1Engineering is social experimentation
Engineering systems affect society and involve public risk, not just technical work
2Information Asymmetry
Engineers know system risks that the public does not, creating moral responsibility
3Normalization of Deviance
Gradual acceptance of unsafe practices because failures do not happen immediately
4Systemic Failure
Disasters caused by multiple interacting technical and organizational failures, not one error
5Emergent Property
A system characteristic that cannot be understood by analyzing parts alone
6C1 Public Safety
Engineers must prioritize public safety, health, and welfare above all else
7C2 Conflicts of Interest
Engineers must avoid or disclose interests that compromise judgment
8C3 Honesty
Engineers must be truthful about data, risks, and system limitations
9C5 Bribery
Engineers must not offer or accept bribes or improper inducements
10C6 Competence
Engineers should only work within their qualifications and maintain skills
11C7 Peer Review
Engineers must accept and provide honest technical criticism
12ACM Code 1.1 Contribute to society and human well-being
Design systems that improve human well-being and quality of life
13ACM Code 1.2 Avoid harm
Actively identify and reduce potential physical, financial, or psychological harm
14ACM Code 1.3 Be honest and trustworthy
Be transparent about system capabilities and failures
15ACM Code 2.6 Honor contracts
Fulfill responsibilities and agreements, especially in safety-critical systems