computer ethics essay topics

The teaching of computer ethics on computer science and related degree programmes. a European survey

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• Published: 06 October 2021
• Volume 7 , pages 101–129, ( 2022 )

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• Ioannis Stavrakakis   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-6127-3000 1 ,
• Damian Gordon 1 ,
• Brendan Tierney 1 ,
• Anna Becevel 1 ,
• Emma Murphy 1 ,
• Gordana Dodig-Crnkovic 2 ,
• Radu Dobrin 3 ,
• Viola Schiaffonati 4 ,
• Cristina Pereira 5 ,
• Svetlana Tikhonenko 5 ,
• J. Paul Gibson 6 ,
• Stephane Maag 6 ,
• Francesco Agresta 7 ,
• Andrea Curley 1 ,
• Michael Collins 1 &
• Dympna O’Sullivan 1  

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Within the Computer Science community, many ethical issues have emerged as significant and critical concerns. Computer ethics is an academic field in its own right and there are unique ethical issues associated with information technology. It encompasses a range of issues and concerns including privacy and agency around personal information, Artificial Intelligence and pervasive technology, the Internet of Things and surveillance applications. As computing technology impacts society at an ever growing pace, there are growing calls for more computer ethics content to be included in Computer Science curricula. In this paper we present the results of a survey that polled faculty from Computer Science and related disciplines about teaching practices for computer ethics at their institutions. The survey was completed by respondents from 61 universities across 23 European countries. Participants were surveyed on whether or not computer ethics is taught to Computer Science students at each institution, the reasons why computer ethics is or is not taught, how computer ethics is taught, the background of staff who teach computer ethics and the scope of computer ethics curricula. This paper presents and discusses the results of the survey.

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Introduction

Computers and technological applications are now central to many aspects of life and society, from industry and commerce, government, research, education, medicine, communication, and entertainment systems. Computer Scientists and professionals from related disciplines who design and develop computer applications have a significant responsibility as the systems they develop can have wide ranging impacts on society where those impacts can be beneficial but may also at times be negative. The last decade has seen rapid technological growth and innovation, with the realities of Artificial Intelligence technology and related applications coming to fruition. Increasingly there is a sense that we are developing technology faster than we are assessing its moral and ethical implications.

Computer ethics, defined as “the analysis of the nature and social impact of computer technology and the corresponding formulation and justification of policies for the ethical use of such technology” (Moor, 1985 , p.266), has a long history, dating back to the works of Wiener on Cybernetics almost 70 years ago. Over the years many variations of the term computer ethics have entered the literature including computing ethics, information ethics, informatics ethics, ICT Ethics, IT ethics and ethics of information systems (Stahl et al., 2016 ). These terms reflect the widespread and increasingly pervasive use and impacts of computing technology in all areas of society such as education, transportation, governance and so on (Dodig-Crnkovic, 2003 ).

As such, in this paper we use the term “computer ethics” as a broad term to encompass a wide range of topics related to computer technology and ethics, including computing ethics, information ethics, informatics ethics, ICT Ethics, IT ethics and ethics of information systems. Despite the long history of computer ethics and many academic discussions on the topic, professional ethics for designers and developers of computer technology are less well developed than for those in other fields such as medical, legal and business and engineering ethics. Computer Science is still a relatively young and still evolving discipline. Furthermore, the ethical questions faced by Computer Scientists are often more nuanced than those faced by other professions. For example, in Engineering education, the classic ethical case studies depict losses of life or injury as a result of ethical lapses in these fields. e.g. the Ford Pinto fires or the collapse of the Hyatt walkway in Kansas City. While some Computer Scientists build safety critical systems, many others develop systems that are non-critical from a safety perspective, but at the same time have wide societal impacts. For example, commercial and government systems such social media platforms, predictive analytics for consumer behaviours or surveillance technologies. Some of the impacts of such systems are intended, for example, to encourage online consumers to purchase goods or services or to automate human-centric tasks. However, unintended consequences of new technologies are becoming increasingly obvious—code developed for one purpose in a specific system can be reused in another system where it could different or even ethical consequences. These consequences have increasingly come into public view, for example, how data harvested illegally from social media platforms was used to influence voters in elections in the US and the UK or how automated decision making software displayed gender and racial biases when shortlisting applicants for jobs.

As such it is important that graduates of Computer Science and related programmes are equipped to consider the ethical dimensions of the technology they will design and develop in their professional lives. It is becoming more commonplace for institutions to prioritize integrating computer ethics into their Computer Science curricula so students don’t just learn about how to build software, but also they learn how to analyse the potential negative consequences of any software they design and build. Finally, with more and more countries introducing computing into school curricula (Passey, 2017 ; Sentance & Csizmadia, 2017 ) with the aim of creating a whole new learning culture (Brodnik & Lewin, 2017 ), Computer Science will come to play an even more important role in all levels of education, thus making computer ethics an imperative field of knowledge for all educators.

In this paper we outline the results of a large scale survey of European academics about existing competencies in the teaching of computer ethics in Computer Science and related disciplines (Ethics4EU,  2021 ). The survey was completed by respondents from 61 universities across 23 European countries. Respondents were surveyed on whether or not computer ethics is taught to Computer Science students at each institution, the reasons why computer ethics is or is not taught, how computer ethics is taught (for example, as a standalone course or embedded within other modules), the background of staff who teach computer ethics and the scope of computer ethics curricula. Data was also gathered on teaching and learning methods used (theory, case studies, practical work) and how computer ethics is assessed. The survey was conducted as part of an Erasmus + project, Ethics4EU that is focused on developing new computer ethics curricula and learning materials for faculty teaching Computer Science. The aim of the survey was to provide a comprehensive insight into teaching practices for computer ethics in Computer Science and related disciplines which will be used to guide the development of new teaching and learning resources.

The rest of this paper is organized as follows. In the next section, we present a literature review about the teaching of computer ethics in Computer Science. In Section  3 we present our survey methodology. In Section  4 we present and discuss the finding from our survey. We conclude with a discussion in Section  5 .

Literature review

Computer ethics have been the subject of academic research for many years. In The Human Use of Human Beings (Wiener, 1950 ), Wiener wrote about how computers have the potential to drastically alter the communication mechanisms and therefore transform the fabric of societies namely social policies, law, the economy and personal relationships. The issues he identified in included topics that are still important today: computers and security, computers and unemployment, responsibilities of computer professionals, computers for persons with disabilities, information networks and globalization, virtual communities, teleworking, merging of human bodies with machines, robot ethics, artificial intelligence, computers and religion, and a number of other subjects (Bynum, 2000 ).

In the 1970s Walter Maner coined the term ‘computer ethics’ recognising an important new area of applied ethics and was one of the first academics to develop a computer ethics course for students (Bynum, 2008 ). In 1985 Debora Johnson published the seminal textbook Computer Ethics (D. Johnson, 1985 ) where she stated that computers “pose new versions of standard moral problems and moral dilemmas, exacerbating the old problems, and forcing us to apply ordinary moral norms in uncharted realms.” “Computer Ethics” quickly became the primary text used to teach computer at universities. The textbook also set the research agenda on topics such as ownership of software and intellectual property, computing and privacy, responsibilities of computer professionals, and fair distribution of technology and human power. In later editions in 1994, 2001 and 2009, Johnson added new ethical topics such as hacking, inclusive technologies for persons with disabilities, and Internet ethics.

A different emphasis for computer ethics was advocated by Donald Gotterbarn (Gotterbarn, 1991 ), who believed that computer ethics should be seen as a professional ethics devoted to the development and advancement of standards of good practice and codes of conduct for computing professionals. In the 1990s Gotterbarn’s professional ethics approach purported that Computer Science students should be taught their professional responsibilities, standards and reasoning skills to deal with emerging and future ethical issues relevant to their profession as well as specific values and avoid malpractice (Iqbal & Beigh, 2017 ). Gotterbarn’s position was complemented by the publication of the ACM’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct in 1991 which included recommendations to teach social and ethical issues as part of undergraduate Computer Science curricula (Bynum, 2008 , 1992 ; Fuller et al., 2010 ; Tucker, 1991 ).

The approach of teaching computer ethics as a standalone professional ethics subject or for it to be delivered as an external course, often outsourced to a different department like that of Philosophy or Social Sciences, sometimes devoid of technical context has pervaded for some time (Skirpan et al., 2018 ). For example, a survey from 2019 by Saltz et al. ( 2019 ) examined the syllabi of machine learning courses from a large number of third level institutions in the US and found that for a majority of programmes, students are not taught any ethics content and for those that are, it is usually a stand-alone elective course. It is only recently that scholars have argued that since every computer-related subject carries social or ethical implications, then these ethical topics should be widely integrated and infused in Computer Science curricula (Harris et al., 2019 ; Weikle, 2018 ). For example, Grosz et al. ( 2019 ) argue that modern technology cannot be considered “value-neutral” (p. 54); it can have unplanned consequences and that Computer Science students should be trained to identify the potential harmful effects of the technologies they help develop. An important concept that students need to be able to think about is not only whether they can create something, but whether they should create it in the first place. The authors argue that teaching computer scientists to identify and address ethical problems starting from the design phase is as important as enabling them to develop algorithms and programs that work efficiently (p. 61). Therefore, they argue for the integration of computer ethics throughout the whole Computer Science curriculum.

A recent paper (Fiesler et al., 2020 ) surveys Computer Science computer ethics classes in 94 universities located mainly in the US, showed that there is much variability in the content of computer ethics courses which they attribute to the lack of standards in this particular subject. This is not to say that there are no common patterns. Topics such as privacy, algorithms and inequality are considered critical. The study also highlighted a slight move from standalone computer ethics courses towards integrating computer ethics throughout technical courses. Scott and Barlowe ( 2016 ) describe an experimental Computer Science module that introduced first-year university students to basic programming with computer ethics and found that those students who had completed the course were more likely to do better during their first year of Computer Science. In related work, Ferrarello ( 2019 ) underline that social and ethical awareness when introduced into Design and Engineering education generally promotes the industry’s capability to tackle ethical and social issues effectively. The study found that using methods such as workshops that adopted collaborative, engaged design approaches, facilitated discussion, debates and reflection helped the participants acknowledge responsibilities and the ownership of decision making in design and engineering.

At a postgraduate level, Dexter et al. ( 2013 ) investigated the requirement for computer ethics education on graduate level programmes in four diverse US academic institutions. They found that the majority of faculty and students were in favour of an elective computer ethics course and almost half were in favour of a compulsory computer ethics graduate course.

In terms of how computer ethics is taught, case-based analysis of ethical and societal issues of technology that have either appeared in the news or are part of hypothetical scenarios are a popular approach (Ghafarian, 2002 ; Kraft, 2011 ; Larson & Miller, 2018 ; Quinn, 2006 ). This approach relies on precedent cases and paradigms to reach a conclusion about a test case. Larson and Miller (Larson & Miller, 2018 ) argue that just reading about ethical issues is not enough, rather case-based analysis provides an environment where students can apply computer ethics and critical thinking in realistic scenarios. In a 2019 study Lester and Dalat-Ward (Lester & Dalat-Ward, 2019 ) found that combining case-based learning and ethical decision making with deliberative dialogue and role playing was an efficient method to achieve the learning outcomes when compared to traditional lecture-based teaching. They also found that the students’ self-confidence on the subject matter increased as well as their critical thinking skills and their openness towards differing viewpoints. However, one challenge the researchers discovered is the extensive preparation time required by faculty members before each class.

Deliberation appears to be a good tool for teaching ethics as shown in a 2020 study by Shen et al. ( 2020 ) where they used deliberation and Value Cards in a gamified teaching approach that combines technical training with topics such as Fairness, Accountability, Transparency and Ethics (FATE) for a Machine Learning class. Their aim was to help students understand the societal and ethical implications of machine learning-based algorithmic systems while taking into account diverse social values. They designed a set of Value Cards drawing from the research on value sensitive design and based on the concept of the Envisioning cards toolkit (Friedman & Hendry, 2012 ).

Others advocate interdisciplinary collaborations between different academic faculties as an effective way to deliver computer ethics. For example, Kesar ( 2016 ) created a computing curriculum that emphasizes interdisciplinary collaborations between academic departments, promotes industry interactions and supports students to develop critical ethical reasoning skills for real business settings. In a review, the majority of students identified the ethical and social properties of their projects rather than the technological aspects as the most complex issues. Another recent interdisciplinary approach was reported by Reich et al. ( 2020 ) who designed a multidisciplinary approach for teaching computer ethics at Stanford University. Their approach combines the expertise from the faculties of Philosophy, Political Science and Computer Science and includes panels of speakers and custom-built case studies. Wilk ( 2019 ) who proposes the creation of an entirely new Computer Science course titled “Computers, Ethics, Law, and Public Policy”. The course would combine computer ethics with law and use examples and case studies to illustrate ethical and legal decision making. The author states the importance of teaching legal aspects to Computer Science students because as new technologies appear there will be new requirements to develop laws and computer ethics to address them.

Kortsarts and Fischbach (Kortsarts & Fischbach, 2014 ) proposed an approach which combines together the ACM Code of Ethics and case-based design and analysis. More specifically, their approach to computer ethics constituted of three parts. The first part was about the students learning the ACM code of ethics and designing case studies. In the second part the students had to analyse said case studies. In the last part, the students had to review reading material from the ACM digital library and present their findings. The researchers found that over two thirds of the students found computer ethics to be important and would influence their decision-making process in the future and also said discovering the ACM Code of Ethics was worthwhile.

Drawing a parallel with the field of Engineering Ethics, which historically precedes Computer Ethics, Hess and Fore ( 2018 ) conducted a systematic literature review of US Engineering ethics interventions and found that the most common approaches were the use of case studies, exposure to professional codes and standards and discussion activities. Their study identified a great amount of variation in the aims, methodologies and assessment approaches in the interventions available. They argue that there is need for greater specificity about the term “ethics”, educators should set clear and well-defined goals for teaching ethics and they should be able to provide evidence to community about the effectiveness of their approaches with respect to the aforementioned goals.

Bates et al. ( 2020 ) identified various challenges in integrating ethical and societal dimensions into programmes. For example, forming a curriculum that is based on ethical values can be challenging when teaching has to accommodate students coming in with different cultural values to their academic teachers. Also, an interdisciplinary approach to teaching ethics and critical thinking skills might run into the obstacle of miscommunication due to different fields of expertise that have to work together.

It is worth noting that much of the research on the teaching of computer ethics focuses on US institutions and there is a lack of comprehensive data on the teaching of computer ethics in Computer Science from a European perspective. Our study aims to contribute towards shedding more light on what is the situation regarding European Computer Science and related programmes. In the next sections, we outline the results of a survey of 61 universities across Europe designed to understand the extent to which and how computer ethics is taught on Computer Science and related programmes across Europe.

