1

Lecture 3
Information, Computer
and Communication
Ethics

Todays lecture outline

1. What are ethics? Why needed?
2. Islamic code of ethics
3. Network etiquette (8 broad
rules)
4. Brief overview of ACM code of
ethics

Ethics

Ethics is a major branch of

philosophy, encompassing right
conduct and good life.

Wikipedia article

Need: Good life---

Be they men or women those who

believe and do what is right,
We shall surely endow with a good
life; We shall reward them
according to their noblest actions.

Surah An-Nahl (16:97)


Islamic
law (Shariah)

What is Islam?

Islamic law (Shariah)

Overlooked aspect of Shareeah

Basic principle for social

conduct

No harm or reciprocating harm

Potential ICT related harm

Personal
Honor/ integrity
Time; Privacy
Economical, Equipment
Network
Network bandwidth
Network availability

Network
Etiquette =
Netiquette

Netiquette

Ethics and
Netiquette
Remember the human

Communication on the Internet does

not replace/ substitute normal
contact.
From:

Netiquette

Ethics and
Netiquette

ont abuse your new found anonymi

Adhere to the same standards of
behavior online that you follow in real
life.

Spying and Backbiting

O you who
believe!
Ethics
andAvoid much
suspicions,
indeed some
Netiquette
suspicions are sins. And spy not,
neither backbite one another.
Would one of you like to eat the
flesh of his dead brother?

Surah Al-Hujuraat (49:12)

Netiquette

3
Respect people's time and

bandwidth

Avoid chain emails; large

attachments;
Use a subject that defines your email;
Always read FAQs (discussion lists).
Before forwarding the next chain letter,
check at www.snopes.com if its a hoax

Relaying of unfounded
information

O you who
believe!
Ethics
andIf a rebellious
evil person
comes to you with a
Netiquette
news, verify it, lest you harm
people in ignorance, and
afterwards you become regretful
to what you have done.

Surah Al-Hujuraat (49:6)

Netiquette

Ethics and
Netiquette
Avoid sloppy language/
grammar
Dont use ALL CAPS (which denotes
shouting)
Easy on the exclamation marks!!!!
Avoid using short forms in formal

Respect Ownership

Ethics and
Netiquette
Respect/
acknowledge
intellectual
property

Using someones property

unjustly

Ethicsbelieve!
and
O you who
Do not
consume Netiquette
your property among
yourselves unjustly unless it be a
trade amongst you, by mutual
consent.

Surah An-Nisaa (4:29)

Copy/ share/ modify/ sell rights

Ethics and
All Rights
Netiquette
Reserved

Some Rights
Reserved
Creative
Commons

Creative Commons
Ethics and
Netiquette
(by:
Attribution)

(nd:
No derivates)

(sa:
Share-alike)

(nc:
Noncommercial)

Netiquette

Ethics and
Netiquette

Respect other people's

privacy

From:

Privacy and Confidentiality

O ye who believe! Enter not

houses other than your own
without first announcing your
presence and invoking peace
upon the folk thereof. That is
better for you, that ye may be
heedful.

Surah An-Noor (24:27)

Netiquette

From:

Ethics and
Netiquette
Dont abuse the
power entrusted to
you

Fulfilling trust

O ye that believe! betray not the

trust of Allah and the Messenger,
nor misappropriate knowingly
things entrusted to you.

Surah Al-Anfal (8:27)

.. and fulfill your covenant; verily,
the covenant will be asked about.

Surah Al-Israa (17:34)

Netiquette

Ethics and
Netiquette
Protect your Haya
(modesty)

See no evil, hear no evil, do no evil

Live an online life of Taqwa!
Taqwa (parable): protecting ones self on a
thorny path

Man is accountable

Verily the hearing, the sight,

and the heart---all of them,
they will be questioned

Surah Al-Israa (17:36)

Code of Ethics

1.

General Moral
Contribute to society and human well-being.
Imperatives

2. Avoid harm to others.

3. Be honest and trustworthy.
4. Be fair and take action not to discriminate.
5. Honor property rights including copyrights and
patent.
6. Give proper credit for intellectual property.
7. Respect the privacy of others.

How to
acquire
good ethics

??

1. Learning about knowledge

Can those who know and those

who do not know become
equal? It is only people of
understanding who are
receptive of the advice
Surah Al-Zumar (39:9)

What is true knowledge

Only those of His slaves fear

Allah who are knowledgeable

Surah Al-Fatir (35:28)

True knowledge is that knowledge

that leads to Khashiya (fear of some
one due to its greatness) of Allah
(SWT)

2) Company of pious people

()

O you who believe, fear Allah,

and be in the company of the
truthful (Sadiqeen)

Surah At-Taubah (9:119)

Todays lecture summary

1. Why act ethically? Intention.
2. Islamic code of ethics
3. Network etiquette
4. Brief overview of ACM code of
ethics
5. How to acquire good ethics?
Your role model is
Rasul-Allah (Sallalahu Alahi
Wassalam);

??

Questions/
? Confusions?
Credits/ Acknowledgement can
be found at the course
website: http://tinyurl.com/5hb8pp