Communications of the ACM
Socieotechnical Changes Inspire pdating Acm's Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct
In 1992, everyone knew someone who owned a rotary telephone; today, many young people have never "dialed" a phone. In 1992, artificial intelligence was confined to research labs; today, we find it driving on our highways. In 1992, no one had ever caught a Pokemon; today, they are everywhere.
In 1992, the ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct was adopted as the 15th bylaw of the ACM.
It has not always been easy to see the impact of the Code on our profession since then, but recent reports indicate this is no longer the case. The Code was cited in the Oracle v. Google case about the Java API, and by The New York Times with reference to whether Apple ought to unlock an iPhone for the FBI. In addition, ACM’s Committee on Professional Ethics (COPE) has received an inquiry from a major corporation about how the Code applies to research, development, and deployment of artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Computing has changed over the last 24 years, and now influences every corner of our lives. The significance of clear ethical visions for computing professionals has become more important. As responsible computing professionals, we are updating the Code to maintain its relevance as the conscience of computing so it can continue to be robust and a useful guide in decision-making.
There have been changes in the power, ubiquity, and mobility of computers. They are increasingly integrated into people’s lives. There is a clear need to update the imperatives and supporting guidelines in order to better reflect the complexity of the environment we impact through the practice of our profession. In order to do a thorough job drafting updates to the Code, COPE needs your perspective on computing.
Our goal is to have a first draft of the updated Code available for comment in November. We invite you to participate in this process now by submitting your perspective on changes in technology, society, and how people use technology, so those changes will be reflected in the updated Code. Better yet, take a look at the Code and offer a suggestion on how that might be done. The COPE website has more information about this project, and a form for providing feedback.
The ACM Code of Ethics has been an influential document for decades. With your help, we will keep it relevant and effective.
Marty J. Wolf is a professor of computer science at Bemidji State University, and is vice-chair of ACM’s Committee on Professional Ethics (COPE).
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