Methodology

We designed an online survey to better understand existing practices in the teaching of computer ethics in Computer Science programmes at European Universities. The survey was created using Lime Survey software and was developed in the English language only. The questionnaire was sent to all members and networking partners of Informatics Europe and European Digital Learning Network who are partners in the Ethics4EU project with a reach of reaching 152 European Universities from 30 European countries. It was also publicly available from the Informatics Europe website and shared on a range of social media platforms, including: Twitter, Facebook and relevant LinkedIn groups. The questionnaire was deployed in January 2020 and was available online for 6 weeks. Over the six weeks, weekly reminders asking people to fill out the online questionnaire were sent. In total we received responses from 61 universities from 23 European countries representing a 40% response rate. Each response is unique for the respective university. Participants did not receive any incentives or remuneration to complete the survey.

The questionnaire (see Appendix ) was divided into three sections. Section A surveyed demographic information including the country of the respondent’s institution, their role, and the number of students studying Computer Science and related programmes at the institution. The rest of the questionnaire was split into two parts, B and C, based on whether the institution taught computer ethics as part of any Computer Science or related programmes. Section B was completed by those at institutions that do not teach computer ethics, and amounted to 22 out of 61 responses. The questions in Section B examined the reasons why Computer Science is not taught at those institutions. Section C was completed by respondents at institutions where computer ethics is taught on their Computer Science and/or related programmes. This amounted to 39 institutions and the questions surveyed how computer ethics is taught, the background of staff who teach computer ethics and the scope of computer ethics curricula.

For reasons beyond the researcher’s control there was a larger number of responses from Italian institutions relative to other countries represented in the survey. However, as responses were grouped by whether an institution teaches computer ethics or not, the responses from Italian universities were balanced with the rest of the countries for Section C (institutions that do teach computer ethics). On the other hand, in section B (institutions that do not teach computer ethics), Italian institutions accounted for almost one third of the responses (7 out of 22). Steps were taken to balance the data using Jackknife resampling (Tukey, 1958 ) whereby each response is systematically left out of the overall sample to ensure that no single response has a significant impact on the overall outcome. Additionally, pairs and trios of the responses from the Italian institutions were left out to explore whether or not those responses had a significant impact on the overall trends, and it was found that they did not.

In this section we present the results of the survey starting with participants’ demographic information. The survey reached around 150 academic institutions and 61 of them completed it. This shows a response rate of 41%.

Section A—participant demographics

What country is your institution primarily based in (choose only one answer).

Twenty-three countries were represented in the 61 responses. It is worth noting that the majority of EU member countries are represented here, as well as several other European countries. Respondents from Italy are in the majority, and as discussed responses were analysed and no significant impact of this overrepresentation was found (Fig.  1 ).

Countries of participants

Does your institution teach all subjects or focus on technical ones? (choose only one answer)

As show in in Table 1 , almost one third (31%) of academic institutions focus on technical subjects, whereas the remaining institutions (69%) are general universities that teach a broader range of subjects.

What is your role within your institution? (choose all that apply)

The majority of the respondents identified as Professor (62%). 14.75% identified as Lecturers . Please note that in European counties, lecturers and professors are both full time academic staff who carry out teaching and research duties. Therefore 77% (Table 2 ) of respondents have direct teaching experience at an academic institution. It is also helpful that other respondents identify themselves as having academic management roles, given that they would be more acutely aware of challenges associated to resource allocation, which has been identified as a key challenge to the teaching of computer ethics in Computer Science programmes (Grosz et al., 2019 ; Johnson, 2010 ; Pease & Baker, 2009 ).

Respondents could also provide other roles additionally to those shown in Table 2 . The following roles were also provided:

Vice dean of the faculty

Associate Professor

Vice rector and former Head of School

Head of ethics committee; Research integrity officer

Teaching and Research Assistant

Teaching Fellow

Assistant Professor

Approximately how many students attend your institution? (choose only one answer)

A wide range of academic institutions sizes were represented in the survey (Table 3 ). The majority of institutions (74%) had between 10,000 and 50,000 students.

Approximately how many students are studying on Computer Science and/or Computer Science related programmes (e.g. Informatics, Information Systems, Analytics, Computing for Business, Computer Engineering, etc.)? (choose only one answer)

All academic institutions reported students studying on Computer Science or related programmes. 30% of institutions surveyed report having between 1001 and 2500 students (Table 4 ) enrolled in Computer Science and related programmes.

NOTE: A “programme” refers to a complete collection of subjects a student had to study before achieving a qualification, e.g. a BSc in Computer Science.

At what level does your institution teach Computer Science and/or Computer Science related programmes? (choose all that apply)

Of the 61 academic institutions surveyed, only 3 exclusively teach postgraduate programmes, and 1 exclusively teaches undergraduate programmes, with majority (90) teaching a combination of both (Table 5 ).

Section B—Institutions that do not teach ethics as part of their Computer Science and/or Computer Science related programmes

A total of 22 responses from 61 countries were received from academic institutions that do not teach computer ethics on their Computer Science (and related) programmes. Of those responses, 21 came from institutions that teach all academic subject areas and only 1 from an institution that focuses on technical subjects. In our dataset, almost one third (7 out of 22) of those responses were from Italian institutions. In response to this overrepresentation, Jackknife resampling was applied to estimate the bias of the sample and no significant impact was found. The rest of the institutions were spread geographically across Europe.

How important do you think it is that ethics is taught on Computer Science and/or Computer Science related programmes?

In academic institutions that do not teach computer ethics, almost two-thirds (63%) of the respondents’ consider the teaching of computer ethics as either being “Important” or “Very Important” for Computer Science (and related) programmes (Table 6 ).

Please explain in a sentence or two why you answered the previous question the way you did

The respondents gave a range of reasons as to why the teaching of computer ethics is important. The.

most common was the ever-growing impact that computers have on society which was mentioned by almost 50% of the respondents. Some of the respondents highlighted specific areas within Computer Science where they believe computer ethics is important—Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Security and Ubiquitous Computing were mentioned multiple times.

In terms of content delivery, some respondents felt that computer ethics should be taught by incorporating it into existing modules, whereas others felt it should be delivered as an optional module. Specific content that respondents suggested included Codes of Ethics, Intellectual Property rights, privacy, as well as the broader areas of software design and development and where computer ethics fits into those processes.

Those who felt that there was not a need to teach computer ethics suggested it was because employers don’t ask for it, it’s not the most important thing to teach on a Computer Science (or related) programme, and that teaching it is not cost effective. Others claimed that teaching computer ethics would not help students become more ethical as they should already know about ethics before they come to university – from previous schooling and their family. One respondent claimed that ethics isn’t taught in other non-natural science programmes, so wondered why Computer Science should be different; and another suggested it is only relevant in Computer Science research, not teaching.

Rate the following as reasons why ethics is not taught on your Computer Science and/or Computer Science related programmes

Respondents were asked to select from a number of possible options outlining why computer ethics is not taught (see Table 7 ). The main reasons the academic institutions do not teach it is a lack of time (73%) and a lack of staff availability (73%). Half of the respondents suggests a lack of staff expertise was also a factor. The responses reaffirm the notion that the majority of respondents do believe that teaching computer ethics is important event though it is not taught on Computer Science (or related) programmes at their institutions (71%).

Are there plans to teach ethics on your Computer Science and/or Computer Science related programmes?

The responses were evenly split between academic institutions that planning to begin teaching computer ethics on their Computer Science (and related) programmes and those who aren’t (41% each). 18% of respondents did not know (Table 8 ). Respondents were asked to comment on their answer to this question. For those respondents whose institutions are planning to teach computer ethics, the main subject areas mentioned were Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Security, Health Informatics & Bioinformatics, Requirements Engineering, and CSCW (Computer-Supported Cooperative Work). One respondent mentioned that their institute are launching an Ethical-Legal stream on their MSc in Data Science programme. For those from institutions with no plans to teach computer ethics, they stated it was due to either a lack of interest or a lack of expertise in the topic. One respondent did mention that students at their institution have the option of doing an ethics module in another faculty as part of their programmes.

Section C—Institutions that do teach ethics as part of their Computer Science and/or Computer Science related programmes

A total of 39 responses were collected from academic institutions that teach computer ethics in their Computer Science (and related) programmes from 17 countries. Of those responses, 18 came from institutions that only focus on technical subjects and 21 came from institutions that teach all academic subjects areas.

From the institutions that are teaching computer ethics in Computer Science (and related) programmes, 95% of the respondents rate the teaching of computer ethics as either being “Important” or “Very Important” (Table 9 ).

Do you think your institution/department is teaching enough ethics on your Computer Science and/or Computer Science related programmes? (choose only one answer)

Over one-third (36%) of the participants responded that do not believe that their intuitions are teaching enough computer ethics in their Computer Science or related programmes (Table 10 ). Almost half felt enough computer ethics is being taught “to a certain extent”.

At what level is ethics taught as part of your Computer Science and/or Computer Science related programmes? (choose all that apply)

Computer ethics is taught in 26% of the surveyed institutions at BSc level only (Table 11 ). In 23% of the surveyed institutions it is taught at both BSc and MSc level. In 28% of institutions it is taught at BSc, MSc, and PhD level. The final 23% represents other combinations, such as “BSc and PhD level” or “MSc level only”.

How is ethics taught on your Computer Science and/or Computer Science related programmes? (choose only one answer)

NOTE: in this case, a “module” refers to a single topic that a student studies over one or two semesters, e.g. Databases, Computer Networks, etc.

This question explores if computer ethics is being taught as a stand-alone module, or distributed throughout several modules, or a combination of both (Table 12 ). In the majority of institutions (38%), computer ethics is taught as a standalone module.

Which background does the person or people who teach ethics in your Computer Science and/or Computer Science related programmes have? (choose all that apply)

The results presented in Table 13 show that staff teaching computer ethics at the surveyed institutions come from a wide variety of backgrounds, with many coming from multiple disciplines. The most represented discipline is Computer Science at 72%. However, a large number of those teaching computer ethics have backgrounds in Ethics , Philosophy and Law. Please note that respondents could choose more than one background and as such the percentage sum is higher than 100%.

Other backgrounds were provided by respondents in free text answers and included: “Economics”; “Linguistics, Cognitive Science”.

Which of the following teaching methods are used to teach ethics on your Computer Science and/or Computer Science related programmes?

Traditional approaches to teaching, such as “Lecturing” and “Case Studies” are the popular approaches to teaching computer ethics, with “Debates” and “Problem Based Learning” the next most popular pair of approaches (see Table 14 ). Guest Lectures are also relatively popular. Other methods listed in respondents comments includes:

Groupwork, Peer Instruction (using PeerWise), Student Discussions

Seminars and Guest lecturers from the Arts

Interviews with Researchers

Student Presentations

Embedded Videos

How many teaching hours per semester is devoted to ethics on your Computer Science and/or Computer Science related programmes? (choose only one answer)

Just under half of all respondents (48%) indicated that they teach between up to 5 h per semester, in contrast to 18% of respondents who indicated that they teach computer ethics for 20 + hours per semester (Table 15 ). There is clearly a large difference to the amount of time the surveyed institutions devote to the teaching of computer ethics in Computer Science (and related) programmes Table 16 .

Which ethical topics are taught on your Computer Science and/or Computer Science related programmes?

The most common topic is ethical issues with respondents commenting that these are topics specific to subjects (e.g. Data Science). Just over half of the respondents (51%) said that Code of Ethics from a professional body are taught at their institutions and exactly half (50%) teach Ethical Theory. Other topics mentioned in respondents comments included:

Responsibility

Legal Issues

Ethics Washing

Epistemic Issues

How is ethics assessed on your Computer Science and/or Computer Science related programmes? (choose all that apply)

The top three methods of assessing students’ understanding of computer ethics are Exams, Essays, and Presentations; three quite standard approaches to assessing Computer Science content. With much lower representation we find Quizzes, Portfolios, and Rubrics (Table 17 ). Some other approaches mentioned by respondents included methods such as Debates, Peer Instruction, and Discussion, and dynamic and real-world approaches such as Risk Analysis, Real Use Cases, and Videos.

Does your institution teach ethics as part of any of the computing topics outlined below? (These classifications are based on criteria by ACM – Association for Computing Machinery)

The survey used the European Research Council’s Peer Evaluation (PE) panel classifications of Computer Science (PE6) disciplines. The categories are as follows:

PE6_1 : Computer architecture, pervasive computing, ubiquitous computing

PE6_2 : Computer systems, parallel/distributed systems, sensor networks, embedded systems, cyber-physical systems

PE6_3 : Software engineering, operating systems, computer languages

PE6_4 : Theoretical computer science, formal methods, and quantum computing

PE6_5 : Cryptology, security, privacy, quantum crypto

PE6_6 : Algorithms, distributed, parallel and network algorithms, algorithmic game theory

PE6_7 : Artificial intelligence, intelligent systems, multi agent systems

PE6_8 : Computer graphics, computer vision, multi-media, computer games

PE6_9 : Human computer interaction and interface, visualization and natural language processing

PE6_10 : Web and information systems, database systems, information retrieval and digital libraries, data fusion

PE6_11 : Machine learning, statistical data processing and applications using signal processing (e.g. speech, image, video)

PE6_12 : Scientific computing, simulation and modelling tools

PE6_13 : Bioinformatics, biocomputing, and DNA and molecular computation

Respondents to indicate “Yes” or “No” as to whether or not they taught ethical content for each topic. The results are presented in Fig.  2 .

Computing topics where ethics is taught

The PE6 areas considered to be most important in terms of teaching computer ethics were:

PE6_7 Artificial Intelligence, Intelligent Systems, Multi Agent Systems

PE6_5 Cryptology, Security, Privacy, Quantum Crypto

PE6_9 Human Computer Interaction and Interface, Visualization and Natural Language Processing

The PE6 areas considered to be least important in terms of teaching:

PE6_8 Computer graphics, computer vision, multi-media, computer games

PE6_1 Computer architecture, pervasive computing, ubiquitous computing

PE6_12 Scientific Computing, Simulation and Modelling Tools

It is perhaps not surprising that Artificial Intelligence, Security and Privacy ranked highly in topics that are taught as these are mentioned frequently by respondents as areas where there are important computer ethics issues to be considered, for example as indicated by responses outlined in Sect. 4.3.3 and Sect. 4.3.8. It is surprising however that pervasive and ubiquitous computing and simulation and modelling ranked so lowly on the list of topics taught given the important ethical dimensions to these topics.

