Cyber Law and Professional Ethics

Unit One
An Overview of Ethics, Ethics for IT Workers and IT Users

Adv. Rakshya Giri

 Course Objectives

 Knowledge of Cyber Law

 Knowledge of Cyber security
 Knowledge on Privacy Protection
 Knowledge on Intellectual Property Protection
 Knowledge on Ethics for IT Professionals and IT
Organizations
 Ethics
 The word ethics is derived from the Greek word ethos, which means "character/Custom
or habits," and from the Latin word mores, which means "customs.“
 The branch of philosophy that defines whether what is good/right for the individual and
for society and establishes the nature of obligations, or duties, that people owe
themselves and one another. In modern society, ethics define how individuals,
professionals, and corporations choose to interact with one another.
 Aristotle was one of the first great philosophers to study ethics.
 As per Aristotle, ethics was more than a moral, religious, or legal concept. He believed
that the most important element in ethical behavior is knowledge that actions are
accomplished for the betterment of the common good.
 Also called as moral philosophy.
 Moral refers to customs and customs are pattern/behavior that has always been done and
accepted by law
 Ethics is also known as science of customs or habits of society.
 It is also the study of what is right or good in human conduct or behavior.
 Standards of conduct that indicate how one should behave based on moral duties.
 Ethics involves learning what is right or wrong, and then doing the right thing.
 Ethics is the study of what is right or wrong in human conduct. This is a branch of
Philosophy which studies moral principles. Hence, Ethics is also known as Moral
Philosophy.
 Ethics includes the fundamental ground rules by which we live our lives.
Philosophers such as Socrates and Plato have given guidelines for ethical behavior.
Many ethicists consider emerging ethical beliefs to be legal principles, i.e., what
becomes an ethical guideline today is made into to a law, regulation or rule.
 The concept has come to mean various things to various people, but generally in the
context of organizations coming to know what it right or wrong in the workplace and
doing what's right -- this is in regard to effects of products/services and in
relationships with stakeholders.
 Determinants of Ethics
 Determinants are the sources from which the ethical standard arises.
There are multiple determinants of ethics like
1. Religion
2. Law
3. Society
4. Individual
5. Knowledge
6. Time
 Consequences of Ethics
 A consequence is the outcome of any act. Doing good with proper reasoning (being ethical) has
many positive consequences like
• Safeguarding the society.
• Feeling good.
• Creating credibility.
• Satisfying basic human needs etc.
 However, being unethical has many negative consequences like
• Loss of trust.
• Nepotism.
• Corruption.
• Crimes etc.
 Types of Ethics
 Meta-ethics: The theoretical meaning and reference of moral
propositions and how their truth value(if any)may be
determined. It address the question such as “what is good?”
 Normative ethics: The practical means of determining a moral
course of action. It is the study of ethical behavior. It deals with
“what should I do?”
 Applied Ethics: The practical application of moral considerations.
Also, deals with real-world actions and their moral considerations
in the areas of private and public life, the professions, health,
technology, law, and leadership.
 Nature of Ethics
 Both normative Science and arts
 Deals with human conduct
 Associated with morals and values.
 Science of Ideals Involved in Human Conduct
 Objectives of Ethics

 Study human behavior and makes evaluation whether what is good and what
is bad.
 To establish moral standard and norms of the behavior.
 To study and assess human behavior.
 It is also to establish principles and moral standards of behavior.
 Ethics is not compulsory in a person’s life and it is not forced upon anyone
but being ethical is one step forward towards being a good person.
 Ethics in Business World
 Business ethic refers to conducting all aspects of business and dealing with the
stakeholders/client with ethical manner.
 Honesty, Respect and Trust are the major pillar/foundation of business ethics.
 The idea of business ethics came into existence along with the creation of the first
companies or organizations, what is most often referred to by the term is its
recent history since the early 1970s.
 Business ethics are important for every company. It keeps workers safe, help trade
and interactions between companies remain honest and fair, and generally make
for better goods and services.
