Sample Worksheet - Privacy, Spam and Encryption

Consider the following before deciding on your position. What questions should on-line businesses be able to ask children? What about the information gathered from adults, cookie files, and on-line databases? Who should be able to get access to your personal data? Do you think industry can monitor itself? Does the U.S. Government need to set up a regulating body to supervise the use and collection of personal data? Should people be told how their personal information be used before they are asked to give it?

You will be graded on spelling, word choice, and grammar; and whether your arguments are consistent, coherent, and defended with reason rather than with emotion. Your arguments are to be logical and convincing. Several privacy-related organizations are mentioned. If you read information on their web sites, list them in your references. If you quote an author or use an author's ideas you are to cite the reference.

The paper is to be computer-generated, double-spaced and 2 ½ - 3 pages in length. It is due the beginning of class. Late papers will be penalized 10% for each class period they are late.

1. Begin the paper with a short description of the problem or issues. (10 points)
2. State who the stakeholders are (i.e., who will be affected positively or negatively by the situation) and how they will be affected. (5 points)
3. State your position clearly. Be sure to consider several different courses of action before you decide on your position. (5 points)
4. Then argue for your position using the ACM Code of Ethics or IEEE Code of Ethics, deontologism, and utilitarianism. (30 points)
   • Use the Code of Ethics
     You are to cite a minimum of 2 imperatives from the Code of Ethics. Include the imperative's name and number then explain why this imperative supports your point of view. (Just listing a set of numbers doesn't count.)
   • Use deontologism
     Use phrases such as the following: "From a deontological point of view ...," "A deontologist would argue that ...," or something similar. A deontologist would consider the act itself as being right or wrong. Deontologism also looks at how the individual is treated--as an end or as a means to an end.
   • Use utilitarianism
     Use phrases such as the following: "From a utilitarian point of view ...," "A utilitarian would argue that ...," or something similar. In the part on utilitarianism one should discuss long and short term consequences that would result from making a certain decision, and creating the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of people.
5. You are to suggest solutions to the problem. What should have been done differently? (10 points)