Abstract
This paper considers the relationship between ethics, technology and law, and the roles and limitations each has in this relationship. It argues that ethics has the key role in establishing a resilient, comprehensive and sensitive information infrastructure. It puts forward a Bill of Rights and Responsibilities for the electronic community.
… the most important use of the internet, and indeed the NII, will be to allow individuals to communicate with each other and to rapidly access the information they require or desire…. A combination of ethics, technology and law are needed to insure the effective development of this important aspect of the network of the future. Robert E. Kahn1
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Kahn, R. E. (Aug. 1994) Viewpoint: The Role of Government in the Evolution of the Internet,Communications of the ACM 37 (8): 18.
Wasch, K. (1994) Protecting the Goodies in the Digital Candy Store,Technos Quarterly 3 (2) Summer: 20–22.
Gould, C. C. (1989) (ed)The Information Web: Ethical and Social Implications of Computer Networking, Westview Press, Boulder, San Francisco and London: p. 1.
Etzioni, A. (1968)The Active Society: A Theory of Social and Political Processes, The Free Press, New York: pp. 48–49.
Frederick, W.C., Davis, K & Post, J.E. (1988)Business & Society: Corporate Strategy, Public Policy, Ethics, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York: p. 12.
Forester, T., Morrison, P. (1990)Computer Ethics: Cautionary Tales and Ethical Dilemmas in Computing, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA: p. 5.
Wasch, op cit.
Etzioni, A. (1993)The Spirit of Community, Crown Publishers, Inc. New York, p. 30.
Gellerman, S.W. (1989) Managing Ethics from the Top Down,Information Executive, The Journal of Information Systems Management 2 (4): 28.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Connolly, F.W. A call for a statement of expectations for the global information infrastructure. Sci Eng Ethics 2, 167–176 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02583551
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02583551