Discussion centers on computers, porn and ethics

Grand Valley State University’s School of Computing and Information Systems is hosting Kevin W. Bowyer, chair of the department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Notre Dame for a discussion of cyber-ethics.

Bowyer will give a presentation titled “Porn on the Dean's PC” from 4-5 p.m. on February 21 in the Cook DeWitt Center on the Allendale Campus. He will discuss a real case study in which a technician discovered pornography on an administrator’s personal computer. The case highlights issues of employee rights and responsibilities in using employer-owned computing resources, competing responsibilities in professional codes of ethics, claims about rights to privacy and free speech, and ethical decision-making. Analysis of the case emphasizes the need for strong critical-thinking skills.

“Topics like this are important for our students to think about in these days when social networking portals like MySpace and Facebook have made people more comfortable sharing details about themselves online,” said Paul Leidig, director of the School of Computing and Information Systems. “Our students need an ethical framework as they confront the questions surrounding these powerful new tools.”

Media coverage of the event is encouraged. For more information, contact Brian J. Bowe at (616) 331-2221 or [email protected].