Contemporary Practices in
Information Technology
7WCM0005/7WCM0006 (SDL)
Gary McKinnon
Did he break the British Computer
Society Code of Conduct?
Kantianism
• 2 categorical imperative
formulations
• First formulation –
correct
• Second formulation –
correct
Act Utilitarianism
Gary McKinnon
Attributes
Intensity
Duration
Certainty
Porpinquity
Fecundity
Purity
Extent
Total
Hacking
10
10
7
6
8
4
7
52
US Military
Against Hacking
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
2
Attributes
Intensity
Duration
Certainty
Porpinquity
Fecundity
Purity
Extent
Total
The World
Attributes
Intensity
Duration
Certainty
Porpinquity
Fecundity
Purity
Extent
Total
Hacking
8
10
5
10
8
3
10
54
Against Hacking
1
0
5
0
1
2
0
9
Hacking
0
0
0
0
1
3
1
5
Against Hacking
10
10
10
1
8
2
8
49
Rule Utilitarianism
Gary McKinnon
Attributes
Intensity
Duration
Certainty
Porpinquity
Fecundity
Purity
Extent
Total
Hacking
10
10
7
6
8
4
7
52
US Military
Against Hacking
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
2
Attributes
Intensity
Duration
Certainty
Porpinquity
Fecundity
Purity
Extent
Total
The World
Attributes
Intensity
Duration
Certainty
Porpinquity
Fecundity
Purity
Extent
Total
Hacking
8
10
5
10
8
3
10
54
Against Hacking
1
0
5
0
1
2
0
9
Hacking
0
0
0
0
1
3
1
5
Against Hacking
10
10
10
1
8
2
8
49
Social Contract Theory
• Established moral
rules
• Government capable
of enforcing the rules
• Fail
Question
• Did he break the BCS code of conduct?
• What is the BCS code of conduct?
• What ethics do you have to abide by?
• How do these relate to Gary McKinnon?
Analysis 1
• 1. b: have due regard for the legitimate rights of Third Parties*.
• 2. c: develop your professional knowledge, skills and competence on a
continuing basis, maintaining awareness of technological developments,
procedures, and standards that are relevant to your field.
• 2. f: avoid injuring others, their property, reputation, or employment by
false or malicious or negligent action or inaction.
• 3. a: carry out your professional responsibilities with due care and
diligence in accordance with the Relevant Authority’s requirements whilst
exercising your professional judgment at all times.
• 3. b: seek to avoid any situation that may give rise to a conflict of interest
between you and your Relevant Authority.
Analysis 2
•
3. d: NOT disclose or authorise to be disclosed, or use for personal gain or to
benefit a third party, confidential information except with the permission of your
Relevant Authority, or as required by Legislation.
•
3. e: NOT misrepresent or withhold information on the performance of products,
systems or services (unless lawfully bound by a duty of confidentiality not to
disclose such information), or take advantage of the lack of relevant knowledge or
inexperience of others.
•
4. a: accept your personal duty to uphold the reputation of the profession and not
take any action which could bring the profession into disrepute.
•
4. b: seek to improve professional standards through participation in their
development, use and enforcement.
•
4. d: act with integrity and respect in your professional relationships with all
members of BCS and with members of other professions with whom you work in a
professional capacity.
Conclusion
• Were his morals just?
• Does this fall in line
with the BCS code of
conduct?
• Answer: He broke
them
Thank You
• Take away thoughts;
• Health
• Mistakes