ACM has updated its Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. The revised Code of Ethics addresses the significant advances in computing technology since the 1992 version, as well as the growing pervasiveness of computing in all aspects of society.
ACM’s Code of Ethics is considered the standard for the computing profession, and has been adopted by computing professionals, organisations and technology companies around the world. The Code is a collection of principles and guidelines designed to help computing professionals make ethically responsible decisions in professional practice.
Reflecting the prevalence of computing technology in our lives today, ACM’s updated Code of Ethics adds new responsibilities for computing professionals in leadership roles to “recognize and take special care of systems that become integrated into the infrastructure of society” (Principle 3.7).
Computing systems and society evolve in unexpected ways. The original intent of the system may become obscured as users adopt the system. The updated Code of Ethics calls on computing professionals to pay close attention to these changes in order to both recognise new ethical responsibilities and to ensure that appropriate care is taken to protect those impacted by their systems.
