Discussion: Computer Viruses & Ethical Responsibility

Tuesday November 15, 2005

RPlourde writes: I have no difficulties in assigning ethical responsibility to the person who is computer-savy... But what about the "computer-ignorant," the person who knows how to get email and how to navigate to web-sites, but is otherwise nearly clueless, yet is connected to an always-on broadband node? Let's face it, computers today are a bit like refrigerators or toasters, just with one more wire (the broad-band connection) in addition to the power cord. ... Yet this is the very group that places the computer community most at-risk. What is the ethical (or moral, if you prefer) responsibility of the computer-ignorant? How accountable are they for the damage done to third-parties by their machines?

This is an interesting question, and not one that gets discussed very often. Presumably there is some ethical responsibility for someone who operates a computer, just like if they operate a car or truck. Any time you can harms others by your actions, you bear some responsibility if you actually do so. But when people are completely ignorant of the dangers, much less how to reduce them, what happens to ethical responsibility? Does society then have to step in and impose some responsibility, like with mandating licenses to operate cars and trucks? Read More...