Member Code of Conduct

AIS Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct

Preamble

Computing professionals’, and in particular AIS members’ actions change the world. To act responsibly, they should reflect upon the wider impacts of their work, consistently supporting the public good. This code is adapted from the ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct (“the Code”) that expresses the conscience of the profession.

The Code is designed to inspire and guide the ethical conduct of all AIS members, including current and aspiring researchers, practitioners, instructors, students, influencers, and anyone who uses computing technology in an impactful way. Additionally, the Code serves as a basis for remediation when violations occur. The Code includes principles formulated as statements of responsibility, based on the understanding that the public good is always the primary consideration. Each principle is supplemented by guidelines, which provide explanations to assist AIS members in understanding and applying the principle.

Section 1 outlines fundamental ethical principles that form the basis for the remainder of the Code. Section 2 addresses additional, more specific considerations of professional responsibility. Section 3 guides individuals who have a leadership role, whether in the workplace or in a volunteer professional capacity. Commitment to ethical conduct is required of every AIS member, and principles involving compliance with the Code are given in Section 4.

The Code as a whole is concerned with how fundamental ethical principles apply to a computing professional’s conduct. The Code is not an algorithm for solving ethical problems; rather it serves as a basis for ethical decision-making. When thinking through a particular issue, a computing professional may find that multiple principles should be taken into account, and that different principles will have different relevance to the issue. Questions related to these kinds of issues can best be answered by thoughtful consideration of the fundamental ethical principles, understanding that the public good is the paramount consideration. The entire computing profession benefits when the ethical decision-making process is accountable to and transparent to all stakeholders. Open discussions about ethical issues promote this accountability and transparency.

Details and reporting* information can be found at https://conduct.aisnet.org/.

*Please note: Reports related to potential violations of the AIS Member Code of Conduct may be submitted confidentially and anonymously through the third-party NAVEX EthicsPoint online reporting platform.