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In addition to the other answers, there's already a comprehensive Code of Ethics from both the ACM (https://www.acm.org/code-of-ethics https://www.acm.org/code-
by ThrowawayR2 6y ago
In addition to the other answers, there's already a comprehensive Code of Ethics from both the ACM (https://www.acm.org/code-of-ethics https://www.acm.org/code-of-ethics) and IEEE (https://www.ieee.org/about/corporate/governance/p7-8.html https://www.ieee.org/about/corporate/governance/p7-8.html). For those in the US, the NSPE also has their Code of Ethics (https://www.nspe.org/resources/ethics/code-ethics https://www.nspe.org/resources/ethics/code-ethics). In short, there's already plenty of that sort of thing floating around (sotto voce) and being ignored by practitioners.
- mqus 6y agoThere is also the hacker ethics, as summarized by the ccc: https://www.ccc.de/en/hackerethik https://www.ccc.de/en/hackerethik While they have a slightly different goal, the content could be a very useful reference for actual guideline.
- slg 6y agoYeah, the problem is not that these codes of ethics don't exist, it is that it is nearly impossible for them to become a requirement for software development. You would have to change the entire legal landscape of software including certifying and licensing developers as well as banning a lot of hobbyist open source development in order for these code of ethics to be anything more than voluntary. And anyone who is willing to voluntary agree to a code of ethics probably wasn't the person who was doing ethically questionable work anyway. I am a strong proponent of software ethics being taught in schools, but I don't think an Hippocratic type oath makes any sense in our profession.