Ethics in Technology

Deontology An approach to ethics which suggests that actions are morally right or wrong based on defined rules, irrespective of their outcomes Utilitarianism A philosophy suggesting that actions are morally right if they are beneficial to the majority Virtue Ethics A branch of moral philosophy that focuses on character rather than rules or consequences Relativism The theory that truths, values, or morality are relative and vary according to differences in perception and consideration Consequentialism An ethical theory that judges actions based on their outcomes or consequences Wiretap Act A federal law in the U.S. that restricts the interception of oral and wire communications Gramm Leach-Bliley Act A law that requires financial institutions in the U.S. to explain their information-sharing practices to their customers and safeguard sensitive data USA Patriot Act A law enacted by the U.S. government after 9/11 to strengthen security controls and improve intelligence capabilities Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act U.S. law that prescribes procedures for requesting judicial authorization for foreign intelligence surveillance Communications Decency Act (CDA) A U.S. law designed to regulate pornographic material on the internet Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) A U.S. law that extends government restrictions on wire taps from telephone calls to include transmissions of electronic data by computer General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) A regulation in EU law on data protection and privacy in the European Union and the European Economic Area