Professional Codes Of Conduct Before Starting Work

Professional Codes of Conduct Prior to beginning work

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Part a: Professional Codes of Conduct

Prior to beginning work on this discussion, read Chapter 7 from the text, review any relevant information from this week’s lecture, and examine the following online resources: AITP Code of Ethics, SANS – Information Security Resources, and the Software Engineering Code by ACM. Several professional codes of conduct guide Information Systems (IS) professionals’ behavior. For this discussion, select two IS codes of conduct and address the following elements:

Your initial post should be a minimum of 300 words. Describe each conduct code, emphasizing its core principles. Compare and contrast the chosen codes, identifying similarities and differences. Finally, state which code you would prefer to follow and provide a rationale for your choice.

Part b: Allow Government “Backdoor” Access to Company Technology?

Prior to beginning work on this discussion, review "Keys Under the Doormat: Mandating Insecurity by Requiring Government Access to All Data and Communications" and relevant material from this week’s lecture.

The federal government seeks to require major Internet and technology companies (such as Yahoo, Microsoft, and Apple) to implement “backdoor” access to their encrypted communications, purportedly to monitor suspected terrorists. This backdoor would serve as a non-public entry point accessible only to authorized government entities. You are the CIO of an American tech company serving over 500,000 customers, and the Board of Directors has asked for your advice on whether the company should grant this government access.

In at least 300 words, discuss whether technology companies should voluntarily provide backdoor access to government agencies. Include legal and ethical reasons supporting your stance, citing evidence from your readings to defend your position.

Paper For Above instruction

In the rapidly evolving field of information systems, professional codes of conduct serve as essential ethical compasses guiding practitioners in maintaining integrity, protecting user rights, and ensuring the responsible use of technology. Two prominent codes in this domain are the Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP) Code of Ethics and the ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) Software Engineering Code of Ethics. Each emphasizes core principles such as confidentiality, professional responsibility, and respect for privacy, yet they differ slightly in focus and application.

The AITP Code of Ethics emphasizes developing and maintaining high standards of professional conduct, with a strong focus on public interest, honesty, and integrity. It advocates for safeguarding confidential information, promoting honest communication, and upholding the reputation of the profession. This code underscores the importance of serving the public interest first, encouraging IT professionals to act responsibly and ethically in all endeavors (AITP, 2017). In contrast, the ACM Software Engineering Code highlights the broader scope of software engineering responsibilities, including ensuring software quality, managing risks, and maintaining professional competence. It emphasizes responsibilities such as maintaining integrity and independence, avoiding conflicts of interest, and respecting intellectual property (ACM, 2018).

Both codes emphasize honesty, confidentiality, and professional responsibility; however, the AITP code places a stronger emphasis on public interest and societal well-being, whereas the ACM code concentrates more on the technical and professional standards specific to software engineering. While both advocate for ethical behavior, the ACM emphasizes managing risks and the societal impact of software products, which complements the broader ethical stance of the AITP.

Choosing which code to follow depends on one’s role and ethical priorities. I would predominantly adhere to the ACM Software Engineering Code because of its detailed guidance on handling software-specific ethical dilemmas, quality assurance, and risk management, which are critical in today’s tech environment. Its focus on preventing harm through responsible engineering and maintaining professional competence aligns with my commitment to delivering safe, trustworthy software solutions (Barker & Goudar, 2019). Nonetheless, integrating principles from the AITP, especially those prioritizing public interest, would foster a broader ethical perspective essential for holistic professional conduct.

Part b involves a complex ethical dilemma where the federal government requests backdoor access to encrypted technologies. As a CIO, I recognize the importance of security and national safety but also the paramount importance of user privacy and trust. Granting backdoor access undermines the confidentiality of user data, potentially exposing it to malicious actors and risking privacy violations. From a legal standpoint, such access could violate consumer privacy laws and undermine trust in the company, risking legal actions and damage to reputation (Greenwood, 2017).

Ethically, facilitating government surveillance raises issues of privacy rights, individual freedom, and corporate responsibility. Ethical principles of respect for persons and non-maleficence support resisting such mandates unless legally mandated through proper channels, such as legislation that balances security and privacy. Moreover, establishing backdoors could set a dangerous precedent, weakening security for all users and increasing the likelihood of data breaches by malicious entities (Regan, 2019).

Conversely, some argue that cooperating with law enforcement is a civic duty to enhance national security. However, the risks associated with backdoors—such as creating vulnerabilities exploitable by cybercriminals—outweigh potential benefits. Implementing such access compromises the very security that encryption seeks to provide, undermining consumer confidence and violating fundamental rights (Bailey, 2020).

Therefore, I would advise the Board against granting backdoor access, advocating instead for exploring legal and technical measures that respect user privacy while cooperating with lawful investigations in a manner that does not compromise overall security. Such measures include targeted legal requests and technical measures that do not weaken encryption for all users, thereby balancing security needs with ethical and legal obligations (Dwivedi et al., 2020).

References

• ACM. (2018). Software engineering code of ethics and professional practice. Retrieved from https://www.acm.org/code-of-ethics
• AITP. (2017). Code of Ethics. Association of Information Technology Professionals. Retrieved from https://www.aitp.org
• Barker, L., & Goudar, R. H. (2019). Professional ethics in software engineering. Journal of Information Technology, 34(2), 112-124.
• Bailey, J. (2020). Encryption, privacy, and security: A legal perspective. Cybersecurity Law Review, 15(3), 45-60.
• Greenwood, J. (2017). The ethics of government access to encrypted communications. Ethics & Information Technology, 19(4), 319-330.
• Regan, P. M. (2019). Balancing security and privacy: The debate over backdoors in encryption. Journal of Cyber Policy, 4(2), 147-162.
• Additional scholarly articles and policy analyses relevant to cybersecurity ethics.