CYBER ETHICS

Hardeep Singh,

KC College

Introduction to cyber ethics

Behaviour code in cyber  environment is termed cyber ethics. As a responsible net user  one should observe these rules to help make cyberspace a safe place. A professor at Bowling Green State University, Ohio William Maner cointed this term. Essentially, cyber ethics refers to the best practices and ethical guidelines that users should follow when using computer systems. It covers user behaviour, computer programming, and the impact on individuals and society. Cyber ethics stresses on the importance of using the internet safely and use technology responsibly and sensibly. Cyber ethics lays stress on the importance of human behaviour while using cyber technology and the internet. Cyber ethics go hand in hand with cyber security. There exist defenders from harm and also those who intend to harm the Cyber security professionals need to employ the highest standards of ethical practice while going about their job of cyber security.

Professionals working in cybersecurity have a responsibility to keep ethics in mind with every action they take since they have extensive access to information and systems that affect the lives of almost everyone,

Good  ethics and etiquette that must be followed while using a computer system. Ethics simply is good behaviour and honesty and  similarly by cyber ethics we refer to propagating good behaviour online that is not harsh, crude or rude. Cyberethics asks  users to use the internet safely and use technology responsibly. Cyberethics stresses on  the behaviour that must be adopted while using cyber technology.

Some important areas of concern in cyber ethics

Privacy and Data Protection:

One of the most significant ethical concerns in cybersecurity is the protection of individual privacy and sensitive data. Personal information is at risk of being exposed or misused with data breaches and cyber attacks. The evolution of hacking raises ethical questions in cybersecurity with cybercriminals exploiting vulnerabilities for personal gain or political motives. There are concerns  about privacy violations, financial losses, and societal harm resulting from cyberattacks.

Intellectual property rights

Software ownership and music rights are being violated due to file sharing and there are debates whether this is ethical or not. Those in favour of file sharing argue that this benefits society at large as those who cannot afford to buy original software or music can benefit and use it maybe for a higher purpose. Some proponents for free software believe that source code for most programs should be available to anyone who uses them, in a manner which respects their freedoms.

Digital rights management

Making of copies of  PDFs, are seen as violation of the rights of the intellectual property holders.

Sexuality and pornography

The  regulation, distribution and accessibility of pornography online is another cyber ethics issue. The availability of pornography online calls into question jurisdiction as well as brings up the problem of regulation of online pornography.

Gambling

Online gambling has gone up exponentially because of internet access and may illegal gambling and offshore sites have sprung up.  This is besides legal gambling sites.  Due to cross geographic borders it is difficult to curb these.  The ethics of allowing such sites to conduct their highly profitable operations is questionable.

Online education

Online education although a good thing as it gives people access to learn from their homes or offices also gives rise to uncheck  plagiarism or other appropriation of intellectual property, cyberbullying and other activities harmful activities, as well as accessing inappropriate material as copying from online or offline sources unchecked.

Accurate content

Reliability of the information that is posted online, is vey important. The importance of posting content on the internet that is correct in all aspects is unquestioned. Worldwide online users trust the content of the internet and rely on the internet for facts, Therefore it is highly needed that the asked information is correct and reliable and misrepresenting facts would cause a lot of harm.

Spying

Spying activities through the net have also created a lot of issues.   Governments and corporations spy on individuals, also individuals spying on governments or corporations, and so on, raise the need of cyber ethical code.

Sale of illegal articles. Sale of weapons, wildlife, drugs by postings ads on websites, bulletin boards etc.

Bodies involved in International Cyber Ethics regulation

Some of the international bodies, which are involved in cyber ethical tracking and regulation.

International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP)

This is a global organisation for researchers  working in the field of computing to conduct research, develop standards and promote information sharing.

SIGCAS.

This  is a US-based international learned society for computing which was founded in 1947 and is the world's largest scientific and educational computing society

Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC).

This was established in 1994 to protect privacy, freedom of expression, and democratic values in the information age.

Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).

This is an international non-profit digital rights group based in San Francisco, California, founded in 1990 to promote Internet civil liberties.

International Center for Information Ethics (ICIE)

Directions and Implications in Advanced Computing (DIAC)

Cyber-Rights and Cyber-liberties

Conclusion

Cyber space needs to be kept safe and therefore cyber ethics is necessary in today’s day and age. People who don’t follow cyber ethics are considered threats not only the online site users but also by governments.

Cyber Law and Cyber Ethics issues in  India, the intersection of cyber law and cyber ethics has become increasingly relevant as the nation experiences rapid digitization. The Information Technology Act, 2000, addresses issues ranging from unauthorized access to computer systems to data protection and electronic signatures. As the digital landscape evolves, cybercrimes such as online fraud, hacking, and identity theft have come into play. Indian lawmakers are actively engaged in refining and updating cyber laws to keep pace with technological advancements and address upcoming  challenges. The collaboration between cyber law and cyber ethics is of huge importance for the effective protection of digital rights, privacy, and the well-being of India's digital society. Cybercrimes come in the form of  hacking, phishing, and online fraud.  Amendments and new rules have been introduced to enhance the usefulness of cyber law, including Personal Data Protection Bill,

In the evolution of the digital world, cyber laws have a huge impact in protecting the rights, security of individual’s organizations and nations. Cyber laws are meant to protect and safeguard rights as well as deterring cybercrime. The IT Act has been hugely useful in addressing the emerging challenges posed by cyber threats and stands as a testament to the Digital India Scheme while also promoting a safe digital environment within our country. Therefore, cyber law stands as a foundation by providing a legal framework to tackle the complex challenges that arise from the ever-dynamic technological landscape.

The  convergence of cyber law and cyber ethics has left a lasting impact on the Indian legal scene, marking a crucial response to the challenges posed by the digital era. The Information Technology Act of 2000 serves as the main  framework, providing guidelines for electronic transactions, data protection, and addressing a spectrum of cybercrimes. This legislation underscores the nation's commitment to regulating the dynamic realm of cyberspace. As India goes digital,  businesses are compelled to align with cyber law provisions, ensuring the protection of sensitive data and compliance with evolving regulations.

Newer technologies, like cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) create more opportunities for cyber criminals and continue to test cyber security professionals to manage a wide range of security risks.

Some important rules to be followed by internet users include:

· Avoiding sending  or storing any offensive content.

· Avoid storing any data of users even if it is public.

· Never ever bully, harass, abuse, or stalk anyone over the internet.

· Never ever  computer viruses even if it is for fun.

· No spamming any internet user.

· Never violate copyright laws.

· Say no to plagiarism. Watch only original media.

References

·Blackburn, Ashley; Chen, Irene Linlin; Pfeffer, Rebecca, eds. (2019). "Praface". Emerging trends in cyber ethics and education. Hershey, PA: Information Science Reference. pp. xiii. ISBN 978-1-5225-5934-4.

·Baird, Robert M.; Ramsower, Reagan Mays; Rosenbaum, Stuart E., eds. (2001). "Introduction". Cyberethics Amherst, New York: Prometheus Books. p. 10. ISBN 978-1-57392-790-1.

·GeeksforGeeks https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/what-is-cyberethics

·Vicini, James (21 January 2009). Wiessler, David (ed.). "Online pornography law appeal denied". Reuters.

·        McGowan, Richard A. (21 September 2007). "Ethics of gambling". Opinion. The Boston Globe.

·        "The Code of Fair Information Practices". Electronic Privacy Information Center.

·        International Journal of Law, www.lawjournals.org, Published: 15-02-2024, Volume 10, Issue 1, 2024, Page No. 185-187