 It helps a company to distinguish whether what a company will and won’t stand
for is not always the same for each organization, but knowing basic ethical
guidelines is a key component of company management.
 Business ethics is the prescribed code of conduct for businesses. It is a set of
guidelines for dealing with various procedures ethically.
 “Business Ethics is an art and science for maintaining harmonious relationship
with society, its various groups and institutions as well as recognizing the moral
responsibility for the rightness and wrongness of business conduct” -Wheeler
 It is the prescribed code of conduct for businesses. It is a set of guidelines for
dealing with various procedures ethically.
 It ascertain social, cultural, legal, and other economic limitations and safeguard
the interest of parties involved
 It comprises corporate responsibility, personal responsibility, social
responsibility, loyalty, fairness, respect, trustworthiness, and technology ethics.
 It emphasizes moral and social values like consumer protection, welfare,
sustainability, customer loyalty, brand image, and employee retention, fair
business practices, and service to society.
 Non-compliance with ethics can result in hefty fines and legal actions.
 A small mistake made by one employee can tarnish the brand image of a
company.
 Likewise, the un-ethical decisions impact customers, employees, and
shareholders.
 What is right or wrong conduct for a business is the standard
called Business Ethics.
 Business Ethics are not always aligned with laws and therefore
“ethical” and “legal” behavior is not the same.
 Companies establish business ethics to maintain trust between
employees but also outwardly to other partners and investors.
Throughout the years there have been many business scandals
that have occurred due to a lack of ethics imposed on decision
making and business conducts.
 Business Ethics have begun to become more of an importance to
companies today as it creates a clear image of the company,
builds trust between employees, and protects the company from
any legal issues. As whistle-blowing has become more popular
due to increased potential identity threats, companies have
tightened up their business policies and practices to prevent any
ethical missteps.
 Business Ethics have prompted many companies to adopt corporate
policies that address specific areas of company interactions.
 To make sure that employees understand what the rules are at a
company and what procedures they are allowed to work on they sign an
ethics contract. However, to establish that business ethics are properly
followed, more must be done than just having an employee sign a
contract.
 Companies must maintain constant communication about their policy
which can be done through campaigns that will engage every member
of the company or during an employee’s initial training.
 To ensure that these ethical policies are respected and followed,
companies must continue to develop strong communication with their
employees and partners and set up an open environment.
 In this environment, employees should be able to voice their opinions
and concerns without judgment and companies should be able to take
action when necessary if any instances of breaking the ethical code
arise.
 Ethical Issues in Business World
 Workplace discrimination
 Inaccurate financial reporting
 Inappropriate safety measures
 Poor working conditions/Unmanaged work premises
 Employee harassment
 Misleading product information
 Breach of Data and security
 Types of Business ethics
 Corporate Responsibility
 Social Responsibility
 Personal Responsibility
 Technology Ethics
 Fairness
 Transparency
Importance of ethics in business world
 For employee commitment
 Client/Customer satisfaction
 Building relationship with stakeholders
 Confidence and loyalty towards profession/organization
 Honesty and fairness
 To focus on a strategy
 To maintain product quality
Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR)
 CSR is all about:
a. Making Profit
b. Obeying the rule
c. Being ethical
 Addresses social issues by using business resources and expertise
 It has been practicing by many business organizations to maintain a sound
relationship with local and national institutions so that it may make a positive
impact on customer flow and retention.
 It is the organization management's practice to ensure that there should be a
positive impact on society by generating employees and satisfying the
customer need.
 It is the responsibility of any corporate body towards the society. It is carried
out through benevolent activities for society by targeting environment,
employees, community, deprived sector and so on
 Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR)

 CSR of Starbucks
Starbucks is a well-known firm that practices corporate social responsibility. As
indicated by the company: Starbucks’ social corporate responsibility and
sustainability is about being responsible and doing things that are good for the planet
and each other.
a. Starbucks Youth Action Grants
b. Ethos Water Fund
c. Ethical Sourcing
d. Green Building
 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is the commitment from all the stakeholders,
business to be specific, for their contribution to improve the quality of life of the
people of a certain community or a society at large. CSR is considered as the
transparent business practices based on business ethics that come along with the
legal requirements and accountability towards the society.
