Date: Wed, 9 Dec 92 10:56:39 PST
From: "Peter G. Neumann" <neumann@csl.sri.com>
Subject: ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct; Ethics Starter Kit

Adopted by the ACM Council on 16 Oct 1992, and certainly of interest to the
entire RISKS community, not just to ACM members and Boy Scout programmer
merit-badge seekers:

1. GENERAL MORAL IMPERATIVES.   As an ACM member I will
   1.1 Contribute to society and human well-being
   1.2 Avoid harm to others
   1.3 Be honest and trustworthy
   1.4 Be fair and take action not to discriminate
   1.5 Honor property rights including copyrights and patents
   1.6 Give proper credit for intellectual property
   1.7 Respect the privacy of others
   1.8 Honor confidentiality

2. MORE SPECIFIC PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES.  
   As an ACM computing professional, I will
   2.1 Strive to achieve the highest quality, effectiveness, and dignity
       in both the process and products of professional work.
   2.2 Acquire and maintain professional competence.
   2.3 Know and respect existing laws pertaining to professional work.
   2.4 Accept and provide appropriate professional review
   2.5 Give comprehensive and thorough evaluations of computer systems
       and their impacts, including analysis of possible risks
   2.6 Honor contracts, agreements, and assigned responsibilities
   2.7 Improve public understanding of computing and its consequences
   2.8 Access computing and communication resources only when 
       authorized to do so.

3. ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP IMPERATIVES.  
   As an ACM member and an an organizational leader, I will 
   3.1 Articulate social responsibilities of members of an organizational
       unit and encourage full acceptance of those responsibilities.
   3.2 Manage personnel and resources to design and build information
       systems that enhance the quality of working life.
   3.3 Acknowledge and support proper and authorized uses of an organization's
       computing and communication resources.
   3.4 Ensure that users and those who will be affected by a system have 
       their needs clearly articulated during the assessment and design
       of requirements; later, the system must be validated to meet [its]
       requirements.
   3.5 Articulate and support policies that protect the dignity of users
       and others affected by a computing system.
   3.6 Create opportunities for members of the organization to learn the
       principles and limitations of computer systems.

4. COMPLIANCE WITH THE CODE.  As an ACM member, I will
   4.1 Uphold and promote the principles of this code.
   4.2 Treat violations of this code as inconsistent with membership
       in the ACM.