We have presented the results of a survey that polled faculty from Computer Science and related disciplines on teaching practices in computer ethics in Computer Science and related programmes across Europe. The survey was completed by respondents from 61 universities across 23 European countries. Some of the interesting findings that emerged from the survey include:

Two thirds of the institutions surveyed teach computer ethics as part of Computer Science (or related) programmes, however one third do not.

There is widespread agreement about the importance of teaching computer ethics to students enrolled on Computer Science (or related) programmes. This importance was noted whether or not an institute taught computer ethics as part of their Computer Science or related programmes.

Computer ethics is often taught as a standalone subject.

When computer ethics is not taught as part of Computer Science (or related) programmes the most common reasons cited are a lack of staff availability and expertise.

Computer ethics is considered more important for certain Computer Science topics. For example Data Science, Artificial Intelligence and Computer Security.

Most institutions devote a relatively small number of hours to teaching computer ethics on their Computer Science or related programmes, 67% of institutions surveyed teach 10 h or less per semester.

As noted from the survey computer ethics is considered more important by many respondents, for certain Computer Science topics. For example, respondents mention the importance of computer ethics with regard to topics such as Data Science, Artificial Intelligence and Computer Security and respondents replied that computer ethics is most commonly taught as part of Artificial Intelligence, Computer Security and Human Computer Interaction courses. There is a great deal of public interest in and media coverage of topics concerning data and Artificial Intelligence applications; they are also topics that are currently undergoing intense academic research. It may be that those who teach computer ethics can more easily locate and identify case studies and other relevant information such as research papers for these topics. For example (Morley et al., 2020 ), new AI ethics tools are emerging that allow developers to analyse AI and machine learning systems for levels of potential bias. Furthermore, much has been written on the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation which effectively create a “right to explanation,” whereby a user can ask for an explanation of an algorithmic decision that was made about them (Goodman & Flaxman, 2017 ). This has led to an increase in the literature about how create explainable AI systems (Ras et al., 2018 ). However, it should not be overlooked that computer ethics is relevant across a range of Computer Science topics including all of the PE6 areas outlined in Fig.  2 . Evidently there is a need to develop teaching content and case studies for ethical issues across a broader range of Computer Science topics.

Our survey also found that computer ethics is often taught as a standalone subject at the academic institutions surveyed. This is in spite of evidence that infusing computer ethics in Computer Science curricula gives students a better understanding of the ethical impacts and possible harmful effects of the technologies they implement (Grosz et al. 2019 ). According to Grosz, such a “distributed pedagogy” approach reinforces the message that ethical reasoning is part of what you do as a Computer Scientist. Embedding computer ethics across the curriculum helps Computer Science students see how ethical issues can arise from many contexts. Given the increasing likelihood that many Computer Science graduates will work on sociotechnical systems with a variety of impacts on their end users, it is important that Computer Science teaching emphasizes not only the technical capabilities of these systems but also provides students with the ethical reasoning skills to analyse the understand the ethical implications of these systems.

It is also worth noting that our survey found that people who teach computer ethics to Computer Science students are more likely to come from a technical background rather than an Ethics background. The question of who should teach computer ethics to Computer Science students raises questions about the goals of teaching computer ethics. If the goal is to raise awareness of the ethical issues surrounding computers and to develop analytical skills for ethical decision making then it would seem that it is more appropriate for Ethicists to teach this content (D. Johnson, 1994 ). However, many ethical topics in Computer Science require a deep understanding of the technology that gives rise to the ethical questions, for example the complex mathematical structures that underpin deep learning algorithms. To increase both the breadth and depth of computer ethics teaching, content would be best developed via collaborations between Computer Scientists and Ethicists.

It is also noteworthy that looking at the responses from Sect. 4.3.6, when teaching computer ethics, guest lecturers from industry and professional bodies are not widely used. Taking this in conjunction with the responses from Sect. 4.3.8 which indicates that the least frequent type of teaching is through the use of different corporations’ codes of ethics, followed by national bodies’ codes of ethics (although teaching using professionally bodies’ codes of ethics is far more common), this may suggest that the connection between computer ethics and the relevant sectorial industry needs to be further emphasised. This is important, as one of the key aims of this research is to produce teaching content that will equip students with a working knowledge of the types of ethically quandaries that they may encounter in their working lives. Therefore, having guest lecturers from industry, and particularly from local or national industry, that may be more readily identifiable with by the students, may help underscore the relevance of computer ethics to their own future professional careers.

In future work, the Ethics4EU project is that is focused on developing new open computer ethics curricula and learning materials for faculty who teach Computer Science. The design and development of these curricula will be done in collaboration between academics from Computer Science and Ethics. The curricula will consist of teaching content including case studies, in-class activities, assignments and recommended readings. The Ethics4EU project will also establish a community of practice for those who teach computer ethics to share lessons learned. The overarching aims of the curricula will be to integrate the teaching of computational methods with ethical reasoning skills and provide students with experience in identifying, confronting, and working through ethical questions across many topics in Computer Science. Such skills will equip graduates to produce socially responsible computer technology with benefits for all of society.

Conflicts of interest/Competing interests

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare that are relevant to the content of this article.

This research was undertaken using the BERA guidelines as a reference point to ensure that all activities were designed in such a way as to adhere to normal ethical research practices.

Data Availability

All materials and data related to survey is available.

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The European Commission’s support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

This paper is part of the Ethics4EU project which is Co-funded by the Erasmus + Programme of the European Union under Grant Agreement No 2019–1-IE02-KA203-000665.

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Stavrakakis, I., Gordon, D., Tierney, B. et al. The teaching of computer ethics on computer science and related degree programmes. a European survey. International Journal of Ethics Education 7 , 101–129 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40889-021-00135-1

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Computer Ethics and Data Protection

Computer ethics is the natural analysis and social impact of computer technology and the justification of policies and their moral uses. The main challenge in ethics is the gaps in implementing the strategies arising from new aspects of technology. Ethics involve practices, procedures, and standards governing technology consumption without violation of individuals’ or organizations’ moral values (Tang et al., 2019, p. 44). Information can be stolen through hacking, plagiarism, malware, and physical threats. Computing ethics addresses moral issues involved in technological procedures such as data theft and information sharing which should be guarded through laws and regulations.

Ethics in computer use holds the moral guidelines governing computer users and privacy policies which protect data access and information belonging to other people. Organizations and individuals face data theft through digital information without their consent. The information can be either financial, banking accounts such as loan amounts, deposits of large sums of money, or health records. Cybercrimes have increased with developed technology through hacking, phishing, malware, malicious mobile applications, and physical security threats (Tang et al., 2019, p. 45). Data protection is achieved when users adopt computer morals while practicing ethical theories. A professional code of ethics should be practiced so that technological users follow the guidelines in handling data both for individuals and organizations. Team members should learn to cooperate and work together by following moral and ethical behavior while using and sharing information. Cybercrimes have been on the rise causing a threat to data, therefore, laws such as the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act are enhanced to govern data protection (Tang et al., 2019, p. 45). Computer ethics is essential in protecting information for users at the individual and organizational levels therefore, laws and regulations should be enacted to increase the safety of data.

In conclusion, computer ethics is essential in securing data from malicious acts which could cause losses. Ethics involve proper procedures and practices that determine data handling and access in a way that negatively affects owners of data. Due to the increased rate of cybercrimes, laws and regulations should be enacted to increase the security of information from computers and systems and owners should be consulted before accessing their information.

Reference List

Tang, Y., Xiong, J., Becerril-Arreola, R. and Iyer, L. (2019) ‘Blockchain ethics research: a conceptual model’, Proceedings of 2019 on Computers and People Research Conference , New-York, United States. Web.

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Computer Ethics

What does the word ‘ethics’ mean? The dictionary defines ethics because of the moral principles that govern the behavior of a gaggle or individual. But, not every people in society need to live an absolutely moral life. Ethics are actually the unwritten code of conduct that every individual should follow. These codes are considered correct only by the members of that particular profession. Similarly, for computer users, computer ethics is a set of principles that regulates the use of computers. Computer ethics address issues related to the misuse of computers and how they can be prevented. It primarily imposes the ethical use of computing resources. It includes methods to avoid violating the unauthorized distribution of digital content. The core issues surrounding computer ethics are based on the use of the internet, internet privacy, copyrighted content, software, and related services, and user interaction with websites. The Internet has changed our lifestyle. It has become a part of our life. It allows us to communicate with a person from another part of the world. collecting information on any topic, social meets, and many other activities. But at the same time, some peoples are always trying to cheat or harm others.

Advantages of using the internet:

• The Internet offers the facility to communicate with a person in any part of the world.
• We can easily collect information related to any topic from the world wide web on the internet.
• Various types of business are carried out through Internet, which is referred to as e-commerce. From booking railway tickets and flight tickets or tickets for movies to purchasing any type of merchandise or commodities, are possible via the Internet.
• The Internet allows social networking, that is, it provides the ability to share our information, emotions, and feelings with our friends and relatives.

Disadvantages of using the internet:

• A group of people is trying to get personal information (like bank detail, address, contact details, etc,) over the Internet and uses that for unethical benefits.
• Malware or viruses are becoming quick access to different networks and ultimately are causing harm to personal computers(PC) or computers connected to the network.
• Some people run deceitful businesses over the Internet, and the common people very often become victims of them.
• People use the internet for cyberbullying, trolling, etc.

Ten commandments of computer ethics:

The commandments of computer ethics are as follows:

Commandment 1: Do not use the computer to harm other people’s data.

Commandment 2: Do not use a computer to cause interference in other people’s work.

Commandment 3: Do not spy on another person’s personal data.

Commandment 4: Do not use technology to steal personal information.

Commandment 5: Do not spread misinformation using computer technology.

Commandment 6: Do not use the software unless you pay for this software.

Commandment 7: Do not use someone else’s computer resources unless he authorized to use them.

Commandment 8: It is wrong to claim ownership of a work that is the output of someone else’s intellect.

Commandment 9: Before developing software, think about the social impact it can of that software.

Commandment 10: While computers for communication, always respectful with fellow members.

Internet Security

The internet is an insecure channel for exchanging information because it features a high risk of fraud or phishing. Internet security is a branch of computer security specifically associated with the utilization of the internet, involving browser security and network security.  Its objective is to determine measures against attacks over the web. Insufficient internet security can be dangerous. It can cause many dangerous situations, like starting from the computer system getting infected with viruses and worms to the collapse of an e-commerce business. Different methods have been devised to protect the transfer of data over the internet such as information privacy and staying alert against cyber attacks.

Information Privacy: Information privacy is the privacy or protection of personal information and refers to the personal data stored on a computer. It is an important aspect of information sharing. Information privacy is also known as data privacy or online privacy. Some Internet privacy involves the right of personal privacy and deals with the storing and displaying of personal information on the internet. In any exchange of personal information over the internet, there is always a risk involved with the safety of personal information. Internet privacy may be a cause for concern especially when online purchases, visiting social networking sites, participating in online games or attending forums. Privacy issues can arise in response to information from a good range of sources, such as:

• Healthcare records
• Financial institution
• transactions
• Biological traits
• Residence records
• Location-based service

The risk involved in internet privacy is sometimes dangerous. In the process of data transfer over the internet, if a password is revealed, a victim’s identity may be deceitfully used. 

Some important terms:

• Spyware: An application that obtains data without the user’s consent.
• Malware: An application used to illegally harm online and offline computer users
• Virus: It is a small program or software which is embedded with a legitimate program and designed to harm your system.
• Worms: It is a self-replicating program that spread across networks due to the poor security of the infected computers.
• Trojan horse: Trojan horse is a program that a llows the hackers to gain remote access to a target system.

General steps to protect our system from risks:

To minimize internet privacy violation risks, the following measures need to be taken:

• Always use preventive software applications, like anti-virus, anti-malware, etc,
• Avoid exposing personal data on websites with low-security levels.
• Avoid shopping from unreliable websites
• Always use strong passwords consisting of letters, numerals, and special characters.
• Always keep your operating system updated.
• Always on the firewall.

Unethical computing practices:

Now we discuss some unethical computing practices:

1. Cyberbullying: When people bully other people by the use of electronic communication ( like the web, telephone, etc). it’s referred to as cyberbullying. Cyberbullying has been done by friends, classmates, relatives, any other unknown persons. Sending harmful emails to a person creates fake websites to make fun of or to make harm a person by distributing the same fake information about a person posting and distributing fake images of a person. These are some common ways of cyberbullying. 

In most cyberbullying cases, they do not reveal their identities. Due to cyberbullying, some bullied persons are affected emotionally or mentally. Even if those are fake information, the bullied person may become depressed or it may affect their day-to-day life. In the case of the students or kids, it may affect their study or they may lose self-esteem.

How to protect yourself from cyberbullying:

• Not to respond to cyberbullying.
• Never open e-mails received from unknown senders.
• Keep your password secret.
• Be careful, when you are posting something on a social site.

2. Phishing: An internet hacking activity used to steal user data. In this activity, an email is sent to the user which misleads him/her to believe that it is from a trusted organization. After sending the email, the attacker asks the user to visit their website, and on their website, they will ask for the personal information of the user like password, credit card information, etc. So, this is how the attacker steals the personal information of the user.

How to protect yourself from phishing:

• Never open a link, attachment, etc in an email that is sent by some unknown person.
• Never share your personal information in an email that is asked by an unknown person.
• Always on the firewall of the computer system.
• Always check your bank statements regularly to ensure that no unauthorized transactions are made. If unauthorized transactions are made in your account, then immediately report this issue to your bank.

3. Hacking: It is an unethical activity in which a highly skilled technical person(or commonly known as a hacker) enters another person’s computer without the permission of the user and steals important data/project/applications from the computer or sometimes destroys the information from the system.

How to protect yourself from hacking:

• Never connect your system to free wifi or a free network.
• Before installing any application in your system, always check permission and authenticity.

4. Spamming: It is an unethical activity in which bulk unwanted e-mail is set to you from a strange or unknown source. Sometimes, due to bulk emails, your mail server gets full and mail bombing activity happens. Spam mail is generally used to deliver viruses, worms, trojan horses, malware, spyware, etc. to attack the user.

How to protect yourself from spam:

• To prevent spam mail, install filtering or blocking software.
• In your mailbox, if you find suspicious mail, then immediately delete that mail(without opening).
• Always keep your software updated.
• Never open the link that is sent by an unknown person.

5. Plagiarism: Plagiarism is stealing or copying someone else’s intellectual work (can be an idea, literary work or academic work, etc.) and representing it as your own work without giving credit to the creator or without citing the source of information.

How to protect yourself from plagiarism:

• While writing, always writes in your own words.
• Always use a plagiarism checker before the update.
• If you are taking someone else’s work, then always give the credit to the original author in an in-text citation.