 Benefits/Perks of CSR
 Stronger brand image, recognition, and reputation
 Increased customer loyalty and sales
 Retaining key and talented employees
 Easier access to funding
 CSR in Nepal
 Nepalese business community has historically been active in CSR by contributing to
build educational institutions, temples and Dharmasaalas and they have always
helped with food, cloth and amenities in the times of natural calamities. They have
been carrying out CSR philanthropically which is now being shifted towards more
strategic intent.
 The Industrial Enterprise Act, 2020 has made mandatory CSR for industrial enterprises
of certain size and types, while NRB regulations have made the CSR activities
mandatory to the Nepalese banking industry.
 Nepalese business community has historically been active in CSR by contributing to
build educational institutions, temples and Dharmasaalas and they have always
helped with food, cloth and amenities in the times of natural calamities.
 Industrial Enterprise Act, 2016 and Nepal Rastra Bank’s (NRB's) regulations have made
the CSR activities mandatory for the Nepalese banking sector
 CSR in Nepal
 The corporate world in Nepal, for few years, was involved in CSR and had
been practicing silent philanthropy for different sectors of the society. Most
commonly, businesses are focusing on education, healthcare and
environment, and heritage protection to count as a part of CSR.
 The Industrial Enterprise Act, 2020 has made mandatory CSR for industrial
enterprises of certain size and types, while NRB regulations have made the
CSR activities mandatory to the Nepalese banking industry.
 The Industrial Enterprise Act (section 48) and Circular no. 11/073/74 issued
by Nepal Rastra Bank mandatorily imposed CSR over certain industries,
banks, and financial institutions.
 Industrial Enterprise Act, 2016 and Nepal Rastra Bank’s (NRB's) regulations
have made the CSR activities mandatory for the Nepalese banking sector
 Nepal Telecom
 Nepal Telecom provided notable services during last year’s earthquake. The
company provided free mobile call services amounting to Rs 1.46 billion
immediately after the disaster receiving widespread applause nationally
and internationally.
 Meanwhile, the Bagmati River Clean-Up campaign is another noteworthy
social initiative of NT focusing on environmental protection.
 NT in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture Development (MoAD),
distributed a total of 5,500 SIM cards, of which 1,500 and 4,000 units were
distributed in the first and second phase respectively.
 Nepal Telecom has also provided a free child help line to Child Workers in
Nepal (CWIN) and is also providing the same kind of services for
organisations working on child protection.
 CSR in Nepal
 Even with the gradual practice of CSR culture in Nepal, the actual concept of
CSR is yet to be captivated well by the corporate world in Nepal.
 The business houses, despite spending their substantial time and money on
projects, the impact to the concerned stakeholders is hardly felt, especially
in education sectors.
 After the 2015 earthquakes, according to the ADB, close to 8,000 schools
and 30,000 classrooms were damaged or destroyed, directly affecting the
education of 1.5 million children. However, these corporate houses, as
experts say, could not address the core part even after six years of the
massive earthquake.
 NCELL
 Ncell has its focus in education, environment, livelihood, health and other
areas as well. The mobile service provider has spent Rs 388.55 million so far
on CSR projects. In addition to this, Ncell is also spending Rs 1 billion for
rebuilding of schools and other infrastructures that were damaged due to
the devastating earthquake of April 2015.
 Ncell App Camp has been another major project that the company ran in
2014 and 2015 aiming to unleash the country’s digital talent, by providing
them capacity building training to build businesses around the mobile app
idea and to set up their own startup businesses.
 Ncell is also adopting clean energy as a part of its environmental
responsibility.
