Case Studies about Ethical Issues in Software Engineering and Development

This document contains a series of case studies that raise various questions of ethics that have occurred or may occur during the professional practice of software engineering or of software application development. At the end of each of them, a series of questions are raised to reflect on them or for discussion.

Access: https://www.sistedes.es/files/CasosEstudioCodigoEtico.pdf

Algorithmic transparency in decision making. GDPR position and its application problems

Conference within the cycle of the subject of Ethics, Legislation and Profession with the speaker Paloma Llaneza (Lawyer) held in November 2018.

The main topic is the vision of the GDPR as an expected remedy to the treatment of big data for decision making. Mathematical models could lead us to the conclusion that they are neutral and that their results are the best of the possible options, but this is not the case: mathematical models are not neutral and are the simplified representation of a process. Despite their reputation for impartiality, they reflect the goals and ideology, the biases and priorities of their creators.

Code of Ethics of the Official Col·legi d'Enginyeria en Informàtica de Catalunya

The Code of Ethics of the Official Col∙legi d'Enginyeria en Informàtica de Catalunya has to regulate what is correct or not in the exercise of the computing profession. We understand that in any action in which the profession is exercised, the actor triggers immediate consequences on his direct interlocutors and, ultimately, on the whole of Society. For this reason, we consider that the fundamental principles on which this code must be based are:

• Make the general interest prevail at all times over the individual.
• In any relationship or agreement, all parties involved have to achieve a reasonable balance of rights and obligations.

The objectives in drafting this code are:

• The disclosure of the code would have to achieve awareness of all the repercussions of the actions and/or omissions of each one and the responsibility that they entail.
• Its application must be oriented towards reparation, not punishment. The object is not to sanction, but the awareness: if the "defendant" understands and admits his mistake and corrects it, he is no longer a penalty is necessary.
• The result of the entire project must be to achieve the social respect that our profession deserves, as a response to the respect that we professionals will have with Society in committing ourselves complying with this code.

The recipients of this code are not only the members, but also all the professionals and companies that want to join and the Society as a whole.

• More information: https://www.enginyeriainformatica.cat/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/codigo-deontologico-coeinf-12-esp.pdf

Ethics for the information age, Michael J. Quinn

The main reason to say we are living in the Information Age is because never before have so many people had such easy access to information. The two principal actions that have allow the Information Age are low-cost computers and high-speed communication networks. 

Societies develop new technologies to sort out problem and make life better, but technology, once adopted, can transform us and how we interact with people and environment. Some of these transformations can even create new problems. Further than being a reason to stop the innovation, it gives societies to taking this innovation and technology-related decisions seriously, weighing the benefits and potential harms associated with the use of new devices. To that end, the book will help you gain a better understanding of contemporary ethical issues related to the use of information technology.

• More information: https://staff.emu.edu.tr/mobinabeheshti/documents/courses/itec%20317/book-ethics%20for%20the%20information%20age.pdf