Friday, July 12, 2013

Moral and Legal Issues

        There are several differences between moral and legal issues is technology use. Legal issues and problems arise from breaking a law. As Jim Davis of Iowa State University pointed out "The law doesn't make it, "right" and being "right" doesn't make it legal." (Davis, 2004)

       Something that is perfect example of this is recent NSA leaks by Ed Snowden.  Snowden informed the American people that millions of people's sensitive data was given to the US government to spy on its own citizens.  All of this was perfectly legal. Using secret courts to legalize the data collection the US government took information from, Facebook, Skype, Verizon and Google.

      Legally all of this is perfectly acceptable. This does not make it "right" or ethical for many peoples.  Ethics are not defined, they are based on the opinion of an individual. Some people think that the these actions by the government are completely unethical. Others have the opinion that it is necessary and perfectly ethical if it is keeping Americans safe.

     You can also look at the actions of Snowden himself. Releasing classified documents is illegal, but if it is to make Americans and friendly free people everywhere aware they are being spied on is it ethical?  Some suggest Snowden has done what is "right" and a hero, while others see him as a traitor and coward. Although the ethics can be argued, legality in this case can not. It was illegal.

Davis, Jim. 2004. Legal and Ethical Issues is Computer Security. Iowa State University, retrieved from: www.sait.fsu.edu/conferences/2004/is3/.../slides/davisj-legalethical.ppt

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