Sample Questions

Question 1. What are the disadvantages of the internet?

A group of people is trying to get personal information (like bank detail, address, contact details, etc,) over the Internet and uses that for unethical benefits. Malware or viruses are becoming quick access to different networks and ultimately are causing harm to personal computers(PC) or computers connected to the network. Some people run deceitful businesses over the Internet, and the common people very often become victims of them. People use the internet for cyberbullying, trolling,

Question 2. What are the benefits of the internet?

The Internet offers the facility to communicate with a person in any part of the world. We can easily collect information related to any topic from the world wide web on the internet. Various types of business are carried out through Internet, which is referred to as e-commerce. From booking railway tickets and flight tickets or tickets for movies to purchasing any type of merchandises or commodities, are possible via the Internet. The Internet allows social networking, that is, it provides the facility to share our information, emotions and feelings with our friends and relatives.

Question 3. List some common computing ethics.

Do not use the computer to harm other people data. Do not spy on another person’s personal data. Do not use a computer to cause interference in other people work. Do not use technology to steal personal information. Do not spread misinformation using computer technology. It is wrong to claim ownership of a work that is the output of someone else’s intellect. In using computers for communication, be respectful with fellow members.

Question 4. List some unethical computing practices.  

Plagiarism Cyberbullying Unauthorized Hacking Spamming Phishing Software piracy

Question 5. What is cybercrime?

Cybercrime may be a criminal activity done with the help of computers and the Internet. It includes downloading illegal data, online fraud bank transaction, etc.

Question 6. The organization that has established the guideline for copyright Law.

Question 7. An application that obtained data without the user’s consent.

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180 Ethics Topics & Ethical Questions to Debate

Our code of ethics is derived from what we think is right or wrong. On top of that, we have to agree to the moral standards established by the society we live in. Conventional norms generally label theft, murder, or harassment as bad. However, there are many influences that impact our considerations and understanding of ethics.

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Ethics is a branch of philosophy that studies moral issues. This article outlines the three different types of ethics and presents a list of compelling ethics topics for essays and research papers, as well as ethical questions to debate.

You don’t know how to write about ethics or which ethical argument topic to choose for your paper? Maybe your assignment deadline is dreadfully looming over you? Our custom writing service is happy to help you craft a fantastic essay on ethics whenever the need arises.

🔝 Top 10 Ethical Topics

• 🧑🤝🧑Types of Ethics
• 🤔 Ethical Issues
• 🖥️ Computer Ethics
• 🧬 Bioethics
• 🚓👮 Criminal Justice
• ⚖️ Ethical Dilemmas

⭐ Top 10 Ethics Topics to Debate

😈 ethical questions to debate, 🔍 references.

• Religious beliefs vs. medical care
• Issues behind unpaid internships
• Toxic environment at the workplace
• The dilemma of reporting an accident
• Should one’s political leanings be private?
• The limits of doctor-patient confidentiality
• Is it ethical to pay children for good grades?
• Ethics at the workplace and discrimination
• Should social media be allowed at the workplace?
• Promotion of environmental responsibility in business

🧑🤝🧑 Types of Ethics

Modern philosophy splits ethics into three groups: metaethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics.

• The core question of metaethics is: “What is morality, and where does it come from?” It is also concerned with the emergence of human values, motivation, and reasoning.
• Normative ethics seeks to answer the question, “How should I act?” An example of a normative moral theory is Kant’s Categorical Imperative: Act only according to that maxim whereby you can, at the same time, will that it should become a universal law . In other words: be kind.
• Applied ethics seeks to apply moral considerations into real-life controversial subjects. Its contents can vary greatly and touch bioethics as well as criminal justice. It studies specific actions and practices from the point of moral acceptance.

However, ethics does not end with these three types. Over the centuries, philosophers have proposed various ethical theories. Their four general categories are deontological, utilitarian, right, and virtue ethics.

• A deontologist is a person with a set of moral duties from which they will not adhere. When faced with an ethical conflict, they will always act according to their self-proclaimed obligations.
• For a utilitarian , a decision needs to yield the greatest benefit for the majority.
• If rights are the root of an ethical theory, these are the highest priority. A person’s rights can either be established in a society by law or bestowed from one individual upon another.
• Judging someone by virtue means considering a person’s character rather than their actions. Here, an individual’s reputation, motivation, and ethics play a crucial role.

Now that you know the basics, you have the perfect ground to start your ethics essay.

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🤔 Ethical Topics for an Essay

Ethical issues are situations in which an individual needs to evaluate which course of action is morally right. Essays on this topic shine a light on difficult questions. Therefore, students need to defend their position convincingly.

• Discuss what we should do about climate change . 
• What are the moral problems surrounding abortion ? 
• Can we still justify eating meat? 
• Investigate the use of plastic in the beauty industry. 
• Is it unethical to be extremely rich? 
• Should you buy Nestlé products despite the fact that the company privatizes water? 
• Is the unequal distribution of wealth unethical? 
• Discuss how workplace ethics should take sexism into account. 
• What can we do to combat racism ? 
• Why are LGBT + people discriminated against? 
• Should euthanasia be legal? 
• Can war be ethical? 
• Should schools punish students for attending the Fridays for Future protests? 
• Would drug use be unethical if it were legal? 
• Explain the moral problems that come with automating jobs . 

• Is it ethical to hire someone to do assignments for you? 
• How far should everyone’s right to privacy go? 
• Is using animals for scientific testing unethical? 
• How should governments deal with refugees ? 
• Discuss the carbon impact of having children. 
• Can modern societies still be held accountable for what their nation did in the past? 
• Analyze the benefits and disadvantages of universal income . 
• How much control should the state have on the press? 
• Should schools teach religion ? 
• What are ethical concerns regarding downloading media from the internet? 

🖥️ Computer Ethics Essay Topics

The advent of information technology has altered every aspect of our lives. Computer ethics applies traditional moral theories to everything surrounding computers and cyber security. The list below contains enthralling ethical topics concerned with the realm of computing.

• How much work should we leave entirely to computers? 
• Discuss the dangers of storing vulnerable data online. 
• Are computers secure enough to contain so much information about our lives? 
• Discuss if hacking can be morally justified. 
• Examine privacy-related concerns regarding computers . 
• Should all software be free? 
• How can you legitimize the possession of a computer algorithm patent? 
• What can be done to prevent cyberbullying ? 
• Investigate the moral effects anonymity has on internet users. 
• Whose laws apply if you wish to protect your rights online? 
• Discuss how the necessity to own a computer impacts poorer nations and people. 
• Which ethical problems can people face due to the internet’s possibilities? 
• When is sabotaging another person’s computer justified? 
• Analyze the social responsibility that comes with developing new software. 
• Are computer crimes less harmful than crimes against humans? 
• Who owns information that is distributed online? 
• What is more important: easy accessibility or privacy? 
• Investigate the moral problems associated with AI . 
• If a computer makes a critical mistake, whose fault is it? 
• Discuss the importance of netiquette. 
• How should tech companies deal with ethical problems? 
• Can AI algorithms ensure ethical behavior? 
• Why do tech companies need ethics boards? 
• Which ethical conflicts appear when using drones ? 
• Investigate racial bias in facial recognition systems. 

🏅 Sports Ethics Topics for a Paper

Morality in sports is based on integrity, respect, responsibility, and fairness. Often, this puts athletes into a dilemma: do I want to be ethical, or do I want to win? Answering these questions is not always easy. The following list compiles sports topics for a research paper on ethics.

• What are moral complications when using enhancement drugs? 
• Is gamesmanship unethical? 
• How important is ethics in sports? 
• Discuss the moral responsibilities of athletes . 
• What are ethical reasons to pay college athletes ? 
• Investigate the ethical implications of kneeling for the national anthem . 
• Can college sports and the principles of higher education go hand in hand? 
• Investigate the sexist bias in sports. 
• Was it selfish when the American female soccer team went to court to demand equal pay? 

• What moral obligations do universities have towards their athletes? 
• When can you justify cheating ? 
• Concerning the environment, how can professional sports events be ethical? 
• Which ethical issues do healthcare workers have concerning sportspeople? 
• Which moral duties do teams’ coaches have? 
• Are the extremely high salaries of sports professionals justified? 
• In 2003, the Olympics abolished the wild card system. Was that fair? 
• Because of the Paralympics, disabled athletes cannot take part in the real Olympics. Is that discriminatory? 
• Discuss how money influences the fairness of a sport. 
• Debate if and how children are exploited to become elite athletes. 
• Which moral duties should a good sport follow? 
• How much should parents get involved in their child’s physical education ? 
• Investigate if everyday codes of ethics should apply to sports. 
• Discuss the ethical implications of motorsports. 
• Who is responsible if a player gets injured? 
• Are referees always fair? 

🧬 Bioethics Topics for an Essay

Bioethics comes into play when we talk about life and health. It expands from genetics to neurology and even plastic surgery. In the name of the common good, researchers often find themselves in conflicting positions. This makes bioethics an especially exciting topic to write about.

• Discuss the moral conflicts of genetic engineering . 
• What are the ethical responsibilities associated with using CRISPR ? 
• Investigate the problems of stem cell research . 
• When can humans be used for drug testing ? 
• Should vaccinations be mandatory for everyone? 
• Investigate the ethics that apply to a medical worker. 
• Discuss the harmful effects of plastic surgery . 
• Should a person who is brain dead be kept alive? 
• Is it just that medical care is linked to an individual’s ability to pay? 
• Should everyone be an organ donor by default? 
• What is more important: a person’s right to privacy or the information of at-risk relatives? 
• Is prenatal invasive testing ethical? 
• Should neuroenhancement drugs be legal? 
• Discuss ethical conflicts concerning Disclosure and Barring Service. 
• Is it ethical to improve memory functions with brain stimulation ? 
• Analyze the ethical issues concerning precision medicine. 
• What are the problems of surrogacy ? 
• Should medical personnel collect healthy tissues of a deceased person without their consent? 

• What should be done with the child of a brain-dead pregnant woman? 
• How important is a subject’s anonymity during research? 
• Discuss the ethics of shared decision-making . 
• How much responsibility do mentally challenged people carry for their actions? 
• Was Sweden right not to impose strict lockdown rules during the COVID-19 pandemic? 
• To what extent are businesses responsible for their employees’ health? 
• Should universal healthcare be free? 

🚓👮 Criminal Justice Ethics Topics to Write About

Law enforcers should always act ethically. Unfortunately, it is not always the case. Police officers and attorneys often end up in morally ambiguous situations. In many cases, they don’t do what the public deems the right thing. Below are the examples of criminal justice ethics topics.

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• When is it legitimate for a police officer to use violence? 
• How can an officer remain impartial? 
• Should law enforcement visibly wear guns in public? 
• How much force is too much? 
• Investigate possible ethical implications associated with true crime podcasts. 
• Should prostitution be legal in the US? 
• How ethical is interrogation ? 
• Can torture be justified? 
• Discuss the ethical consequences of lying when working in criminal justice . 
• Is working undercover deception? 
• Debate whether it is an American citizen’s moral duty to participate in jury duty. 
• Should the police be allowed to access everyone’s data? 
• Discuss the moral complications of “innocent until proven guilty.” 
• Should convicted pedophiles be allowed to see their children? 
• Can teaching ethics at schools prevent crime? 
• Analyze ethical problems of the Stanford Prison Experiment . 
• Should NATO have become involved in America’s Afghan war ? 
• What are the ethical implications of shooter drills at school? 
• Was Edward Snowden morally in the wrong? 
• How should we deal with child soldiers ? 
• Discuss if the prosecution of Julian Assange is justified. 
• Examine the ethical problems of private prisons . 
• What moral obligations should someone consider when granting prisoners the right to work? 
• When is capital punishment justified? 
• Is it ethical to incarcerate juvenile offenders ? 

⚖️ Ethical Dilemma Topics to Write About

An ethical issue becomes a dilemma when different moral standards clash with each other. In this situation, it is impossible to find a path to an ethically permissible solution that is unambiguous. The following sample topics are a solid base to start a discussion on morals.

• Should parents watch over what their children do on the internet? 
• Would you report an accident you caused if there are no witnesses? 
• What should a doctor do if a patient refuses life-saving treatment for religious reasons? 
• Should you turn down a client if their political views do not match yours? 
• Would you promote something you are not convinced of to get money? 
• Should you lie to land a job that gets you out of poverty? 

• Your partner cheated on you. Now, you get the chance to take your revenge with someone you really like. Would you do it? 
• Should students use automated writing tools like free thesis generators , summarizers, and paraphrasers? 
• Your teacher is continuously mocking your classmate. You are a teacher’s pet. Would you speak up? 
• Your son likes to wear dresses. One day, he asks if he can wear one to school. Will you let him? 
• You are very religious. Your daughter wants to get married to another woman and invites you to her wedding. What will you do? 
• Prenatal testing showed that your unborn child has a disability. Would you terminate pregnancy? 
• You are in a long-term relationship. Suddenly, your partner gets a job offer in another part of the world. What would you do? 
• You have a terminal illness . This makes you a financial burden to your relatives. Are you obliged towards them to quit your treatment? 
• You have a red and a blue candy bar. Blue is your favorite, but you also know that it’s your friend’s favorite. Will you give it to them? 
• A friend asked you for a loan. Since then, they have not given you anything back. They are still not wholly stable financially. Will you ask them to return the money? 
• Your grandma passed away and bequeathed her favorite mink coat to you. You are a vegan. What do you do? 
• A few years ago, you borrowed a gun from a friend. Now, they ask for it back, but their mental state seems to be rapidly deteriorating. This makes you scared they are going to shoot someone, or themselves. What do you do? 
• You find out that your friend cheats on their spouse. You are close friends with their family. Will you tell on them? 
• For your birthday, your friend gave you a sweater they’ve made themselves. You think it’s ugly. Do you tell them? 
• You are a vegan . Should you buy vegan products which are highly problematic to produce? 
• You are in a restaurant. Your order arrives too late. The waitress looks stressed. Will you make her take it back? 
• You went to the store and bought a new, expensive item. The clerk gives you too much change. Do you give it back? 
• You are walking with a friend and find $50 on the floor. Would you share it with them? 
• Your child firmly believes in Santa Claus. One Christmas , they start suspecting that he is not real. What do you do? 
• Is having pets ethical?
• Can eating meat be justified?
• Should we defund the police?
• Should atomic bombs be banned?
• Can discrimination be justified?
• Is it ethical to ask someone’s age?
• Should children get paid for chores?
• Is it unprofessional to send voice messages?
• Should children be allowed to vote?
• Should influencers promote products they don’t use?
• Should there be any limitations to doctor and patient confidentiality?
• Should physician-assisted suicide be allowed?
• Can teenagers get plastic surgery?
• What to do when you find out that your relative has committed an offense?
• What to do when you see your friend cheating on the exam?
• Should sportsmen be paid more than teachers?
• Should gender quotas be used during parliamentary elections?
• Do companies have the right to collect information about their customers?
• Can politicians appeal to religious issues during electoral campaigns?
• Should fake news be censored in a democratic society?

