THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ETHICS AND LAW

 

DEFINITION OF ETHICS

In general, ethics is a moral philosophy where a person makes a specific moral choice and sticks to it. On the other hand, ethics in computing means moral guidelines to refer to when using the computer and computer networks. This includes the Internet.

 

 

DEFINITION OF LAW

Law is a legal system comprising of rules and principles that govern the affairs of a community and controlled by a political authority.

Law differs from one country to another. In the era of technology, computer law is needed to clarify goods or actions that fall under the computer law. Computer law refers to all areas in law that requires an understanding of computer technology such as hardware, software and Internet.

 

 

Examples of laws of computing in Malaysia include the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Act, the Computer Crime Act 1997 and the Telemedicine Act 1997.

 

WHY DO WE NEED ETHICS AND LAW IN COMPUTING?

 

· Respecting Ownership

· Respecting Privacy

· Respecting Property

 

RESPECTING OWNERSHIP

We must respect ownership by not stealing other people’s work either by duplicating or distributing it. Duplicating and distributing copies of audio

tapes, video tapes and computer programs without permission and authorisation from the individual or company that created the program

are immoral and illegal.

 

RESPECTING PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY

We should respect other people's privacy and confidentiality by refraining ourselves from reading their mails or files without their permission. If we do so, it is considered as violating an individual’s rights to privacy and confidentiality.

 

RESPECTING PROPERTY

Property here means ownership. Since an individual data and information are considered as property, therefore, an act of tampering and changing electronic information is considered as vandalism and disrespect for other people’s property.

 

SIMILARITIES BETWEEN ETHICS AND LAW

Both ethics and law are complimentary to each other and are made:

 

· to guide user from misusing computers

· to create a healthy computer society, so that computers are used to contribute to a better life

· to prevent any crime

 

 

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ETHICS AND LAWS

 

ETHICS