Cybersecurity Ethics

This course examines ethical issues relevant to ethics for cybersecurity professionals, including privacy, professional code of conduct, practical conflicts between engineering ethics and business practices, individual and corporate social responsibility, ethical hacking, information warfare, and cyberwarfare. Students will gain a broad understanding of central issues in cyberethics and the ways that fundamental ethical theories relate to these core issues.

Course Material

Reflective Writing Assignment

Muhammad Rabiu

05/01/2024

 

Topic 1: Privacy

 

Before this class, my idea of privacy focused on individual control over personal information. However, after reading Luciano Floridi’s “Privacy: Informational Friction” and James Grimmelmann’s “Privacy as Product Safety,” I’ve come to understand privacy as a comprehensive term that includes not only control but also informational friction and societal safety. Floridi’s concept of informational friction highlights the significance of controlling the flow of information to safeguard individuals and society from negative outcomes. Grimmelmann expands on this by comparing privacy to product safety, emphasizing companies’ responsibility to ensure that the items (in this case, data) they sell are safe for consumers.

My understanding of privacy has evolved now to include the collective dimension of privacy rights and duties. Individual choices are not the only consideration; cultural norms and corporate procedures also play a role. This exploration has taught me the value of pushing for privacy rules and practices that protect both individual autonomy and social well-being. I will now remember that privacy is more than simply an individual concern; it is a community undertaking that involves both human agency and structural safeguards.

 

Topic 2: Data Ethics

 

Initially, my understanding of data ethics concentrated upon the ethical use of personal data or what I came to realize was called personally identifiable information (PII) and the concepts articulated in codes of ethics such as ACM, IEEE, and NSPE. However, published works such as Zimmer’s “On the Ethics of Research in Facebook” and Buchanan’s “Considering the Ethics of Big Data Research: A Case of Twitter and ISIS/ISIL” have expanded my knowledge to include the larger societal implications of data use.

Zimmer’s investigation into the ethical implications of Facebook research raises concerns about the scope of consent and the potential harm that might result from using publicly available data without specific approval. Buchanan’s case study explores the complexity of big data research and its consequences for privacy, security, and social justice.

These texts have helped me understand the ethical challenges that come with data research and usage or perhaps the lack thereof. My conclusion is the significance of properly assessing the ethical implications of data techniques, go beyond individual privacy concerns. I will remember to approach data ethics with a comprehensive view that takes into account the larger societal consequences of data use and research.

 

Topic 3: Whistleblowing

 

A few months ago my concept of whistleblowing was shaped by the tension between loyalty to one’s employer and the moral obligation to expose wrongdoing. However, readings such as Vandekerckhove and Commers’ “Whistle Blowing and Rational Loyalty” and Oxley and Wittkower’s “Care and Loyalty in the Workplace” have provided additional insights into the ethical complications of whistleblowing.

Vandekerckhove and Commers investigate the concept of rational loyalty, claiming that whistleblowing is permissible when it serves the greater good when internal methods for reporting misconduct are inadequate. Oxley and Wittkower add to the conversation by underlining the necessity of care ethics in whistleblower cases, emphasizing the need for compassion and empathy for both victims and perpetrators of wrongdoing.

Through these readings, I’ve gained a more nuanced understanding of whistleblowing as a morally complex but sometimes necessary action. Loyalty to one’s organization is important, but it must be balanced with loyalty to broader ethical principles and stakeholder welfare. My takeaway is that whistleblowing should be approached with empathy, care, and a sense of justice. I will try to advocate for organizations to create cultures that encourage ethical whistleblowing and prioritize the well-being of all stakeholders.