We hope that in this list you’ve found the ethics topic that fits you the best. Good luck with your assignment!

Further reading:

• 430 Philosophy Topics & Questions for Your Essay
• 226 Research Topics on Criminal Justice & Criminology
• 512 Research Topics on HumSS (Humanities & Social Sciences)
• 204 Research Topics on Technology & Computer Science
• What’s the Difference Between Morality and Ethics?: Britannica
• What is Ethics?: Santa Clara University
• Ethics: Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
• Metaethics: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
• Ethical Issues: Idaho State University
• The Problem with AI Ethics: The Verge
• Sports Ethics: Santa Clara University
• What Is Bioethics?: Michigan State University
• Ethics in Criminal Justice: Campbellsville University
• Kant’s Formula of Universal Law: Harvard University
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Ethics and Computer Security Essay

Milestone in the establishment of computer and information ethics, criticism of ethical relativism, theories of information and computer ethics, reference list.

The world we live in today is very different compared to the one our fore fathers lived many years ago. It is clear that tremendous change has taken place over the last ten decades, and whose impacts has been felt in all the facets of human existence such as social, political and economic.

Over time, man has been trying to employee various means in order to improve his living standards through innovation and inventions of new machines and equipments with the aim of enhancing production in the society.

The involvement of machines in the process of production has made it possible for many nations in the globe to produce enough food, treat disease, eradicate the menace of poverty and facilitate capacity building of the people through education, to mention but a few.

The introduction of computers and the internet in the 1970s marked the end and the beginning of a new era where human labour was no longer required in the production of goods and services.

Workers were replaced with machines and in the process rendered jobless. But today computers are used to perform a large volume of workforce in organizations, such as storage and processing of data, coordination and planning of duties, controlling and regulating of operations and retrieval of information if need arises.

At this point in time we can despite the fact that information revolution has altered to a larger extends various components of human existence such as employment, education, production, religion, human relations, family structure and democracy. In order to counteract the impacts of information communication technology (ICT) in the society, researchers developed computer and information ethics body that is essentially an applied scientific body (Weckert & Adeney 1997).

It can be defined as the scientific approach that is mandated with the obligation of laying down the frame work of operations of professionals using technology at the work place. The involved state holders have devised moral codes and regulations that affirm how professionals should safeguard the welfare of the organization using computers by explicating good practices within the workplace.

It was during the beginning of 1940s when efforts geared towards innovations and advancement in science and technology kicked-off. More resources in terms of finance and human resource were mobilized towards the creation of new machines and computers that were going to be of great importance in alleviating the living conditions of the people.

With regard to this, there was the need to establish a new body that constituted the knowledge in science and philosophy that aimed at impacting good moral practices of professionals at the workplace.

Norbert Weiner is regarded as the founder of the new philosophical field in the 21 st century. He was an American scholar, as well as a professor specialized in mathematics and engineering at Liz University. His effort was realized during the World War II when he made electronic computers and other new technologies that were of great help during this moment in time.

Together with his colleges from other parts of the world, such as Great Britain and Europe, Weiner brought to board a new scientific body referred to as ‘’cybernetic’’ that was going to address the impacts of technology after the World War.

In his opinion, he predicted that the world was going to undergo a second revolution that was to be initiated as a result of advancement in science and technology. According to him, creation of cybernetic body was the only effective way to minimize the challenges obscured opportunities that laid a head after the World War II.

After critically evaluating the social economic impacts that emerged after the World War, he decided to publish books and other literature materials that were going to inculcate knowledge and skills on the people regarding the concept of information ethics.

However, Weiner in his early publications never coined the term computer ethics because he felt that it was not a new vocabulary in the world of technology. It was until a decade later when the term information ethics and cybernetic was coined in the subsequent literature materials and become popular among the scholars.

In laying down the foundation for this new body of knowledge, Weiner used analytical methods to illustrate the relationship between human nature and society at large and how the two interact simultaneously. He was in a position to highlight various human principles that are useful in shading more light on topic of ethics and computer security.

They include: Principle of freedom that accords that each individual should fully explore the potential embodied in him or herself; Principle of equality that ascertains that equal chances to be given to two or more people without biasness and principle of benevolence that states that good will should exists between man and man beyond the venture of humanity (Wiener, 1948).

Society is heterogeneous in nature in the sense that it consists of many people with varied cultures, traditions, norms and values. As a result of this, there are always confrontations and conflicts among the people on which principle of justice should be followed by all the communities.

According to Weiner, he affirms that ethical relativism can still exists in the society despite the variance in peoples’ culture, traditions, norms, values and religion, if only they can adhere to the principle of justice that act as the supreme law.

The bottom line of Weiner’s argument is the fact that principle of justice should not restrict people from fully exploring their potentials in terms of choice and decision making process that makes people to be responsible for their own actions.

Many researchers have placed forth different approaches in addressing the concept of ethics and computer security. This has been a contentious issue since 1985, after John Moore published an article “What is computer ethics” in 1988.

Moore was more critical because he was in opposition to describe and elaborate the reasons why computer raised a heated a debate among the people compared to any other kind of technology.

In his account, he argues that due to the existence of logical malleability in computers, there are many options that a computer user employs to execute different tasks. The availability of these options creates what is termed as ‘’policy vacuum’’ that provides avenues for manipulation of security codes through hacking and installation of back door programmes.

In addition, the existence of policy vacuums also predisposes more challenges to professionals in the sense that it creates conceptual muddle about the reliability and validity of the computers. In trying to shade more light on this concept, Moore related the core values of the society such as knowledge, health, life, opportunities and resources with the concept of privacy and security in computers.

If these fundamental elements cease to exist in a developing society, there would be disintegration, conflicts and instability of the community that, in turn, causes wars and havoc among the concerned parties (Moore, 1999). He affirms that the same approach is applicable to computers and other forms of technologies if not well handled.

Computer at the workplace

The introduction of computers in organizations has elicited varied reactions from the public and the international community’s. This is according to a recent report released by international journal of cybernetic ethics on 4 th September, 2008. The main issue of controversy is to determine the extent to which technology should be involved in the process of production and what impacts it has on the welfare of the workers (Beycioglu, 2011).

Most organizations have employed computers to perform almost all the operations in a firm with a minimal assistance from few workers. This, in turn, has replaced many of the workers rendering them unemployed. Furthermore, due to the monotonous effect of using computers, workers have been reduced to machine like creatures in the sense that they cannot exploit their potentials fully. One is required to press a button or initiate a logical command to the computer and the rest of the work is done by the machine.

Managers should take into account the impacts of technology on the welfare of their employees, since it interferes with the normal operations of the organization (Margaret & Henry, 1996). Health and safety matters of the workers should be taken into account because they may influence the rate of production.

Privacy and Computer crime

Computer crime is one of the challenges facing the entire world today. There are many forms of computer crimes, but in most cases, involves the use of back door programmes to access database of an organization and dissemination of virus through the internet (Himma, 2003).

Firms have devised mechanisms that are effective in protecting their database from being accessed by unauthorized persons through the use of passwords and security codes. However, in some instance cases of violation of information ethics prevail because other workers fail to honour the obligation of adhering to rules and regulations that govern moral contact by reliving security codes to outsiders.

The topic of ethics and computer security is one of the current challenges that the world is facing today. Violations of information ethics among professionals have led to embezzlement of public funds, manipulation of important data for personal interest and incurrence of huge expenses in repairing the system, to mention but a few. Use of back door programmes, hacking and access of passwords are the most commonly methods used by hackers to access and retrieve data without the consent of the owner.

Beycioglu, K. (2011). International Journal of Cyber Ethics in Education (IJCEE) . doi:10.4018/IJCEE.

Himma, K. (2003). The relationship between the uniqueness of computer ethics and its Independence as a discipline in applied ethics. Ethics and Information Technology , 5(4), 225-237.

Margaret, A, & Henry, J. W. (1996). Computer ethics: The role of personal, informal, and formal codes. Journal of business ethics , 15(4), 425-437. DOI: 10.1007/BF00380363.

Moore, J. H. (1999). Just Consequentialism and Computing. Ethics and Information Technology , 1(1), 65-69. DOI: 10.1023/A:1010078828842.

Weckert, J. & Adeney, D. (1997). Computer and information ethics . Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.

Wiener, N. (1948). Cybernetics: or control and communication in the animal and the machine . New York: Technology Press/John Wiley & Sons.

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Expertly Written Essay On Privacy, Security And Ethical Issues In Computer Science – Information System And Internet To Follow

Executive summary

Good Example Of The Advantages Of Ethics For Computer Scientists Report

Introduction

Free Course Work On Ethical Evaluation

Ethical evaluation course work examples, computer security aerowright case study course work example, unintentional power in the design of computer systems course work examples, vocational degree of it course work, computing ethics essay samples, computing issues essay examples, professional ethics essay sample, net neutrality in alleviating the widespread digital divide essays examples.

Introduction 3 Ethical Issues in Information Technology 4 Ethical Case Study in IT 5 IT Laws 6 Cultural Differences in the Use of IT 7 Conclusion 8

How Does Computer Ethics Present In People's Life Theses Example

Free research paper on free speech and content control, example of essay on computer ethics: a typical scenario.

The term ethics used to refer to a set of principles that govern a character of a society . What is deemed to be acceptable before the society is termed as ethical and vice-versa unethical. Similarly, in computing, the term ethics refer to a set of good principles that govern the discourse that is computing . Some of the main facets of computing that can be discussed in the purview of computer ethics include privacy concerns, intellectual property and the use of computer for the betterment of society. This paper reviews a scenario that brings the ethics of computing into discussion.

Ethics And The Information Age Essay Examples

Definition of ethics for the information age

Example Of Computer And Web Ethics Research Paper

What are the effects of globalization in re guards to how ethics and computer security research paper sample, the ten commandments of computer ethics essay examples.

The Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics

Computer ethics is a field of ethics that is undergoing a lot of changes as computer technology advances and develops (Alavudeen, Rahman & Jayakumaran, 2008). It can be viewed as the efforts of professional philosophers to apply traditional ethical theories to the issues on the use of computer technology where such theories include virtue ethics, Kantian ethics, and utilitarian ethics. On the other hand, computer ethics can also be viewed as encompassing a wider spectrum by including things such as corporate ethics, public policy, aspects of computer law, codes of conduct, and standards of professional practice.

Different Aspects Of Social Networking Argumentative Essay

Ethics- tutorial questions essay example, privacy laws in information technology research paper examples.

Information pervasiveness, along with all its benefits, brings concerns with respect to security issues. Data is no longer hidden behind the walls of companies. It does not reside only on mainframes physically isolated within an organization where all kind of physical security measures are taken to defend the data and the systems. Systems are increasingly open and interconnected, which poses new challenges for security technologies.

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CS 300: The Computing Professional: Ethics Research Project Topics

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Ethics Topic Suggestions

Adblock Anonymity Anonymous Automated Driving Blogging Catfishing - No books Internet Censorship Content Filters Cryptography & Law Cyberstalking Data Mining Database Copyrights Database Integrity Digital Rights Management Digital Sampling Digital Self-Help Digital Wiretaps Disability/Access DMCA / Fair Use Domain Names Edward Snowden Electronic Voting Email Privacy Export Restrictions Facebook & Identity Facebook & Privacy Gamergate Genomic Data Mining Google & Censorship Google Glass Google Street View Griefing HDTV/Broadcast Flag IBM & Holocaust iOS Lockdown/Jailbreaking ISP Content Liability Licensing Location-based Monitors Mashups MPAA/RIAA NSA/PRISM Plagarism/Turnitin.com RFID Right To Be Forgotten Righthaven Search Engine Optimization Secure ID Security Disclosures Social Media & Employers Software Quality Spam Spyware Target & Analytics Toysmart Trolling UCITA Virtual Child Porn Virtual Property Rights Virtual Rape White-Hat Hacking Wikipedia Workplace Monitoring and more...

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Google Books allows you to search approximately 30 million books. While not able to provide full text for in-copyright works, this type of research can still be helpful.

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From the  New Jersey's Science & Technology University (NJIT) Channel :  Uploaded on May 25, 2010 - NJIT School of Management professor Stephan P Kudyba describes what data mining is and how it is being used in the business world.

Computing Ethics Books + ebooks

Computing Ethics Websites

• ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct Commitment to ethical professional conduct is expected of every member (voting members, associate members, and student members) of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).
• BBC Bitesize Ethics and Law There are laws that govern how we use computers. There are also ethical concerns about issues such as piracy, hacking and the environment.
• Computer and information Ethics The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy's essay on Computer and Information Ethics.
• Computer Ethics Institute The Computer Ethics Institute has provided an advanced forum and resource for identifying, assessing and responding to ethical issues associated with the advancement of information technologies in society.
• Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility CPSR is a global organization promoting the responsible use of computer technology.
• Microsoft Safety & Security Center Ethics are principles or standards of human conduct. Cyberethics is a code of behavior on the Internet.
• The Socrates Institute Cyberethics Project An educational program to address the problem of juvenile cybercrime.
• Tools for Teaching Cyberethics Ten guidelines of computer ethics, online resources for teaching ethics and Internet safety, and eight tips for establishing a "culture of proper use" of technology in the classroom.
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Computer Ethics Essays

Inappropriate use of computers – computer crimes, popular essay topics.

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502 Ethics Essay Topics & Ideas

18 January 2024

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Ethics essay topics traverse a wide range of issues deeply rooted in the moral fabric of society. They can include analysis of ethical dilemmas faced by individuals, corporations, or governments, such as healthcare decisions, corporate social responsibility, or public policy formation. Some themes can cover philosophical questions about the nature of good and evil, the boundaries of moral obligation, or the ethical implications of artificial intelligence. They can also explain contemporary ethical issues, like data privacy, environmental sustainability, or systemic discrimination. Other topics can encourage the exploration of ethical theories like deontology, consequentialism, or virtue ethics. Moreover, they can delve into the intersection of ethics with fields, like technology, medicine, business, or law. As a result, ethics essay topics require critical thinking, nuanced argumentation, and deep reflection on the ethical dimensions of human actions and decisions in an ever-complex world.

