Ethical Computing ICSE Class 9: Cyber Ethics, Privacy and Responsible Social Media

What Ethical Computing is about

Key concepts

Ethics and ethical issues in computing

Ethics are principles of right and wrong that guide behaviour. Computer ethics (cyber ethics) apply these principles to the use of computers, software, data and the internet.

Main ethical issues in computing:

• Ownership: who owns software, music, images and writing in digital form, and when copying is allowed.
• Privacy: what personal information may be collected, by whom, and how it may be used.
• Accuracy: spreading false information or fake news.
• Access and security: breaking into accounts or systems without permission.
• Respect and safety: bullying, harassment or hate online.
• Responsibility: the effects of technology on health (screen time), the environment (e-waste) and employment.

A simple test before any online action: Is it legal? Is it fair to the creator and the people involved? Would I be comfortable if everyone could see it, including my parents and teachers?

Intellectual property rights: copyright and patent

Intellectual property (IP) means creations of the mind: inventions, writing, music, art, designs, software, brand names. Intellectual property rights (IPR) are legal rights that let creators control and benefit from their creations for a period of time, encouraging people to create and invent.

Copyright:

• Protects original creative works: books, articles, music, films, photographs, paintings and computer programs (the source code).
• It arises automatically when the work is created, though it can also be registered. In India it is governed by the Copyright Act, 1957; for literary works it generally lasts for the author's lifetime plus 60 years.
• Copying, distributing or selling a copyrighted work without permission is infringement. Limited use for study, criticism or news with acknowledgement may be allowed as 'fair dealing'.
• The © symbol indicates a copyrighted work.

Patent:

• An exclusive right granted by the government for an invention: a new product or process that involves an inventive step and can be used in industry.
• It must be applied for and examined; in India (Patents Act, 1970) a patent lasts 20 years.
• In return, the inventor must publish how the invention works, so that others can use it after the patent ends.
• In India a computer program by itself cannot be patented; software code is protected by copyright.

Difference: copyright protects the expression of an idea (the actual text or code) automatically; a patent protects an invention (how something works) only after it is granted, and for a fixed term.

Related ideas: trademarks protect brand names and logos; plagiarism is presenting someone else's work as your own, which is dishonest even when it is not illegal; licences (proprietary, free and open source, Creative Commons) state what users may do with a work.

Protecting privacy and personal data on the internet

The right to privacy is a person's right to control information about themselves. Personal data includes name, address, phone number, date of birth, photos, location, school, passwords, bank and Aadhaar details, and browsing habits.

How privacy is put at risk: oversharing on social media; weak or reused passwords; phishing messages that trick people into giving OTPs or passwords; apps that ask for unnecessary permissions; public Wi-Fi; data breaches at companies; tracking by websites.

Safety measures for individuals:
1. Use strong, different passwords (long, mixing letters, numbers and symbols) and turn on two-factor authentication.
2. Never share OTPs, PINs or passwords, even with someone claiming to be from a bank or school.
3. Set social media accounts to private and review privacy settings; share location only with trusted people.
4. Give apps only the permissions they need.
5. Look for https and the padlock before entering details; avoid banking on public Wi-Fi.
6. Log out of shared computers and keep software and antivirus up to date.
7. Think before posting photos or documents that reveal personal details.

Data protection by law and organisations: organisations that collect data must keep it secure and use it only for the stated purpose. India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 sets out rights of individuals over their personal data and duties of organisations that handle it; the Information Technology Act, 2000 deals with cyber crimes such as identity theft and hacking. Cyber crimes in India can be reported on the national cyber crime portal or helpline 1930.

Protection against spam

Spam is unwanted, unsolicited bulk messages sent by email, SMS, messaging apps or social media, usually advertisements, but often scams.

Why spam is harmful: wastes time and storage; hides important messages; may carry malware in attachments or links; is often used for phishing (fake messages that steal passwords or money) and lottery or job frauds.

Protection against spam:
1. Use the spam filter of your email service and mark unwanted messages as spam.
2. Do not reply to, forward or click links in suspicious messages; do not open unexpected attachments.
3. Do not share your email address or phone number publicly; use a separate address for sign-ups.
4. Check the sender's address and look for warning signs: urgency ('your account will be blocked'), prizes you never entered, spelling errors.
5. Unsubscribe only from genuine mailing lists you joined; for unknown senders, block instead.
6. Use the 'block and report' options on phones and apps.

Software piracy

Software piracy is the unauthorised copying, distribution, sale or use of software in breach of its licence. When you buy software, you usually buy a licence to use it on agreed terms, not ownership of the program.

Forms of piracy:

• Softlifting: installing one licensed copy on more computers than the licence allows.
• Hard-disk loading: sellers installing unlicensed software on computers they sell.
• Counterfeiting: making and selling fake copies that look genuine.
• Internet piracy: downloading or sharing cracked software, serial keys or 'patches' from unauthorised websites.

