Revisit
  and reflect on the decision. (Kidder, 1995, p. 183-187)

Each of these steps must be
a major heading in your paper.

Here are some suggested
issues–

1.
Workplace
Issue.

2.
Privacy
on the Web. What is happening now in terms of
privacy on the Web? Think about recent abuses and improvements. Describe and
evaluate Web site policies, technical and privacy policy protections, and
current proposals for government regulations.

3.
Personal
Data Privacy Regulations in Other Countries. Report on personal data privacy regulations, Web site
privacy policies, and governmental/law enforcement about access to personal
data in one or more countries; e.g., the European Union. This is
especially relevant as our global economic community expands and we are more
dependent on non-US clients for e-Business over the Internet. (Note:
new proposed regulations are under review in Europe.)

4.
Spam. Describe new technical solutions
and the current state of regulation. Consider the relevance of freedom of
speech. Discuss the roles of technical and legislative solutions.

5.
Computer-Based
Crimes. Discuss the most prevalent types
of computer crimes, such as Phishing. Analyze
why and how these can occur. Describe protective measures that might assist in
preventing or mitigating these types of crimes.

6.
Government
surveillance of the Internet.
The 9/11 attacks on the US in 2001 brought many new laws and permits more
government surveillance of the Internet. Is this a good idea? Many issues are cropping up daily in our
current periodicals!

7.
The
Digital Divide. Does it
exist; what does it look like; and, what are the ethical considerations and
impact?

8.
Privacy
in the Workplace:
Monitoring Employee Web and E-Mail Use. What are current opinions concerning
monitoring employee computer use. What policies are employers using? Should
this be authorized or not? Policies are
changing even now!

9.
Medical
Privacy. Who owns your medical history?
What is the state of current legislation to protect your health information? Is
it sufficient? There are new incentives with federal stimulus financing
for health care organizations to develop and implement digital health records.

10.
Software
piracy. How many of you have ever made an
unauthorized copy of software, downloaded software or music (free or for a
fee), or used copyrighted information without giving proper credit or asking
permission? Was this illegal or just wrong? How is this being addressed?

11.
Predictions
for Ethical IT Dilemma in 2020.
What is your biggest worry or your prediction for ethical concerns of the
future related to information technology?

12.
Consumer
Profiling. With every purchase you make,
every Web site you visit, your preferences are being profiled. What is your
opinion regarding the legal authority of these organizations to collect and
aggregate this data?

13.
Biometrics
& Ethics. Your
fingerprint, retinal-vessel image, and DNA map can exist entirely as a digital
image in a computer, on a network, or in the info-sphere. What new and
old ethical problems must we address?

14.
Ethical
Corporations. Can
corporations be ethical? Why or why not?

15.
Social
Networking. What
are some of the ethical issues surrounding using new social networks? How
are these now considered for business use? What are business social
communities? Are new/different protections and security needed for these
networks?

16.
Gambling in Cyberspace.
Is it legal? Are there national
regulations and/or licensing? What are
the oversight and enforcement requirements?
Are there international implications?
What are the social and public health issues?

17.
Pornography in Cyberspace
For example, the U.S. Supreme Court ruling protecting as free speech
computer-generated child pornography

18.
Medicine and Psychiatry in
Cyberspace. Some considerations include: privacy issues; security; third-party
record-keeping; electronic medical records; access to information, even by the
patient (patient rights); access to information by outsiders without patient
knowledge; authority to transfer and/or share information. Are there any policies proposed by
professional organizations?

19.
Counterterrorism and Information
Systems
Your protection versus your rights

20.
Open-source Software versus
Closed-source Software Ethical ramifications and impact on
intellectual property law

21.
Creative Commons Licenses
How do they work and what are the legal and ethical impacts and
concerns?

22.
Universal ID Card.
What is the general position of the U.S. government about issuing each
individual a unique ID Card? Which
individual U.S. government agencies have already provided a unique ID
Card? What steps have been taken to
include individual ID information electronically in passports? How is privacy and security provided?

23.
Federal and State Law Enforcement’s Role to enforce computer-based crime.