Best Ethics Essay Topics

• Ethical Dimensions of Artificial Intelligence: Concerns and Potential Solutions
• Is Animal Testing Morally Defensible?
• Evaluating Censorship: Freedom of Expression vs. Harm Minimization
• Autonomous Vehicles: Moral Implications and Responsibility Allocation
• Genetic Engineering: Navigating the Labyrinth of Ethical Issues
• Capital Punishment: An Ethical Examination
• Ethics of Surveillance: Balancing Privacy and Security
• Climate Change: Moral Obligations and Sustainable Development
• Euthanasia: A Compassionate Choice or an Ethical Misstep?
• Ethical Challenges in Global Business Practices
• Privacy and Data Collection: Digital Age Dilemmas
• Sustainable Consumerism: Ethical Implications and Responsibilities
• Organ Transplantation Ethics: Debating Donor Consent
• Deepfake Technology: Ethical Quandaries in Virtual Realities
• Civil Disobedience: When Is It Ethically Justifiable?
• Resource Allocation in Healthcare: An Ethical Dilemma
• Ethics in Scientific Research: Boundaries and Breaches
• Moral Implications of Cloning: Science and Society
• Child Labor: Unveiling the Ethical Concerns
• Genetic Data Privacy: An Emerging Ethical Frontier
• War Ethics: Exploring Just War Theory
• Privacy Invasion Through Technology: An Ethical Debate
• Mandatory Vaccinations: Balancing Public Health and Individual Rights
• Drone Warfare: Navigating Ethical Implications

Easy Ethics Essay Topics

• Fair Trade: Ethical Aspects and Global Impact
• Genetic Screening: Ethical Questions in Predictive Medicine
• Autonomous Weapon Systems: The Ethics of Killer Robots
• Influence of Media: Ethical Implications in Society
• Designer Babies: The Morality of Genetic Modification
• Wealth Inequality: Exploring Ethical Perspectives
• Human Enhancement Technologies: Are They Ethically Sound?
• Migration Policies: Ethical Considerations and Human Rights
• Artificial Womb Technology: Navigating the Ethical Landscape
• Intellectual Property Rights: An Ethical Investigation
• Transhumanism: Ethical Implications and Future Prospects
• Nanotechnology Applications: Unveiling Ethical Concerns
• Child Soldiers: The Moral Dilemma in Armed Conflict
• Population Control Policies: Ethics and Human Rights
• Genetic Discrimination: An Emerging Ethical Crisis
• Ghostwriting: Evaluating the Ethical Dimensions
• Human Trafficking: Unpacking the Ethical Implications
• Food Waste: Ethical Concerns and Solutions
• Medical Tourism: Navigating the Ethical Implications
• Cybersecurity Ethics: Protecting Data, Respecting Privacy
• In Vitro Meat: Evaluating the Ethical Considerations
• Ethics in Space Exploration: Colonization and Beyond
• Animal Rights vs. Cultural Traditions: An Ethical Conflict

Interesting Ethics Essay Topics

• Political Lobbying: Ethical Implications and Public Interests
• Internet Censorship: Ethical Considerations and Freedom of Information
• Ethics of Experiments on Humans: Reviewing Past and Present
• Globalization’s Impact on Labor Ethics: An Investigation
• Digital Identity Theft: Ethical Implications and Countermeasures
• Zero-Waste Movement: Ethical Reflections and Practicalities
• Assisted Suicide: A Compassionate Option or an Ethical Dilemma?
• Cognitive Enhancements: Ethical Implications in Education and Workplace
• Universal Basic Income: Ethical Considerations and Economic Consequences
• Biofuels and Sustainability: An Ethical Examination
• Ethics of Zoos: Animal Welfare vs. Conservation Education
• Responsible AI: Establishing Ethical Guidelines for Artificial General Intelligence
• Factory Farming: Unveiling Its Ethical and Environmental Impact
• Mandatory Military Service: An Ethical Inquiry
• Robotics in Healthcare: Ethical Issues and Human Interaction
• The Right to Die: Unpacking the Ethics of Assisted Dying
• The Ethics of Space Mining: Resource Exploitation Beyond Earth
• Moral Questions in Quantum Computing: An Untouched Frontier
• Teleportation Ethics: Navigating Possible Future Dilemmas
• Digital Divide: Ethical Implications and Solutions
• Human Cloning: A Moral and Ethical Minefield
• Ethics in Advertising: Truth, Deception, and Manipulation

Ethics Essay Topics for High School

• Ethical Implications of Genetic Engineering: Pros and Cons
• Universal Human Rights: Their Origin and Impact
• Autonomy and Respect in Medical Decisions: A Discussion
• Euthanasia Debate: Ethical Dilemmas and Solutions
• Environmental Ethics: Responsibility Toward Nature
• Truthfulness in Journalism: Obligations and Challenges
• War Ethics: Justification of Violence in Conflicts
• Freedom of Speech: Where Should We Draw the Line?
• Surveillance Society: Privacy and Public Security
• Capital Punishment: An Ethical Evaluation
• Plagiarism in Academia: Causes and Consequences
• Moral Responsibility in Artificial Intelligence Development
• Animal Rights: Ethical Considerations and Activism
• Ethical Considerations in Organ Transplantation
• Utilitarianism vs. Deontological Ethics: A Comparative Study
• Social Inequality: The Ethical Duty of Reducing Poverty
• Ethical Challenges in the Age of Biotechnology
• Ethics of Whistleblowing in Corporate Culture
• Business Ethics: The Role of Transparency in Trust Building
• Internet Censorship: Balancing Freedom and Security
• Ethics of Advertising: Consumer Manipulation or Information Provision?

Ethics Essay Topics for College Students

• Balancing Personal Privacy and National Security: An Ethical Dilemma
• Animal Rights: Evaluating Moral Obligations Towards Non-Human Beings
• Digital Ethics: Exploring the Morality of Online Behavior
• Corporate Social Responsibility: Unearthing the Ethical Boundaries in Business
• Bioethics: Delving Into Genetic Engineering and Cloning Issues
• Capital Punishment: Analyzing Its Ethical Implications
• Ethical Dimensions in Modern Advertising: A Deceptive Practice?
• Fair Trade and Globalization: The Ethical Debate
• Dissecting the Ethics of Euthanasia: Who Decides Life and Death?
• Understanding Ethics in Politics: Corrupt Practices and Moral Duties
• Surveillance Technologies: The Big Brother and Ethical Issues
• Impacts of Artificial Intelligence: Ethical Considerations for the Future
• Wealth Distribution: An Ethical Perspective on Economic Inequality
• Internet Censorship: The Question of Ethical Implications
• Whistleblowing: An Analysis of its Ethical Considerations
• Professional Ethics in Medicine: Analyzing Patient Rights and Doctor Duties
• Unraveling the Ethics of Child Labor in Developing Countries
• Climate Change: Evaluating the Ethical Responsibility of Individuals and Corporations
• Genetically Modified Foods: Examining the Ethical Questions
• Drug Legalization: Delving Into the Ethical Aspects

Ethical Argument Topics

• Justification of Capital Punishment in Modern Societies
• Animal Rights: Unseen Victims of Industrial Agriculture
• Self-Driving Vehicles and the Question of Liability
• Artificial Intelligence: Ensuring Ethical Treatment
• Surveillance States: Invasion of Privacy vs. National Security
• Online Censorship: Freedom of Speech or Prevention of Hate Speech
• Mandatory Vaccinations: Individual Liberty vs. Public Health
• Genetic Engineering: Prospects and Ethical Implications
• Climate Change: Balancing Economic Growth and Environmental Protection
• Wealth Distribution: Morality of Extreme Economic Inequality
• Human Cloning: Scientific Progress or Ethical Nightmare
• Euthanasia: Compassionate Care or Ending Life Prematurely
• Influencers and Digital Ethics: Accountability on Social Media
• Food Wastage: Addressing Ethical Concerns in Consumerism
• Offshore Tax Havens: Legal Evasion or Immoral Avoidance
• Internet Privacy: Data Collection and User Rights
• Organ Trafficking: Addressing the Desperate Demand for Transplants
• Biometric Data: Security Enhancement or Personal Privacy Breach
• Pharmaceutical Industry: Ethical Issues in Drug Pricing
• War on Terror: Justifying Collateral Damage
• Designer Babies: Ethical Boundaries of Genetic Selection

Ethics Topics on Animals

• Animal Testing: Necessary Evil or Inhumane Practice?
• Breeding Programs: An Ethical Approach to Conservation?
• Rights of Animals: Toward Legal Protection
• Endangered Species Hunting: Conservation or Cruelty?
• Ethical Considerations in the Genetic Engineering of Animals
• Dilemmas in Captive Breeding for Endangered Species
• Ethics in Animal Agriculture: A Global Perspective
• Fur Industry: The Moral Argument Against Animal Cruelty
• Lab Animals: Balancing Scientific Progress and Ethical Responsibility
• Rethinking Zoos: Animal Rights vs. Educational Benefits
• Ethical Breeding: Combatting Overpopulation of Domestic Pets
• Companion Animals: Examining the Ethics of Ownership
• The Morality of Keeping Exotic Pets
• Wildlife Conservation: Ensuring Ethical Practices
• Veganism: A Moral Obligation for Animal Rights?
• Ethics of Hunting: Sport, Survival, or Savagery?
• Animal Entertainment: Is It Ethically Justifiable?
• Poultry Farming: Assessing Ethical Implications
• Deforestation: Examining Its Impact on Animal Ethics
• Animals in Research: Ethical Guidelines and Controversies

Bioethics Topics

• Ethical Implications of Genetic Engineering
• Assisted Reproduction: A Moral Examination
• Medical Privacy: Balancing Transparency and Confidentiality
• Implementing Ethics in Telemedicine Practices
• Addressing Racial Disparities in Healthcare
• AI’s Influence on Patient Autonomy
• Vaccine Distribution: Prioritizing Fairness and Equality
• End-of-Life Decisions: Assessing Moral Boundaries
• Conducting Ethical Animal Testing in Biomedical Research
• Consent in Pediatric Care: Navigating Parents’ and Children’s Rights
• Ethical Dilemmas in Organ Donation and Transplantation
• Analyzing Ethical Dimensions of Aging and Longevity
• Genomic Data Sharing: Balancing Innovation and Privacy
• Mental Health Treatment: Striking a Balance Between Autonomy and Safety
• Ethical Challenges of Prenatal Genetic Testing
• Confronting Ethical Issues in Biobanking
• Navigating Bioethical Challenges in Biotechnology Patenting
• Social Responsibility in Pharmaceutical Industry Practices
• Compassionate Use of Experimental Drugs: Weighing Risks and Benefits
• CRISPR Technology: The Ethics of Gene Editing
• Dilemmas Surrounding Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) Orders

Biomedical Ethics Essay Topics

• Ethical Dilemmas in Genetic Engineering: Assessing Prospects and Pitfalls
• Balancing Patient Confidentiality and Public Health in Pandemic Times
• Evaluating the Ethical Concerns in End-of-Life Decision-Making
• Moral Imperatives in Psychiatric Practice: The Question of Informed Consent
• Probing the Ethical Boundaries of Animal Experimentation in Biomedical Research
• Justice in Healthcare: Navigating Socioeconomic Disparities in Treatment Access
• Human Cloning: Parsing the Moral and Ethical Implications
• Neonatal Intensive Care Units and the Dilemma of Quality vs. Quantity of Life
• Weighing the Ethics of Organ Transplants and Donor Organ Allocation
• Scrutinizing the Intersection of Biotechnology and Bioethics: Genetically Modified Organisms
• Cybernetics and Ethics: Discussing the Human-Machine Boundary in Medical Technology
• Understanding the Ethical Dilemmas Surrounding Antimicrobial Resistance
• Considerations on Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: A New Ethical Frontier?
• Abortion Policies and Ethics: Exploring the Rights of Mothers and Unborn Children
• Data Privacy and Ethics in Biomedical Research: Striking the Balance
• Evaluating the Ethics of Mandatory Vaccinations: Individual Liberty vs. Public Health
• Probing the Bioethical Aspects of Fertility Treatments and Reproductive Technology
• Resource Allocation in Healthcare: Dissecting the Ethics of Rationing
• Ethical Analysis of Human Enhancement through Genetic Manipulation
• Unveiling the Bioethical Challenges in Stem Cell Research

Business Ethics Essay Topics

• Implementing Corporate Social Responsibility: A Ethical Business Paradigm Shift
• Balancing Profit and Social Responsibility: The Moral Dilemma
• Unveiling Greenwashing: Misrepresentation in Environmental Claims
• Privacy Intrusion: Ethical Concerns in Digital Marketing
• Whistleblowing: Courageous Act or Betrayal?
• Child Labor in Global Supply Chains: Ethical Considerations
• Navigating Insider Trading: An Ethical Quagmire in Business
• Philanthropy or Publicity Stunt? Assessing Corporate Donations
• Data Security: Addressing Ethical Issues in Business Informatics
• Sweatshops and Modern Slavery: Unethical Practices in the Global Economy
• Biased Algorithms: The Hidden Dilemma in AI Businesses
• Pay Equality: The Ethics of Gender Wage Gap in Corporate Spheres
• Ethical Dilemmas in Pharmaceutical Patents: Balancing Profit and Public Health
• Climate Change: The Ethical Responsibility of Oil and Gas Companies
• Animal Testing in Cosmetics: An Unsettling Ethical Challenge
• Adverse Effects of Planned Obsolescence: Ethical Perspective
• Ethics of Tax Avoidance: A Corporate Responsibility
• Deceptive Advertising: Analyzing its Ethical Implications
• Fair Trade: Ethical Considerations in Global Commerce
• Inequality in the Workplace: Discrimination and Its Ethical Ramifications
• Unpacking Corruption: The Ethical Degradation in Business Practices

Computer Ethics Essay Topics

• Exploring Privacy Concerns in the Digital Age: A Critical Analysis
• Impacts of Artificial Intelligence on Human Jobs: An Ethical Perspective
• Ethical Implications of Cybersecurity Breaches: Unveiling the Dark Side of Technology
• Technological Innovation and Its Role in Deepening the Digital Divide
• The Conundrum of Social Media: Ethical Boundaries and Responsibilities
• Surveillance Systems in Public Places: An Ethical Inquiry
• Evaluating Ethical Practices in Software Development: Necessity or Luxury?
• Autonomous Vehicles and Moral Decision Making: A Road to Controversy
• Responsibility of Tech Giants: Exploring Ethical Implications
• Unraveling Ethical Issues in Digital Piracy: The Unseen Consequences
• Analyzing Ethical Concerns in Data Mining: Privacy vs. Profits
• Ethics of Cloud Computing: Trust, Security, and Privacy Challenges
• Smart Cities and Their Impact on Individual Privacy: An Ethical Investigation
• Net Neutrality: Unpacking Its Ethical Significance in a Digital Society
• Cyberbullying: Understanding Its Ethical Dimensions and Mitigation Strategies
• The Intricacy of Bioinformatics: Ethical Implications and Challenges
• Cryptocurrency and Blockchain: A Journey Through Ethical Quandaries
• Ethical Dilemmas in Facial Recognition Technology: A Reality Check
• Machine Learning Algorithms: A Deep Dive Into Bias and Ethical Dilemmas
• Cyber War: Evaluating Its Ethical Implications on Nations and Citizens