 Since July 2016, Ncell has also been collaborating with Department of
Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) and is disseminating flood early warning
SMS alerts to the people living downstream of major rivers, helping them to
remain safe and prevent loss of property during floods.
Fostering Corporate Social Responsibility
and Good Business Ethics
 Ethics and corporate social responsibility (CSR) have become watchwords for
the governance industry in recent years.
 Growing pressure on businesses, coupled with companies' ambitions to 'do
better' regarding ethical and corporate social responsibility, has pushed the
issue to the top of board agendas.
 Despite this, the concepts of corporate social responsibility and ethics are not
always fully understood by businesses.
 Practicing corporate social responsibility can make an organization more
aware of its impact on society.
 Improving Business Ethics
 Engaging with employee and customers
 Framing Code of Conduct
 Promote Ethical behavior
 Reward ethical behavior
 Learning from mistake
 Being a good role model
 Engage staff and other stakeholders such as suppliers, investors, regulators and consumer
communities, through effective and informative communication. Good, regular and
consistent communication and training will help to embed an ethical culture.
 Provide support routes for staff. Organizations need to develop clear routes for reporting
suspected fraud and violation of company policies on ethical behavior. Too many
organizations are weak in this regard and must adopt a zero-tolerance approach.
Ethical Consideration in Decision-Making
 Ethical decision-making is based on core character values like trustworthiness, respect,
responsibility, fairness, caring, and good citizenship. Ethical decisions generate ethical
behaviors and provide a foundation for good business practices.
 Most significant decisions in organizations are not only complex but could be considered
dilemmas, because they involve fundamental conflicts between a set of economic and
self-interest considerations and a competing set of ethical, legal, and social
considerations.
 Ethical decisions are almost always complex, for several reasons. Most ethical decisions
have: (a) multiple alternatives; (b) consequences that extend beyond the immediate
situation; (c) uncertain consequences; (d) outcomes that mix various economic, legal,
and social benefits and costs; and (e) personal implications.
 Ethical decisions in organizations are seldom simple choices between right and wrong;
they involve complex judgments balancing economic and self-interest benefits and costs
against various legal, ethical, and social benefits and costs.
Ethics in Information Technology
 The study of ethical concerns resulting from the usage and
advancement of electronic technologies is known as information
technology ethics.
 Its objective is to find and formulate responses to queries regarding
the moral foundations of private obligations and conduct as well as
the moral foundations of public policy.
 Because information technology has caused dramatic social,
political, and conceptual change, information technology ethics
raises new and unique moral issues.
 Because information technology affects not only how we do things
but also how we think about them, it calls into question some of the
fundamental organizing concepts of moral and political philosophy,
such as property, privacy, power distribution, basic liberties, and
moral responsibility.
 Information technology refers to the elements that are used to store, retrieve, and
alter information, starting with the server's operating system.
 On a large scale, it has a wide range of applications in education, business, health,
industries, the banking sector, and scientific research.
 With the rapid advancement of information technology, it is essential to understand
security issues, privacy concerns, and the main negative effects of IT.
 It is critical to identify ethical issues when dealing with these issues in IT society.
 Some of the major ethical issues faced by Information Technology (IT) are:
a Personal Privacy
b Access Right
c Harmful Actions
d Patents
e Copyright
f Trade Secrets
g Liability
h Piracy
Ethical questions that may arise to IT professionals
 What are the moral responsibilities of computer
professionals?
 Who is to blame when computer software failure causes
harm? Is computer hacking immoral?
 Is it immoral to make unauthorized copies of software?
 what constitutes just policy with respect to freedom of
speech, association, and the exercise of other civil liberties
over computer networks?
 What determines the extent and limits of property rights
over computer software and electronic information? What
policies adequately protect a right to privacy?
Managing IT worker Relationship
 Managing IT worker Relationship
 Management is nothing but a technique which brings people together on a common
platform and guides them so that they achieve their desired targets without fighting with
each other.
 IT personnel are critical to a company because they provide assistance when computer
systems or networks fail.
