CS 495
LEGAL, ETHICAL, SOCIAL & ECONOMIC ISSUES
IN COMPUTING
SPRING 2004
M-W 6:45-8:00
Brian M. O'Connell
oconnellb@ccsu.edu
Last Modification: 03/14/04
Course Description:
Legal and Ethical concepts have become critical issues in almost every aspect of
computing. The syllabus is intended to reflect the diverse nature of the topics
which are confronted on a regular basis by computing professionals, policy
makers and managers in the private sector. Fundamental to the course will be the
acquisition of research and practical tools, the ability to identify issues and
frame approaches.
The course will be conducted as a seminar at the graduate level. Students are expected to read every assignment and to be prepared for discussion. Continued research in the area of each student’s final project is absolutely essential. Attendance at each class is presumed. Three or more unexcused absences will reduce final grade (see below).
Texts:
Class Handouts
Online Materials located at this site
Reserve Materials
Class Policies:
Attendance is presumed. Three or more unexecused absences will result in loss of class participation score.
All materials submitted must be in typed, analog form and stapled. No email assignments accepted.
Students must maintain backup copies of all course work for the semester.
Evaluation:
40% Topic Quizzes
40% Final Project, including preparation assignments
20% Class Participation
Quiz & Project Evaluation:
40% Use of Course Material
40% Comprehensiveness & Clarity
20% Creativity & Originality
Resources:
CCSU Ethics and Law Resource Center
Link to Computing and Culture Course Resource List
CCSU Medical Informatics Resource Page
Selected Presentation Downloads (password required):
Introduction to Law / Introduction to Privacy
Introduction to Carnivore / Patriot
Conventional / Digital Expression
Schedule
Subject to Change -- Check here often
| Key | Lecture/Discussion | Guest Speaker | Other |
|
Week |
day |
Monday |
|
Wednesday |
|
1 |
topic |
Course Overview class goals, grading, online resources
|
|
Introduction fundamental law & ethics background & interactions
|
|
|
assignment |
none |
|
none |
|
supplement |
none |
|
|
Week |
day |
Monday |
|
Wednesday |
|
2 |
topic |
Ethics Omnibus deontology & relativism
|
|
Ethics Omnibus utilitarianism
|
|
|
assignment |
Johnson & Nissenbaum, Ethics [Reserve] |
|
Johnson & Nissenbaum, Ethics [Reserve] |
|
|
supplement |
LINK: Kant on the Web |
|
LINK: J.S. Mill Web Site |
|
Week |
day |
Monday |
|
Wednesday |
|
3 |
topic |
Ethics Omnibus existentialism/determinism
|
|
No Class
|
|
|
assignment |
|
||
|
|
supplement |
LINK: Phil. in Cyberspace (Monash) Existentialism LINK: Jacques Ellul Web Site |
|
LINK: Phil. in Cyberspace (Monash) Existentialism LINK: Jacques Ellul Web Site |
|
Week |
day |
Monday |
|
Wednesday |
|
4 |
topic |
No Class Presidents' Day Holiday
|
|
Law Omnibus the common law the legislative process
|
|
|
assignment |
LINK:
Bill of Rights |
|
LINK:
Bill of Rights |
|
|
supplement |
|
|
LINK:
Cornell's Legal Information Institute |
|
Week |
day |
Monday |
|
Wednesday |
|
5 |
topic |
Law Omnibus the judicial syste the common law the legislative process
|
|
No Class reading assignment
|
|
|
assignment |
LINK: Understanding the Federal Courts (pdf file) |
|
LINK: How to Read a Legal Case - UBC (pdf file) |
|
|
supplement |
|
LINK: FindLaw Legal Web Search |
Quiz One: Out -- 02/23 Due -- 03/03
|
Week |
day |
Monday |
|
Wednesday |
|
6/7 |
topic |
Privacy analogical jurisprudence & foundational cases |
|
Privacy early modern examples |
|
|
assignment |
LINK: Olmstead v. United States LINK: Katz v. United States |
|
LINK: Smith v. Maryland |
|
|
supplement |
LINK: Privacy Digest |
|
----------------------------------------------
Paper Topic Due by Wednesday, March 3rd
- Title
- Abstract (250 words +)
- Partner (if any)
----------------------------------------------
|
Week |
day |
Monday |
|
Wednesday |
|
7/8 |
topic |
Privacy employment paradigms
|
|
Privacy national security issues
|
|
|
assignment |
LINK: Monitoring Employee E-Mail Duke L. & T. Rev. LINK: In Defense of the Hard Drive Rosenbaum |
|
LINK:Final Report: Independent Technical Review of the Carnivore System (2000) (PDF File) |
|
|
supplement |
Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA):
Definitions:
18 U.S.C. §2510 |
|
Selected Privacy Statutes:
Code of Fair Information Practices |
Quiz Two: Out -- 03/17 Due -- 03/31
|
Week |
day |
Monday |
|
Wednesday |
|
9 |
topic |
Vacation |
|
Vacation |
|
|
assignment |
|
|
|
|
|
supplement |
|
|
|
|
Week |
day |
Monday |
|
Wednesday |
|
10 |
topic |
Expression foundations |
|
Expression early applications I
|
|
|
assignment |
LINK: First Amendment |
|
LINK: What Things Regulate Speech (Lessig, PDF) |
|
|
supplement |
|
|
----------------------------------------------
Due by Wednesday, March 31st
- Detailed Outline
- Detailed Sources
----------------------------------------------
|
Week |
day |
Monday |
|
Wednesday |
|
11 |
topic |
Expression early applications II
|
|
Expression forums & liability
|
|
|
assignment |
LINK: Reno et al. v. American Civil Liberties Union |
|
LINK: Pruneyard Shopping Center LINK: Zeran v. America Online |
|
|
supplement |
|
|
|
|
Week |
day |
Monday |
|
Wednesday |
|
12 |
topic |
Ownership Issues history
|
|
Ownership Issues fundamentals |
|
|
assignment |
TBA |
|
LINK: NCSU Copyright Tutorial |
|
|
supplement |
|
|
|
Week |
day |
Monday |
|
Wednesday |
|
13 |
topic |
Ownership Issues copyright
|
|
Ownership Issues copyright |
|
|
assignment |
LINK: Samuelson, Copyright (.pdf file) |
|
TBA |
|
|
supplement |
|
|
|
|
Week |
day |
Monday |
|
Wednesday |
|
14 |
topic |
Ownership Issues patent |
|
Ownership Issues patent
|
|
|
assignment |
|
Link: Against Software Patents |
|
|
|
supplement |
|
|
|
Quiz Three: Out -- 04/28 Due -- 05/10
|
Week |
day |
Monday |
|
Wednesday |
|
15 |
topic |
Ownership Issues license |
|
Ownership Issues license
|
|
|
assignment |
TBA |
|
TBA |
|
|
supplement |
|
|
|
|
Week |
day |
Monday |
|
Wednesday |
|
16 |
topic |
TBA |
|
TBA |
|
|
assignment |
|
|
|
|
|
supplement |
|
|
|
** Final paper due in person & on time during exam period **