Beyond outlaws, hackers and pirates

Editor's note: This article was written to introduce Part VIII of Computerization and Controversy: Value Conflicts and Social Choices (2 "d ed.), edited by Rob Kling. Copyright © 1996, by Academic Press, Inc., reprinted here by permission with minor modifications. As Rob and I were discussing its publication here, he called my attention to the section titled Codes Of Professional Ethics and Conduct (p.8). As I re-read the article, I began to understand his suggestion that there is--at the very least--a real communications gap between: 1) the developers o f the A C M Code (who have invested enormous amounts of time and energy in it), 2) the AC M membership department staff(who don't even send new members a copy o f the Code, let alone ask them to sign an agreement to comply with it), and 3) whatever Code enforcement procedure there is (which Rob argues is essentially nonexistent). What do you think? What role should SIGCAS play in the future of the Code? What is the future of the Code? How can it--how should it--be enforced? How can the A C M build commitment among its members to abide by its Code o f Ethics? Let's start a dialog on this issue (email sigcas@engr, csulb, edu--we 'll publish as many responses as possible). --T.J.