Ethics and Impact
Contribute, Avoid, Honest, Fair, Copyright, Privacy, Confidentiality, Quality, Competence, Rules, Feedback, Evaluate, Authorise
1. General Ethical Principles
1.1 **Contribute to society and well-being
**Use computing skills to benefit society, protect rights, promote accessibility, and support environmental sustainability.
1.2 **Avoid harm
**Prevent unjust harm to people, property, or the environment; mitigate unintended harm; report risks responsibly.
1.3 **Be honest and trustworthy
**Be transparent, avoid deception, disclose limitations and conflicts of interest, and honor commitments.
1.4 **Be fair and non-discriminatory
**Promote equality, inclusiveness, and accessibility; avoid harassment, bias, or exclusion in computing systems.
1.5 **Respect intellectual property
**Credit creators, respect copyrights/patents/licenses, and avoid claiming ownership of public or open resources.
1.6 **Respect privacy
**Protect personal data, minimize unnecessary collection, ensure informed consent, and establish clear policies for use, retention, and disposal.
1.7 **Honor confidentiality
**Safeguard sensitive information unless disclosure is required by law or ethics, and limit disclosure to proper authorities.
2. Professional Responsibilities
2.1 **Strive for high quality
**Ensure excellence in work processes and outcomes; respect all stakeholders throughout.
2.2 **Maintain professional competence
**Continuously upgrade technical and ethical skills; stay aware of social impacts.
2.3 **Respect rules
**Follow laws and organizational policies unless they are clearly unethical; challenge harmful rules responsibly.
2.4 **Engage in professional review
**Seek and provide constructive peer/stakeholder feedback to improve quality.
2.5 **Evaluate systems and risks thoroughly
**Give objective assessments of computing systems; identify, disclose, and mitigate risks, especially in ML/AI.
2.6 **Work within areas of competence
**Only take on tasks you are qualified for, and disclose limitations if outside your expertise.
2.7 **Promote public understanding
**Communicate computing issues, opportunities, and risks clearly and responsibly.
2.8 **Access resources only when authorised
**Respect system and data access restrictions, unless justified for the public good.
2.9 **Design secure systems
**Prioritize robust, usable security; plan for evolving threats; and notify stakeholders if breaches occur.
3. Professional Leadership Principles
3.1 **Prioritize the public good
**Always center the public interest in computing work.
3.2 **Promote social responsibility
**Encourage organizations and groups to embrace ethical responsibilities.
3.3 **Enhance quality of working life
**Support safety, accessibility, dignity, and professional development of workers.
3.4 Support ethical policies
Create and enforce policies aligned with the Code; prevent unethical practices.3.5 **Foster professional growth
**Provide opportunities for continuous education and awareness of computing’s complexities.
3.6 **Use care in modifying or retiring systems
**Support users through changes; provide alternatives and adequate warnings.
3.7 **Safeguard critical infrastructure systems
**Monitor how systems integrate into society, ensure fair access, and adapt responsibilities as adoption grows.
4. Compliance with the Code
4.1 **Uphold and promote the Code
**Follow the Code, improve it when possible, and act on violations responsibly.
4.2 **Treat violations as serious
**Recognize breaches as inconsistent with ACM membership and support enforcement.