Society Discusses Electronic Ethics

When hearing the word "computer," many students envision slaving away at midterm papers instead of considering the ethics and constitutional rights related to their machine.

But in response to concerns about the violation of privacy and harassment over the internetworks, the Harvard Computer Society held a discussion on "electronic ethics" yesterday at Sever Hall.

Students at Harvard and at other schools across the country have had problems with people breaking into their e-mail accounts and undermining their privacy, said Eugene E. Kim '96, the society's business manager and the leader of yesterday's meeting.

In addition, Kim said students here at Harvard have reported harassment through their e-mail accounts.

Jol A. Silversmith '94 said that with advanced technical knowledge, it is possible for network users to send e-mail anonymously or under someone else's name. "Anyone can really forge e-mail if they take 10 minutes to learn," said one member of the audience.

By creating false headings, "you could even say you are God," another member said. Some said they are concerned about pornography and other illegal messages sent in the system.

"Access to these things are voluntary," said one member. But he described such messages as "sheerly vile."

The University reserves the right to read any e-mail messages "when necessary to maintain or prevent damage to systems or to ensure compliance with University rules," according to the Handbook for Students.

But the "Harvard Arts and Sciences Computer Services' policy has been very laissez-faire," said one member of the computer society. "I know the staff. They are very nice. They don't read people's mail."

Kim and Jol A. Silversmith '94 said there is a fine line between maximizing and abusing the system, which makes enforcing policies difficult. "It's very easy to say, `you've broken into someone's house.' It's very hard to say, `you have too much [network] access,'" Silversmith said.

Society members also expressed concern that Harvard administrators' lack of computer knowledge might lead them to introduce restrictions with negative "community implications."

"A lot of people on the Ad Board are computer-illiterate," said Silversmith. "I'm not convinced they know enough about the technology."

McKay Professor of Computer Science Harry R. Lewis, head tutor of that department and chair of the FAS committee on information technology, and Van Vleck Professor of Pure and Applied Physics Paul C. Martin, dean of the division of applied sciences also attended to hear student opinions on the issues.