The first of the two items below is one that is currently affecting decisions about the CSE curriculum. The current draft plan to meet the accreditation requirement is to include some discussion of ethics in CSE 142/143.
The second item is the code of ethics for an organization influential in computing and (especially) communication technology. The IEEE is an engineering organization. Engineering has a long history of professional licensing, with at least one major purpose being to try to make sure that when someone builds a bridge, for instance, that it doesn't fall down while you're on it. (An alternative view is that licensing is a way to preserve an exclusive guild that raises barriers to competition and so keep prices for its services high.)
The third item is the code of ethics for the major organization in the computing community that originally derived from mathematics and physics researchers (i.e., not engineers). Their code of ethics is long winded. A link is provided to the full text, and only an excerpt is given here.
Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc., CRITERIA FOR ACCREDITING ENGINEERING PROGRAMS
, Effective for Evaluations During the 2000-2001 Accreditation Cyclefor a successful engineering career. Course work may be provided for this purpose, but as a minimum it should be the responsibility of the engineering faculty to infuse professional concepts into all engineering course work.I.C.3.j. An understanding of the ethical, social, economic, and safety considerations in engineering practice is essential
1. to accept responsibility in making engineering decisions consistent with
the safety, health and welfare of the public, and to disclose promptly factors
that might endanger the public or the environment;
2. to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest whenever possible, and
to disclose them to affected parties when they do exist;
3. to be honest and realistic in stating claims or estimates based on
available data;
4. to reject bribery in all its forms;
5. to improve the understanding of technology, its appropriate application,
and potential consequences;
6. to maintain and improve our technical competence and to undertake
technological tasks for others only if qualified by training or experience, or
after full disclosure of pertinent limitations,
7. to seek, accept, and offer honest criticism of technical work, to
acknowledge and correct errors, and to credit properly the contributions of
others;
8. to treat fairly all persons regardless of such factors as race,
religion, gender, disability, age, or national origin;
9. to avoid injuring others, their property, reputation, or employment by
false or malicious action;
10. to assist colleagues and co-workers in their professional development
and to support them in following this code of ethics.
Association for Computing Machinery
ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct
1. GENERAL MORAL IMPERATIVES.
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 patent.
1.6 Give proper credit for intellectual property.
1.7 Respect the privacy of others.
1.8 Honor confidentiality.
(The code continues with 14 more ethical obligations, under headings "2. MORE SPECIFIC PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES," "3. ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP IMPERATIVES," and "4. COMPLIANCE WITH THE CODE.")