Summary

The ACM guidelines were first established in 1972 and updated in 1992 "in part because the ACM leadership realized that the original code focussed too heavily on enforcement and they wanted a code that instead emphasized education and common cause" (Metcalf, 2014). According to the authors, "the final and most important function of a code of ethics is its role as an aid to individual decision making" (Anderson, et.al., 1993) The most recent revision was published in 2018 and retains the structure and flavour of the earlier versions.
This code of ethics begins by affirming "an obligation of computing professionals, both individually and collectively, to use their skills for the benefit of society, its members, and the environment surrounding them" (ACM, 2018). In particular, "an essential aim of computing professionals is to minimize negative consequences of computing, including threats to health, safety, personal security, and privacy." Computing professionals are also enjoined to "avoid harm" where "examples of harm include unjustified physical or mental injury, unjustified destruction or disclosure of information, and unjustified damage to property, reputation, and the environment."

Content

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General Ethical Principles.
1. Contribute to society and to human well-being, acknowledging that all people are stakeholders in computing.
2. Avoid harm.
3. Be honest and trustworthy.
4. Be fair and take action not to discriminate.
5. Respect the work required to produce new ideas, inventions, creative works, etc.
6. Respect privacy.
7. Honor confidentiality.
Professional Responsibilities
1. Strive to achieve high quality in the processes and products of professional work.
2. Maintain high standards of professional competence, conduct, ethical practice.
3. Know and respect existing rules pertaining to professional work.
4. Accept and provide appropriate professional review.
5. Give comprehensive and thorough evaluations of computer systems and their impacts, including analysis of possible risks.
6. Perform work only in areas of competence.
7. Foster public awareness and understanding of computing, related technologies, and their consequences.
8. Access computing and communication resources only when authorized or when compelled by the public good.
9. Design and implement systems that are robustly and usably secure.
Professional Leadership Principles
1. Ensure that the public good is the central concern during all professional computing work.
2. Articulate, encourage acceptance of, and evaluate fulfillment of social responsibilities by members of the organization or group.
3. Manage personnel and resources to enhance the quality of working life.
4. Articulate, apply, and support policies and processes that reflect the principles of the Code.
5. Create opportunities for members of the organization to grow as professionals.
6. Use care when modifying or retiring systems.
7. Recognize and take special care of systems that become integrated into the infrastructure of society.
Compliance with the Code
1. Uphold, promote, and respect the principles of the Code.
2. Treat violations of the Code as inconsistent with membership in the ACM.

Force:yes