MIT 7218 Legal and Ethical Aspects of Computing
Course Description
The course focuses on issues that involve computer impact on society and related concerns. The
students will be taught issues on: Transitional data flow; copyright protection; Information as a
source of economic power; rights to access computer systems; computer crime; data privacy;
estab- lishing national priorities in the technical and social aspects of computing; current and
anticipated uses of computer prediction. The course will also examine and evaluate the meaning
of ethics and professional conduct including the protection of personal ethical concerns. The
students will also be exposed to the status of the regulation and emerging markets.
Aims
This course aims at providing students with: A good grounding in social, legal, ethical and
management issues affecting their probable role as researchers and or working computer
scientists, practitioners or engineers in Computing and Information Technology-related
disciplines.
The basic background to develop their professional role in the workplace, beyond simply
per- forming technical tasks assigned to them.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the students will: Apply the ethical concepts relevant
to resolving moral issues in business, industry, and other relevant areas of concern; Articulate and
defend with good reasons his/her own ethical point of view pertaining to specific problem areas in
business, industry, and related areas; Analyze business plans, working procedures and policies in
terms of current legislative and case law; Evaluate proposed and actual changes in the law for their
effect on their working and personal environments in terms of rights, liabilities and
responsibilities; Present compelling arguments about the social impact of new technological
developments; and In addition, students should be able to maintain and develop their awareness
of the social, legal and ethical framework in which they find themselves, through knowledge of the
underlying mechanisms of change in these areas.
Teaching and Learning Pattern
The course will primarily be taught by external seminar speakers (i.e. professionals in the
field of IT and Law related disciplines) and directed reading (from internet resources and text
books as seen in the reading list). Also interactive lectures i.e. presenting a topic to the class
and giving a starting point from which the students can give their own ideas will be used in
learning this course. Strong encouragement will be given for students to continue these
discussions outside lectures both in person and using online discussion tools such as MUELE
(Makerere University Elearning). Current IT-related legislation and case law will be taught by
direct lectures, supported by directed reading. Assignments with strong formative aspects
(requiring self-directed research on a topic) will support each of the sections of the course.
Indicative Content
The course will cover the following topics: Nature of ethics, ethical development,
responsibilities and basic ethical directions Ethical principles, values, and their foundations
Specific computing and information technology related business, industry, and engineering
ethical issues Social impact of technological change: Internet communications; medical
technologies; bio-engineering; education; entertainment; industry, commerce and working
practices; globalization; public misunderstanding of science; environmental impact of high
technology National and international legal frameworks; specific legislation and case law
involving IT issues Domain Names; IP law; Data Protection; Computer misuse; Software
Licensing, Transitional data flow; copyright protection; Information as a source of economic
power; rights to access computer systems; computer crime; data privacy; establishing national
priorities in the technical and social aspects of computing
Assessment Method
Assessment will be made up of coursework (40%) and a final written exam (60%).
Coursework will entail four parts:
A portfolio or similar on social issues (10%); An essay on a legal question (10%);
Individ- ual questions from the external speakers requiring short answers (10%); In-depth
concise online discussions on legal and social issues (10%)
Reference books
• Computer Ethics: Integrating Across the Curriculum by Marion Ben-Jacob, Mercy
College, ISBN-13: 9780763778095, ISBN-10: 0763778095, Cd-rom, 2010
• Pandoras Box: Social and Professional Issues of the Information Age by Andrew A.
Adams and Rachel McCrindle (Paperback - 14 Dec 2007)
• Engineering Ethics by Charles B. Fleddermann, 1st edition Prentice Hall, 1999. ISBN
13:
9780137842247
• Engineering, Business and Professional Ethics by Moodley, Krisen, Elsevier Science &
Tech- nology 2007, ISBN-13: 9780750667418