Why it is wrong and harmful:

• It is illegal: it infringes copyright and can lead to fines or prosecution.
• It takes income away from developers, discouraging new software.
• Pirated copies often contain viruses and spyware, and receive no security updates or support.

Alternatives: buy licensed software, use free and open source software (such as OpenJDK and BlueJ, used in this course), use free education licences offered by many companies, or use web-based versions.

Cyber ethics, online safety and digital etiquette

Cyber ethics: responsible and moral behaviour on the internet:

• Respect others' privacy and property; do not access accounts, devices or data without permission (hacking).
• Give credit for others' work and do not plagiarise.
• Do not create or spread false information, rumours or hate.
• Use school and office computers only for permitted purposes.

Online safety:

• Never share personal details or meet online-only contacts without a parent's knowledge.
• Recognise scams and phishing; verify before you trust.
• Keep devices updated; download apps only from official stores.
• Tell a trusted adult about anything that makes you uncomfortable; save evidence and report.

Digital etiquette (netiquette): good manners online:

• Be polite; do not type in all capitals (it reads as shouting).
• Think before you post or comment; disagree respectfully.
• Respect others' time: write clear messages, avoid flooding groups with forwards.
• Ask before posting photos of other people or tagging them.
• Check facts before forwarding; mention sources.

Digital footprint: the trail of data you leave online (posts, comments, likes, searches). It can be permanent and may be seen later by schools or employers, so build a positive one.

Responsible social media use

Social media lets you keep in touch, learn and create, but it also brings risks: cyberbullying, oversharing, fake news, scams, unhealthy comparison and excessive screen time. The syllabus stresses that handling social media requires a multifaceted approach: education, guidance and open communication.

Education: learn how platforms work, how privacy settings and algorithms affect what you see, and how to spot misinformation (check the source, the date and other reliable reports).

Guidance: follow the platform's minimum-age rules; agree screen-time limits; use features to mute, block and report.

Open communication: talk with parents and teachers about what you see and do online, and tell them at once about bullying, threats or requests for photos or money. Adults should listen without blaming, so that young people feel safe to speak.

Cyberbullying: repeated harassment, humiliation or threats online. If it happens: do not reply in anger; save screenshots; block the person; report to the platform and to a trusted adult or the school; in serious cases, report to the police or cyber crime portal. Never forward hurtful content; support the person being targeted.

Responsible habits: think before you post (Is it true, kind, necessary?), keep accounts private, limit personal information, take regular breaks, and remember that people behind screens have feelings.

Ethical Computing in real life

Each concept, met in an everyday situation. Read the situation, answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Topics in this chapter

• Intellectual Property Rights: Copyright, Patent and Software Piracy
• Privacy, Spam, Cyber Ethics, Digital Etiquette and Responsible Social Media

Ethical Computing: syntax and key facts

Copyright vs patent

Copyright: creative works and code, automatic; patent: inventions, must be granted, 20 years in India

India: Copyright Act 1957; Patents Act 1970.

Privacy toolkit

Strong unique passwords + two-factor authentication + private settings + no OTP sharing + https

Report cyber crime: portal or 1930.

Spam response

1. 1.Do not open, click or reply
2. 2.mark as spam
3. 3.block and report

Watch for urgency and prizes.

Software piracy forms

Softlifting, hard-disk loading, counterfeiting, internet piracy

Alternative: licensed or open source software.

Before you post: T-K-N

Is it True? Is it Kind? Is it Necessary?

Digital etiquette.

Tricks to remember Ethical Computing

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

• C for Creative, P for Product

  Copyright protects Creative expression; Patent protects a new Product or Process.

  Use it when: Copyright vs patent.

• SHIC

  Software piracy forms: Softlifting, Hard-disk loading, Internet piracy, Counterfeiting.

  Use it when: Types of piracy.

• Stop - Save - Share with an adult

  When something is wrong online: stop replying, save evidence, share with a trusted adult.

  Use it when: Online safety response.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

1. 1.Which right protects software code?Show answer

   Copyright.

2. 2.How long does a patent last in India?Show answer

   20 years.

3. 3.What is spam?Show answer

   Unwanted bulk messages sent without being requested.

4. 4.What is softlifting?Show answer

   Installing one licensed copy of software on more computers than the licence allows.

5. 5.What is a digital footprint?Show answer

   The trail of data a person leaves online.

6. 6.India's helpline number for reporting cyber crime?Show answer

   1930.

Quick revision checklist

The night before the exam: can you do each of these without looking?

• ☐Cyber ethics: honest, respectful, legal use of computers and the internet.
• ☐Copyright: creative works and code, automatic; patent: inventions, granted, 20 years in India.
• ☐Privacy: strong passwords, two-factor authentication, private settings, never share OTPs; Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
• ☐Spam: unsolicited bulk messages; do not click; mark, block, report.
• ☐Software piracy: unauthorised copying or use; illegal, unsafe; use licensed or open source software.
• ☐Social media: think before posting, protect privacy, report cyberbullying, talk to trusted adults.

Ethical Computing: frequently asked questions