Just in contemplating the title, the first thought that comes to mind is that technology itself is just a tool - incapable of possessing morals or ethical qualities. Obviously when discussing technological ethics it's about what humans do with technology. In developing a technology itself certain moral questions come to mind: How is it to be made and developed? How is it to be used? Does this technology help others or does it hinder? Does this technology develop individuality or does it threaten it?
As an instructor in computers and networking these are questions I face when discussing communications security, specifically network security. Computers are a wonderful device if used in a thoughtful, positive and innovative way - even used for amusement.
But they can also be destructive in nature. For instance, there are in the network community people that are called hackers. These individuals take code and create viruses, Trojans and worms - all malicious tools that are used to invade other computers - individual, corporate, government and military. As a former military man and now a government civilian employee these are things I have had to deal with on a personal level.
At the time of this writing, we are a nation at war. This war is not just about guns, bombs and bullets but about ideologies, thoughts and beliefs that culminate in violence and death of innocents. The way that these ideologies and beliefs are spread are through the use of computers, websites and blogs that are developed to entice and deceive others to an extreme way of thinking.
A person can argue that this is about freedom of choice and a matter of perspective of what is ethically right or wrong in this war of thought. I admit that it is about freedom of choice - but when a technological tool is used that does not enhance human growth but its destruction; when it is used to spread beliefs that enslave women and children (such as the Taliban have in Afghanistan) - then the moral ethics involved are clearly in the wrong.
In our country, we are to hold ourselves to a higher ethic in using this technology. Yes, we use computers and networks in our fight but we is it in defense of what we believe is freedom and liberty. May we not lose sight of that higher calling.
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