History of the Computer Ethics Institute
CEI was founded in 1985 as the Coalition for Computer Ethics. Founding members came from The Brookings Institution, The International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), The Washington Consulting Group and The Washington Technological Consortium. The consortium’s goal was to provide methods to increase an awareness of the ethical ramifications inherent in the use of Information Technology. CEI is one of the first organizations to confront the ethical and public policy issues surrounding the advancement of information technology.
CEI recognized the implications of information technology’s rapid growth and anticipated the ethical vacuum and need for a guide to govern its ethical use. The issues often involved legislation, regulation and existing best practices. Thus, CEI maintained a forum where various sectors and communities could develop an understanding of how information technology affects behavioral and moral values.
Going Forward
In 2007, the officers voted to set a new agenda, re-invigorate the advisory board, and to redesign and update the website. The agenda laid plans to raise an endowment that would allow CEI to achieve its on-going and future goals.
- Instructions for K-12 Education
- Membership and Certification
- National Conference
- Ask an Ethicist
- Case Study Repository