Educational Ethics Topics

• Fostering Academic Integrity: An Ethical Approach
• Protecting Student Privacy in the Digital Age
• Evaluation of Bias in Standardized Testing
• Cyberbullying Prevention Strategies and Ethics
• Inclusive Education: Ethical Considerations
• Plagiarism: Implications and Ethical Solutions
• Ethical Dilemmas in Educational Research
• Diversification of Curriculum: An Ethical Imperative
• Ethical Implications of School Surveillance
• Impartiality in Grade Allocation: Ensuring Fairness
• Responsible Use of AI in Education
• Informed Consent in School Counseling
• Cultivating Ethical Leadership in Education
• Addressing Discrimination: The Role of Schools
• Teacher’s Roles in Developing Moral Reasoning
• Exploring Equity in Special Education Services
• School Policies: Navigating Freedom of Speech
• Ethics of Standardized vs. Adaptive Learning
• Intellectual Property Rights in Educational Settings
• Honoring Cultural Diversity: A Moral Obligation
• Privilege in Education: Understanding Its Impact

Environmental Ethics Essay Topics

• The Moral Responsibility of Individuals in Addressing Climate Change
• Ethical Considerations in Wildlife Conservation Efforts
• The Role of Environmental Justice in Sustainable Development
• Ethical Transitions in Renewable Energy Deployment
• The Moral Dilemma of Deforestation and Land Use
• Sustainable Agriculture: Ethical Practices for Food Production
• Environmental Ethics and the Preservation of Biodiversity
• Ethics of Water Resource Management and Access
• Ethical Implications of Pollution Mitigation and Waste Disposal
• Moral Dimensions in Environmental Policy Making
• Animal Rights and Welfare: Ethical Approaches to Environmental Conservation
• Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Environmental Ethics
• Environmental Ethics in the Era of Technological Advancements
• Ethical Challenges of Urbanization and Building Sustainable Cities
• Corporate Responsibility in Environmental Sustainability
• Ethics of Consumption: Environmental Impact and Conscious Choices
• Promoting Ethical Environmental Education and Awareness
• Ethical Dimensions in Climate Adaptation Strategies
• Geoengineering and Climate Intervention: Ethical Implications
• Ethical Dilemmas in Ecotourism and Sustainable Travel

Ethics & Artificial Intelligence Topics

• Ethical Considerations in Autonomous Vehicle Decision-Making
• The Role of Ethics in Facial Recognition Technology Deployment
• Ethical Implications of Deepfake Technology
• Ensuring Fairness in Algorithmic Decision-Making
• Ethical Dilemmas in Data Privacy and AI
• The Ethics of AI-Powered Healthcare Diagnosis
• Balancing Privacy and Security in AI Applications
• Ethical Frameworks for AI in Criminal Justice Systems
• Addressing Bias and Discrimination in AI Algorithms
• Ethical Implications of AI in Social Media Manipulation
• Ensuring Ethical Standards in AI Research and Development
• Ethical Challenges in AI-Powered Customer Service
• The Moral Responsibility of AI Developers
• The Impact of AI on Employment and Ethical Considerations
• Ethical Issues in AI-Powered Biometric Identification Systems
• Ethics of AI in Environmental Conservation and Sustainability
• Ensuring Transparency and Accountability in AI Governance
• Ethical Challenges in AI-Based Predictive Policing
• Moral Dilemmas of AI-Powered Humanoid Robots
• Ethical Implications of AI in Journalism and News Reporting
• The Role of Ethics in AI-Powered Decision Support Systems
• Ethical Considerations in AI-Based Financial Advising
• Balancing Autonomy and Control in AI Systems

Ethics of Emerging Technologies Topics

• Ethical Considerations in Artificial Intelligence Development
• Privacy Concerns Surrounding Big Data Analytics
• Moral Questions Raised by Human Enhancement Technologies
• Social Impacts of Autonomous Vehicles
• Ethics and Genetic Engineering
• The Role of Morality in Blockchain Technology
• Ethical Challenges in Virtual Reality Applications
• Sustainability Ethics in Renewable Energy Technologies
• Ethical Dilemmas of Biometric Identification Systems
• Cybersecurity Ethics and Data Breaches
• Ethical Implications of 3D Printing
• Ethics and Robotics Automation
• Responsible Use of Augmented Reality
• Ethical Issues in Brain-Computer Interfaces
• Ethical Considerations in Nanotechnology
• Ethics and the Use of Drones
• The Role of Morality in Biomedical Implants
• Ethical Challenges of Biometric Surveillance
• Ethical Dimensions of Neural Networks
• Social Media Algorithms and Ethical Implications

Ethics of War and Peace Topics

• Moral Responsibility in Chemical Weapon Use
• Cyber Warfare: Analyzing Ethical Ramifications
• Interrogation Techniques: The Ethics of War Torture
• Peacekeeping Operations: Ethical Challenges and Dilemmas
• Ethics in War Propaganda
• Justifying Collateral Damage: Ethical Dilemmas
• Covert Operations: Ethical Considerations
• War Crimes Tribunals: Ethical Dimensions
• Environmental Impact of Warfare: Ethical Perspectives
• Just War vs. Pacifism: Ethical Stances
• Ethical Decision-Making in Times of War
• Economic Sanctions: Ethical Implications in Conflict Resolution
• Proportionality Principle in Warfare Ethics
• Unmanned Combat Systems: Ethical Questions
• Moral Imperative of Post-War Reconstruction
• Ethical Dilemmas in Civil War Interventions
• Nonviolent Resistance: Ethical Dimensions in Achieving Peace
• Information Warfare: Ethics and Accountability
• Just War Theory and Humanitarian Interventions: Ethical Analysis
• Ethical Considerations in the Use of Child Soldiers
• Coercive Interrogation Techniques: Moral Challenges in War

Ethics Essay Topics for Informative Papers

• The Significance of Ethical Leadership in Business Organizations
• Exploring the Ethical Dimensions of Artificial Intelligence Development
• Ethical Implications of Genetic Modification in Human Enhancement
• Analyzing the Ethics of Animal Experimentation in Scientific Research
• Ethical Dilemmas in End-of-Life Care and Assisted Suicide
• Ethical Considerations of Privacy in the Digital Era
• Examining the Moral Responsibility of Corporations in Environmental Preservation
• Ethical Issues in Human Cloning and Reproductive Procedures
• Exploring the Ethical Implications of Autonomous Vehicles
• The Role of Ethics in Healthcare Decision-Making
• Ethical Challenges in the Era of Social Media
• Ethics of Whistleblowing in Corporate and Government Settings
• Examining the Ethical Implications of Big Data and Data Privacy
• Ethical Issues in Organ Transplantation and Allocation
• Ethics of Genetic Testing and Confidentiality
• Moral Obligations of Healthcare Professionals During the Covid-19 Pandemic
• Ethical Considerations in Human-Animal Relationships and Animal Rights
• Ethics of Capital Punishment and the Death Penalty
• Ethical Challenges in Clinical Trials and Research Studies
• Moral Dimensions of Global Poverty and Wealth Disparity

Legal Ethics Essay Topics

• Ethical Considerations in Lawyer-Client Confidentiality
• Balancing Legal Advocacy and Professional Responsibility
• The Role of Ethics in Judicial Decision-Making
• Professional Standards in Legal Negotiations
• Safeguarding Attorney-Client Privilege
• Conflicts of Interest and Professional Ethics
• The Intersection of Legal Ethics and Technology
• Maintaining Zealous Advocacy Within Ethical Boundaries
• Ethical Issues in Legal Advertising and Solicitation
• Ensuring Competence and Continuing Legal Education
• Upholding Loyalty to Clients and Ethical Duties
• Ethical Billing Practices in the Legal Field
• Ethical Dilemmas in Witness Preparation and Presentation
• Ethical Considerations in Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Professional Responsibility in Multijurisdictional Practice
• Ethical Challenges in Pro Bono Legal Services
• Ethics in Corporate Law Practice
• Managing Pretrial and Trial Publicity Ethically
• Conflicts of Interest in Law Firm Partnerships
• Ethical Use of Electronic Communications and Confidentiality
• Ethical Implications of Social Media for Lawyers

Media Ethics Essay Topics

• Shaping Cultural Norms: Media’s Role and Responsibility
• Advertising Ethics: Persuasion or Manipulation?
• Journalism Ethics in Covering International Conflicts
• Paparazzi Culture: Ethical Implications in Celebrity Journalism
• Photojournalism Ethics: Publishing Disturbing Images
• Citizen Journalism: Ethical Challenges and Responsibilities
• Media Ownership: Impact on Diversity and Pluralism
• Promoting Social Justice: Media’s Ethical Obligations
• Ethical Implications of Influencer Marketing
• Media Accountability: Importance of Ethical Guidelines
• Digital Manipulation: Ethical Concerns in Media
• Ethical Challenges in Reporting Crime and Trials
• Balancing Freedom of Speech: Media’s Responsibility
• Ethical Considerations in Documentary Storytelling
• Media’s Influence on Political Discourse and Elections
• Privacy Invasion: Ethical Dilemmas in Investigative Journalism
• Native Advertising: Ethical Dimensions in Journalism
• Media’s Role in Exposing and Combating Corruption
• Ethical Challenges in Reporting Medical and Health Issues
• Media Ethics in the Era of Deepfakes and AI
• Censorship and Control: Moral Implications in News

Medical Ethics Topics

• Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide: Ethical Considerations
• Medical Errors and Patient Safety: Ethical Perspectives
• Ethical Challenges in Global Health Initiatives
• Informed Consent and Patient Autonomy in Medical Research
• The Ethics of Human Enhancement Technologies
• Ethical Issues Surrounding Animal Experimentation in Medicine
• Allocation of Limited Medical Resources: Ethical Frameworks
• Confidentiality and Privacy in Telemedicine and Electronic Health Records
• Ethical Implications of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
• Professional Integrity and Conflicts of Interest in Medical Practice
• Ethical Considerations in Clinical Trials and Drug Development
• End-of-Life Decision-Making for Minors: Legal and Ethical Challenges
• Ethical Issues in Emergency Medical Care and Triage
• Organ Trafficking and Underground Organ Trade: Ethical Analysis
• Cultural Competence and Ethical Care in a Diverse Society
• Ethical Implications of Embryo Selection and Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis
• Paternalism and Patient Autonomy: Balancing Healthcare Decision-Making
• Ethical Concerns in Genetic Engineering and Gene Therapy
• Medical Negligence and Malpractice: Ethical and Legal Perspectives
• Ethical Challenges in Access to Healthcare: Equity and Justice

Nursing Ethics Essay Topics

• Ethical Implications of Nurse-Patient Boundaries
• Integrating Cultural Competence Into Nursing Ethics
• Balancing Patient Advocacy and Confidentiality in Nursing
• Challenges in Ethical Mental Health Nursing
• Promoting Ethical Decision-Making in Nursing Leadership
• Issues in Research Ethics: Protecting Human Subjects
• Significance of Ethical Communication in Nursing Practice
• Exploring Responsibilities in Emergency Nursing Ethics
• Ethical Considerations in Pain Management for Nurses
• Organ Transplantation Ethics in Nursing
• Ethical Challenges in Nursing Informatics
• Ensuring Equity and Justice in Nursing Care: Ethical Perspectives
• Ethical Issues in Nursing Education and Training
• Implications of Technology Use in Nursing Practice Ethics
• Genetic Testing and Counseling Ethics in Nursing
• Balancing Professional and Personal Ethics in Nursing
• Challenges in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Ethics
• Ethical Considerations in Palliative and Hospice Care Nursing
• Roles of Decision-Making Models in Nursing Ethics
• Addressing Ethical Issues in Transcultural Nursing
• Implications of Nurse Staffing Ratios on Ethics

Political Ethics Essay Topics

• The Significance of Monetary Influence on Political Campaigns: Analyzing Its Impact on Ethical Decision-Making
• Ethical Considerations of Lobbying Practices Within the Political Sphere
• Environmental Ethics and the Ethical Decision-Making Process in Politics: Achieving a Balance
• Examining the Ethical Implications of Political Advertising: Informative Communication or Manipulation?
• Ethical Dimensions of Political Spin: Striking a Balance Between Truth and Persuasion
• Ethical Challenges Associated With Political Fundraising: Ensuring Transparency and Accountability
• Moral Dilemmas in Political Decision Making: Navigating Complex Ethical Gray Areas
• The Role of Ethical Journalism in Political Reporting: Objectivity vs. Bias
• Analyzing the Ethical Considerations of Political Campaign Promises: Assessing Accountability and Feasibility
• Whistleblowing in Politics: Ethical Obligations and Protection Measures
• Politicians’ Moral Responsibility: Balancing Personal Convictions and Public Interest
• Ethical Implications of Political Gerrymandering: Ensuring Fair Representation and Democratic Values
• Political Ethics and the Ethical Use of Social Media: Balancing Freedom of Speech and Combating Hate Speech
• The Importance of Ethical Leadership in Political Institutions: Setting a High Standard
• Ethical Considerations in International Relations: Balancing National Interests and Global Cooperation
• Examining the Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence in Political Decision Making
• Ethical Implications of Government Surveillance: Striking a Balance Between Security and Privacy
• Political Discourse Ethics: Promoting Constructive Dialogue and Minimizing Toxicity
• Ethical Challenges in Allocating Political Funds: Prioritizing the Public Good
• The Role of Political Ethics in Public Health Policy: Balancing Individual Rights and Collective Well-Being

Social Work Ethics Topics

• The Influence of Technology on Social Work Ethics
• Fostering Self-Determination in Social Work Practice
• Addressing Ethical Challenges in Child Protection Services
• Integration of Cultural Competence in Social Work Ethics
• Ethical Considerations in Mental Health Assessment and Intervention
• Ensuring Confidentiality in the Practice of Social Work
• Ethical Implications of Social Media Use in the Field of Social Work
• Advocacy for Social Justice in Social Work Ethics
• Establishing Boundaries in Ethical Social Work Practice
• Ethical Dilemmas in Serving Vulnerable Populations
• Striking a Balance between Autonomy and Paternalism in Social Work Ethics
• Ethical Decision-Making in End-of-Life Care Settings
• Power Dynamics and Ethics in Social Work Practice
• Informed Consent in Ethical Social Work Practice
• Ethical Considerations in Forensic Social Work
• Ethical Challenges in International Social Work Practice
• Upholding Ethical Research Practices in Social Work
• The Impact of Legal and Ethical Standards on Social Work Practice
• Values and Ethics in Supervision in Social Work
• Ethical Considerations in Working With LGBTQ+ Individuals
• Ethical Dilemmas in Substance Abuse Treatment and Recovery

Sports Ethics Essay Topics

• Sportsmanship in Youth Athletics: Teaching Values or Pursuing Victory?
• The Ethics of Performance-Enhancing Technologies in Athletics
• Integrity in Sports: Balancing Competition and Fair Play
• The Influence of Money and Corruption in Professional Athletics
• Sports Governance: Ensuring Transparency and Accountability
• Gender Equality in Athletics: Breaking Barriers and Challenging Stereotypes
• Ethics of Violence in Contact Sports
• Ethical Considerations in Sports Sponsorship and Advertising
• The Role of Coaches in Shaping Ethical Behavior in Athletes
• Sports and Social Justice: Addressing Discrimination and Inequality
• Ethical Implications of Genetic Testing in Sports
• Sports Gambling and its Moral Consequences
• Ethics of Youth Sports: Parental Pressure and Burnout
• Ethical Challenges in Sports Medicine and Performance Enhancement
• Athletics and National Identity: Balancing Patriotism and Fair Play
• The Role of Technology in Shaping Sports Ethics
• Ethics of Transgender Participation in Athletics
• Environmental Sustainability in Sports: Balancing Recreation and Conservation
• Ethics of Team Ownership and Control
• Athletics and Human Rights: Examining Exploitation and Labor Issues

To Learn More, Read Relevant Articles

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Computer Science Essay Topics

Unleash Your Creativity with 160+ Computer Science Essay Topics

12 min read

Published on: May 5, 2023

Last updated on: Jan 30, 2024

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One of the biggest challenges students face when it comes to writing an essay is choosing the right topic. 