 An excellent IT specialist should be flexible and disciplined.
 Transparency in communication
 Help desk-based employees who require support with their computers or phones, as well
as distant workers.
 Their roles in the department vary depending on how they assist in resolving emerging
technological challenges in the office to minimize disruptions.
 Assisting users with concerns relating to software and computers
 It Professional have many different relationship with
 Employees
 Clients
 Suppliers
 IT Users
 Other Professionals
 Examining threats and dangers of IT equipment
 Maintaining the company's computer infrastructure
 Teach other employees on the best practices of IT, to ensure maximum use of
IT resources and avoid threats and virus attacks.
 Analyze business challenges and develop programs
 Shares technical knowledge with others
 Thinks outside-the-box (Be Creative)
 Sees problems as learning opportunities
 An excellent IT specialist should be flexible and disciplined.
 Transparency in communication
 Help desk-based employees who require support with their computers or
phones, as well as distant workers.
 Their roles in the department vary depending on how they assist in resolving
emerging technological challenges in the office to minimize disruptions.
 Assisting users with concerns relating to software and computers
 CONCLUSION
 Beyond technical skills, success in IT takes an interesting mix
of character traits and things you know and do. Review your
own character and disposition to see if IT is a good fit for
you.
 Think about how you can improve some of these traits to
progress in your IT career. Go back over the list periodically
to see where you have improved and to determine what areas
to work on next.
 Being ethical or inquisitive, are more difficult to learn and
develop.
 Professional skills, such as knowing when to say you don't
know something or not being afraid to call technical support,
can be learned and honed.
 Professional Organizations
 A professional organization, also known as a professional
association or professional body, exists to advance a specific
profession, support the interests of those who work in that
profession, and serve the public good.
 It facilitates innovation, communication and connection.
 A professional organization typically charges membership dues,
has an elected leadership body, and a variety of subcommittees
or functional areas.
 Professional organizations can be national or international in
nature, and they frequently have close ties to colleges and
universities that offer degree programs in that field.
 Types of professional organizations
 There are four types of professional
organizations. Some of these organizations offer
the same benefits. Learning about each one can
help you decide which organization could be
right for you:
 Member-benefit professional associations
 Designation-granting associations
 Certifying bodies
 Professional regulatory bodies
 Member-benefit professional
associations
 These organizations are primarily concerned with
providing their individual members with access to
physical resources such as journals and conferences.
 Theyalso provide resources such as peer support,
networking, and resume development.
 Designation-granting associations
 Designation-granting associations are organizations that
provide members with a certification to demonstrate
their dedication to the field.
 Certificationis typically granted after a candidate
completes professional learning hours, demonstrates
knowledge of work products, passes an exam, or a
combination of these items.
 Members who achieve these certifications must usually
renew them every few years by completing continuing
education hours.
 Certifying bodies
 Certifying bodies are organizations that award
credentials to members who meet certain criteria. The
primary purpose of certifying bodies, as opposed to
designation-granting associations, is to issue and track
certifications.
 As a prerequisite, applicants may be required to have
some education or professional experience. Many
certification organizations also require applicants to
pass an exam and renew their credentials on a regular
basis.
 Professional regulatory bodies
 Professional regulatory bodies develop and
maintain expectations of the industry. They follow
state and federal guidelines in order to best serve
the public.
 These bodies often establish and uphold licensing
and certification requirements for specific
occupations.
 Thistype of professional organization can exclude
members if they don’t follow the established
guidelines.
How to Select a Professional Organization
 Knowing how to select the right professional organization for you is an
important part of accessing the great benefits that professional organizations
offer. Here we outline four steps you can follow to select a professional
organization:
1. Determine your career goals
2. Research your company and the larger industry
3. Consider any necessary requirements
4. Compare organization benefits
Benefits of a professional organization
 A professional organization offers tremendous benefits to
individual professionals including:
1. Professional growth and development
2. Access to resources and events
3. Resume building
4. Networking and job searching
5. Peer support