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The Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics

The Computer Ethics Institute created these 10 commandments for ethical computer use.

  1. Thou Shalt Not Use A Computer To Harm Other People.
  2. Thou Shalt Not Interfere With Other People’s Computer Work.
  3. Thou Shalt Not Snoop Around In Other People’s Computer Files.
  4. Thou Shalt Not Use A Computer To Steal.
  5. Thou Shalt Not Use A Computer To Bear False Witness.
  6. Thou Shalt Not Copy Or Use Proprietary Software For Which You have Not Paid.
  7. Thou Shalt Not Use Other People’s Computer Resources Without Authorization Or Proper Compensation.
  8. Thou Shalt Not Appropriate Other People’s Intellectual Output.
  9. Thou Shalt Think About The Social Consequences Of The Program You Are Writing Or The System You Are Designing.
  10. Thou Shalt Always Use A Computer In Ways That Insure Consideration And Respect For Your Fellow Humans.
The Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics were first presented in Dr. Ramon C. Barquin’s paper, In Pursuit of a ‘Ten Commandments’ for Computer Ethics.

These commandments were printed way back in 1992. Are they still relevant today or could they use some updating? Or more importantly, could they use some more people to read and follow them?