This is especially true for computer science students, who often struggle to find a topic that is relevant to the subject.

That's where our blog comes in!

We have crafted a list of over 160 computer science essay topics to help students find inspiration. Whether you're looking to write an impressive essay or simply looking for topic suggestions, we have got you covered.

So, let's get started!

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Computer Science Essay - Overview

A computer science essay is a written piece that explores various topics related to computer science. These include technical and complex topics, like software development and artificial intelligence. They can also explore more general topics, like the history and future of technology.

In most cases, computer science essays are written by students as part of their coursework or academic assignments.

Computer science essays can take many forms, such as research papers, argumentative essays, or even creative writing pieces. 

Regardless of the format, a well-written computer science essay should be informative, engaging, and well-supported by evidence and research.

Now that we understand the purpose of it, let's explore some of the most popular and interesting topics within this field. 

In the following sections, we will dive into over 160 computer science essay topics to inspire your next writing project.

Computer Science Essay Topics For High School Students

• How Artificial Intelligence is Revolutionizing the Gaming Industry
• The Ethics of Autonomous Vehicles: Who is Responsible for Accidents?
• The Role of Computer Science in Modern Healthcare
• The Benefits and Drawbacks of Artificial Intelligence
• The Future of Cybersecurity: Challenges and Opportunities
• How Virtual Reality is Changing the Way We Learn
• The Ethics of Autonomous Vehicles
• The Role of Big Data in Modern Business
• The Pros and Cons of Cloud Computing
• The Implications of Blockchain Technology

Computer Science Essay Topics For Middle School Students

• How Computers Work: An Introduction to Hardware and Software
• The Evolution of Video Games: From Pong to Virtual Reality
• Internet Safety: Tips for Staying Safe Online
• How Search Engines Work: Understanding Google and Bing
• Coding Basics: An Introduction to HTML and CSS
• The Future of Technology: What Will We See in the Next 10 Years?
• The Power of Social Media: How it Impacts Our Lives
• The Ethics of Technology: The Pros and Cons of Social Media
• The Science of Cryptography: How Messages are Secured
• Robots and Artificial Intelligence: What Are They and How Do They Work?

Computer Science Essay Topics For College Students

• The Role of Machine Learning in Business
• Cybersecurity and Data Privacy in the Digital Age
• The Impact of Social Media on Political Campaigns
• The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems
• The Future of Cloud Computing and Cloud Storage
• The Use of Blockchain Technology in Financial Services
• The Integration of IoT in Smart Homes and Smart Cities
• The Advancements and Challenges of Quantum Computing
• The Pros and Cons of Open Source Software
• The Impact of Technology on the Job Market: Opportunities and Threats

Computer Science Essay Topics For University Students

• The Application of Machine Learning and Deep Learning in Natural Language Processing
• The Future of Quantum Computing: Challenges and Prospects
• The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Labor Market: An Empirical Study
• The Ethical Implications of Autonomous Systems and Robotics
• The Role of Data Science in Financial Risk Management
• Blockchain and Smart Contracts: Applications and Limitations
• The Security Challenges of Cloud Computing: A Comparative Analysis
• The Prospects of Cognitive Computing and its Implications for Business Intelligence
• The Integration of IoT and Edge Computing in Smart City Development
• The Relationship between Cybersecurity and National Security: A Theoretical and Empirical Study.

 Research Paper Topics in Computer Science

• Artificial Intelligence in Cybersecurity: Advancements and Limitations
• Social Media and Mental Health: Implications for Research and Practice
• Blockchain Implementation in Supply Chain Management: A Comparative Study
• Natural Language Processing: Trends, Challenges, and Future Directions
• Edge Computing in IoT: Opportunities and Challenges
• Data Analytics in Healthcare Decision Making: An Empirical Study
• Virtual Reality in Education and Training: Opportunities and Challenges
• Cloud Computing in Developing Countries: Opportunities and Challenges
• Security Risks of Smart Homes and IoT Devices: A Comparative Analysis
• Artificial Intelligence and the Legal Profession: Challenges and Opportunities

Computer Science Essay Topics On Emerging Technologies

• 5G Networks: Trends, Applications, and Challenges
• Augmented Reality in Marketing and Advertising: Opportunities and Challenges
• Quantum Computing in Drug Discovery: A Review of Current Research
• Autonomous Vehicles: Advancements and Challenges in Implementation
• Synthetic Biology: Current Developments and Future Prospects
• Brain-Computer Interfaces: Opportunities and Challenges in Implementation
• Robotics in Healthcare: Trends, Challenges, and Future Directions
• Wearable Technology: Applications and Limitations in Healthcare
• Virtual Assistants: Opportunities and Limitations in Daily Life
• Biometric Authentication: Advancements and Challenges in Implementation

Computer Science Essay Topics On Solving Problems

• Using Artificial Intelligence to solve traffic congestion problems
• Implementing Machine Learning to predict and prevent cyber-attacks
• Developing a Computer Vision system to detect early-stage skin cancer
• Using Data Analytics to improve energy efficiency in buildings
• Implementing an IoT-based solution for monitoring and reducing air pollution
• Developing a software system for optimizing supply chain management
• Using Blockchain to secure and manage digital identities
• Implementing a Smart Grid system for energy distribution and management
• Developing a mobile application for emergency response and disaster management
• Using Robotics to automate and optimize warehouse operations.

Computer Science Argumentative Essay Topics

• Should the development of autonomous weapons be banned?
• Is social media addiction a mental health disorder?
• Should governments regulate the use of artificial intelligence in decision-making?
• Is online privacy a fundamental human right?
• Should companies be held liable for data breaches?
• Is net neutrality necessary for a free and open internet?
• Should software piracy be treated as a criminal offense?
• Should online hate speech be regulated by law?
• Is open-source software better than proprietary software?
• Should governments use surveillance technology to prevent crime?

Computer Science Persuasive Essay Topics

• Should coding be a mandatory subject in schools?
• Is artificial intelligence a threat to human jobs?
• Should the use of drones for commercial purposes be regulated?
• Is encryption important for online security?
• Should governments provide free Wi-Fi in public spaces?
• Is cyberbullying a serious problem in schools?
• Should social media platforms regulate hate speech?
• Is online voting a viable option for elections?
• Should algorithms be used in decision-making processes in the criminal justice system?
• Should governments invest in space exploration and colonization?

 Current Hot Topics in Computer Science

• The ethical implications of facial recognition technology
• The role of blockchain in data security and privacy
• The future of quantum computing and its potential applications
• The challenges and opportunities of implementing machine learning in healthcare
• The impact of big data on business operations and decision-making
• The potential of augmented and virtual reality in education and training
• The role of computer science in addressing climate change and sustainability
• The social and cultural implications of social media algorithms
• The intersection of computer science and neuroscience in developing artificial intelligence

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Controversial Topics in Computer Science

• The ethics of Artificial Intelligence
• The dark side of the Internet
• The impact of social media on mental health
• The role of technology in political campaigns
• The ethics of autonomous vehicles
• The responsibility of tech companies in preventing cyberbullying
• The use of facial recognition technology by law enforcement
• The impact of automation on employment
• The future of privacy in a digital world
• The dangers of deep face technology

Good Essay Topics on Computer Science and Systems

• The history of computers and computing
• The impact of computers on society
• The evolution of computer hardware and software
• The role of computers in education
• The future of quantum computing
• The impact of computers on the music industry
• The use of computers in medicine and healthcare
• The role of computers in space exploration
• The impact of video games on cognitive development
• The benefits and drawbacks of cloud computing

Simple & Easy Computers Essay Topics

• How to choose the right computer for your needs
• The basics of computer hardware and software
• The importance of computer maintenance and upkeep
• How to troubleshoot common computer problems
• The role of computers in modern business
• The impact of computers on communication
• How to protect your computer from viruses and malware
• The basics of computer programming
• How to improve your computer skills
• The benefits of using a computer for personal finance management.

Computer Science Extended Essay Topics

• The impact of Artificial Intelligence on the job market
• The development of a smart home system using IoT
• The use of Blockchain in supply chain management
• The future of quantum computing in cryptography
• Developing an AI-based chatbot for customer service
• The use of Machine Learning for credit scoring
• The development of an autonomous drone delivery system
• The role of Big Data in predicting and preventing natural disasters
• The potential of Robotics in agriculture
• The impact of 5G on the Internet of Things

Long Essay Topics In Computer Science

• The ethical implications of artificial intelligence and machine learning.
• Exploring the potential of quantum computing and its impact on cryptography.
• The use of big data in healthcare: Opportunities and challenges.
• The future of autonomous vehicles and their impact on transportation and society.
• The role of blockchain technology in securing digital transactions and information.
• The impact of social media and algorithms on the spread of misinformation.
• The ethics of cybersecurity and the role of governments in protecting citizens online.
• The potential of virtual reality and augmented reality in education and training.
• The impact of cloud computing on business and IT infrastructure.
• The challenges and opportunities of developing sustainable computing technologies

Most Interesting Computers Topics

• The rise of artificial intelligence in information technology: opportunities and challenges.
• The evolution of programming languages and their impact on software development.
• The future of pursuing computer science education: online learning vs traditional classroom.
• The impact of virtualization on computer systems and their scalability.
• Cybersecurity threats in information technology: prevention and mitigation strategies.
• An analysis of the most popular programming languages and their advantages and disadvantages.
• The role of cloud computing in the digital transformation of businesses.
• Emerging trends in pursuing computer science education: personalized learning and adaptive assessments.
• Developing secure computer systems for critical infrastructure: challenges and solutions.
• The potential of quantum computing in revolutionizing information technology and programming languages.

How To Choose The Right Computer Science Essay Topic

Choosing the right computer science essay topic can be a challenging task. Here are some tips to help you select the best topic for your essay:

• Consider your Interests

Choose a topic that you are genuinely interested in. This will help you to stay motivated and engaged throughout the writing process.

• Do your Research

Spend some time researching different computer science topics to identify areas that interest you and have plenty of research material available.

• Narrow Down Your Focus

Once you have a list of potential topics, narrow down your focus to a specific aspect or issue within that topic.

• Consider the Audience

Think about who your audience is and choose a topic that is relevant to their interests or needs.

• Evaluate The Scope Of The Topic

Make sure that the topic you choose is not too broad or too narrow. You want to have enough material to write a comprehensive essay, but not so much that it becomes overwhelming.

Take some time to brainstorm different ideas and write them down. This can help you to identify patterns or themes that you can use to develop your topic.

• Consult With Your Instructor

If you're struggling to come up with a topic, consider consulting with your instructor or a tutor. They can provide you with guidance and feedback to help you choose the right topic.

Tips To Write An Effective Computer Science Essay

Writing an effective computer science essay requires careful planning and execution. Here are some tips to help you write a great essay:

• Start with a clear thesis statement: Your thesis statement should be concise and clearly state the purpose of your essay.
• Use evidence to support your arguments: Use credible sources to back up your arguments. Also, make sure to properly cite your sources.
• Write in a clear and concise manner: Use simple and straightforward language to convey your ideas. Avoid using technical jargon that your audience may not understand.
• Use diagrams and visual aids: If appropriate, use diagrams and visual aids to help illustrate your ideas. This will make your essay look more engaging.
• Organize your essay effectively: Use clear and logical headings and subheadings to organize your essay and make it easy to follow.
• Proofread and edit: Before submitting, make sure to carefully proofread your essay to ensure that it is free of errors.
• Seek feedback: Get feedback from others, to help you identify areas where you can improve your writing.

By following these tips, you can write an effective computer science essay that engages your audience and effectively communicates your ideas.

In conclusion, computer science is a vast and exciting field that offers a wide range of essay topics for students. 

Whether you're writing about emerging technologies, or hot topics in computer science, there are plenty of options to choose from.

To choose the right topic for your essay, consider your interests, the assignment requirements, and the audience you are writing for. Once you have a topic in mind, follow the tips we've outlined to write an effective essay that engages your audience.

If you're struggling to write your computer science essay, consider hiring our professional essay writing - CollegeEssay.org. 

We offer a range of services, including essay writing, editing, and proofreading, to help students achieve their academic goals.

With our essay writer AI , you can take your writing to the next level and succeed in your studies. 

So why wait? Visit our computer science essay writing service and see how we can help you!

Donna C (Law, Literature)

Donna has garnered the best reviews and ratings for her work. She enjoys writing about a variety of topics but is particularly interested in social issues, current events, and human interest stories. She is a sought-after voice in the industry, known for her engaging, professional writing style.

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