the invisibles say you want a revolution used

Moor argues that 'Computers today are capable of enormous calculations beyond human comprehension. The third and final variety of the invisibility factor is the invisible complex calculation.

These values become embedded in the final product and may be invisible to someone who runs the program.' In order to implement a program, which satisfies the specification, a programmer makes some value judgements about what is important and what is not. Similarly, a request for a computer program is made at a level of abstraction usually far removed from the details of the actual programming language. Different houses are compatible with a given set of specifications. 'No matter how detailed the specifications may be, a builder must make numerous decisions about matters not specified in order to construct the house. Moor draws an analogy between writing a computer program and building a house. The second variety of the invisibility factor is the presence of invisible programming values, those values that are embedded into a computer program. Classic examples of such use are computerised employee monitoring and Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) technologies. For example, Moor identifies how a computer can be programmed to contact another computer over phone lines and 'Surreptitiously remove or alter confidential information'.Īnother example of invisible abuse is the use of computers for surveillance. Another possibility for invisible abuse is invasion of the property and privacy of others. This programmer instructed a computer to deposit these fractions of a cent to his own account.'Īlthough Moor views this as an ordinary case of stealing, he sees this pertaining to computer ethics because computer technology has provided the opportunity for such activities to go more often than not unnoticed. 'When interest on a bank account is calculated, there is often a fraction of a cent left over after rounding off. James Moor defines invisible abuse as 'the intentional use of the invisible operations of a computer to engage in unethical conduct.' Moor suggests that a classic example of this is the case of a programmer who realised that he could steal excess interest from a bank. The first variety of the invisibility factor is invisible abuse. Moor (1985) mentions three kinds of invisibility that can have ethical significance. If the issues in question has an appropriate analogy, it could be employed as a starting point.Īn important fact about computers is that most of the time and under most conditions computer operations are invisible. It is the role of the policymakers to consider this question thoroughly before deciding on a solution. While there are many answers to the question, it is clear that when an ethical issue arise, part of it may be analogous to existing framework, while part of it may be entirely new. Another example, that have been cited many times before involve the use of data mining. While it is arguable that similar problems existed prior to the existence computers, they were not of a large enough scale to be considered an ethical issue. For example, virus writing is a noticeable problem with computers. Yes, it facilitates new human actions that were not possible (or economically viable) before. Yet another alternative is to regarded as an idea. It can be (and has been) regarded as properties like cars or houses, while alternative it can also be seen as an individual expression, not unlike a song. Computer programs are unlike anything that was preceded before it. An example of this is the computer program. Yes, in the sense that a new technology has been introduced that never existed before.

Often computers increase efficiency but fundamentally, the way of doing the task is still the same. The introduction of computers does not necessary introduce new way of doing things. No, in the sense that there is nothing new under the sun There has always been issues of privacy, property and freedom.

The invisibles say you want a revolution used