Ethics on the Internet: Do the Standard Rules Apply in Cyberspace
This paper will look at the issue of ethics on the Internet in an effort to answer the question of whether or not the standard rules apply? As we all know, the Internet has removed most, if not all, need for physical contact between purchaser and seller. This greatly changes the dynamic of the interaction and has in many cases led to unscrupulous behavior on both sides of the transaction, both for merchant and retail consumers. While there are clear indications that things are improving over time, there is still reason for concern that the strong ethical codes that were established during the 1990s will not endure the open-source nature of the Internet and the reduced human interaction that it allows. 10 pgs. 12 f/c. 9b.