Computer Security Social Legal and Ethical issues 1142020

Computer Security Social Legal and Ethical issues. 11/4/2020 1

Social Legal and Ethical issues Sara Base, A Gift of Fire, Prentice Hall, 2003 11/4/2020 2

Social Legal and Ethical issues The impact of computers and computer systems The ATM example • • • Unemployment Alienation and customer service Crime Loss of privacy Errors 11/4/2020 3

Social Legal and Ethical issues General Themes • • Globalization of cyberspace Tradeoffs of convenience vs privacy & security Personal choices, Business policies and law Negative rights or liberties and positive rights or claim rights – Conflict of negative and positive rights: the claim rights of some may diminish the liberties of others – Privacy protection regulations vs universal access to information services 11/4/2020 4

Social Legal and Ethical issues Main issues 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Privacy & personal information Freedom if speech Can we trust computers Intellectual property Computer Crime General social issues Ethics 11/4/2020 5

1. Privacy & personal information Key aspects • Freedom from intrusion • Control information about oneself • Freedom from surveillance 11/4/2020 6

1. Privacy & personal information “Big brother is watching you” • Database security 11/4/2020 7

Database security Provisions of Privacy Act of 1974 • Restricts data in federal government records to what is “relevant and necessary” to the legal purpose for which it is collected. • Requires federal agencies to publish a notice of their record systems in the Federal Register • Allows people to access their records & correct inaccurate information • Requires procedures to protect the security of the information in the databases • Prohibits disclosure of information about a person without their consent. 11/4/2020 8

The fourth Amendment, US Constitution The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, paper and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. 11/4/2020 9

Privacy & personal information • Satellite surveillance and thermal imaging • Automated toll collection and itemized purchase records • Search and surveillance tools • Fighting terrorism 11/4/2020 10

Databases and marketing • Credit bureaus • Principles for data collection & use – Collect only data needed – Inform people when data about them are collected, what is collected … – Offer a way for people to opt out – Provide stronger protection for sensitive data – Keep data only as long as it is needed – Maintain accuracy and security of data – Provide a means for people to access and correct data stored about them. 11/4/2020 11

Databases and marketing • Social Security Numbers and National ID systems • Personal health and medical records • Public records: access vs privacy 11/4/2020 12

Privacy & personal information Protecting Privacy: law & regulation • Is their a right to privacy • The free market view vs the consumer protection view • Contract and regulations • Conflicts with freedom of speech 11/4/2020 13

2. Freedom of speech Encryption and interception of communications Wiretapping – Telephone – New technologies USA Patriot Act 2001: – Lets the government collect info from financial institutions on any transactions that differs from a customer’s usual pattern, and allows access to the government to many other kinds of personal information without a court order. 11/4/2020 14

Freedom if speech Carnivore FBIs system for intercepting email • FBI must first get a court order to intercept someone’s email • The Carnivore system is used at the Suspects Internet Service provider and filters all e-mails from that ISP, examining headers to find suspect email. 11/4/2020 15

Freedom if speech NSA’s Echelon is similar to Carnivor, but on an international scale. Involves a partnership with intelligence agencies of Canada, Britain, Australia and New Zealand, and operates a huge system of listening stations to intercepts satellite communication. – Targets terrorist and military activities 11/4/2020 16

Freedom if speech Cryptography and its uses • Use of encryption – Criminal abuse: “ … unfortunately the same technology can be used by terrorists, drug dealers, … “ White House Press, 1994 – Secrecy and export controls • Steganography 11/4/2020 17

Freedom if speech Secrecy • Clipper – Trust in government – How much does technology matter 11/4/2020 18

3. Can we trust computers ? • What can go wrong! – Billing errors – database accuracy – failures… • Increasing Reliability and Safety – Overconfidence – Redundancy – Good design 11/4/2020 19

4. Intellectual Property Digital Rights Management • • Problems with new technologies Copyright Law The fair use doctrine Copying Music, Movies, Software Books – From floppies to the web – The Napster case – Beyond Napster • Software Piracy 11/4/2020 20

4. Intellectual property Ethical issues • Fuzziness about the ethics Arguments used include: – – 11/4/2020 I cant afford to buy The company is a wealthy corporation Too expensive anyway Making a copy from a friend is an act of generosity 21

4. Intellectual property The future of copyright • Doomsday approach: copyright law will disintegrate. • Balanced solutions will be found by using a new approach and new technologies – Free software – Copyright or patent? 11/4/2020 22

5. Computer Crime • What is hacking • The Law – Catching hackers – Penalties appropriate to the crime – Discouraging and punishing “amateur” hackers • Design secure “hack-free” systems • Online scams – Chain letters, sale of counterfeit goods, phony investments – Collecting credit card numbers, ID and password details • Fraud, embezzlement, Sabotage • Identity theft 11/4/2020 23

6. General Social Issues Impact on our society • Information Have’s and Have-Nots – The digital divide – Trends in computer access – Abdicating responsibility • Does the Technology create the need for itself? “… The Web is alive and filled with life, nearly as complex and natural as the primordial swamp…” • Who benefits most • Prohibiting bad technologies 11/4/2020 24

What is Ethics? 7. Ethics • The study of what it means to do the “right” thing – And what is the “right” thing? • A variety of ethical views – Deontological theories • emphasize duty and rules to be followed whether they lead to good or ill consequence – Utalitarialism • An example of a consequentialist theory: to increase happiness or “utility” – Natural rights • Treat people as ends rather than means, and increase people’s happiness – No simple answers • No mathematical solution 11/4/2020 25

What is Ethics? 7. Ethics – Some important distinctions • Right, Wrong and OK • Negative and positive rights, or liberties and claim-rights • Distinguishing wrong and harmful • Separating goals from constraints • Personal Preference and Ethics • Law and Ethics – Professional codes and Ethics • Professional organizations have codes for professional conduct • ACM, IEEE 11/4/2020 26