Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
9
Professional Ethics
We have come through a strange cycle in programming, starting with the creation
of programming itself as a human activity. Executives with the tiniest smattering of
knowledge assume that anyone can write a program, and only now are programmers
beginning to win their battle for recognition as true professionals.
—- GERALD WEINBERG,
The Psychology of Computer Programming
,1971
JACOBUS LENTZ WAS THE NETHERLANDS' INSPECTOR of population registries before
World War II. In this role he managed a well-oiled data-processing infrastructure using
machines leased from IBM, and he reveled in the collection of personal data, writing:
“Theoretically, the collection of data for each person can be so abundant and complete,
that we can finally speak of a paper human representing the natural human” [1, p. 304].
Lentz devised a forgery-proof identification card and advocated that every citizen
be required to get one and carry it at all times, but the Dutch government rejected
his proposal; it offended democratic sensibilities. When the Netherlands came under
German occupation in 1940, Lentz got another opportunity to promote his invention.
He shared his design with the Nazis, who were impressed; it was far superior to the
identification card being used in Germany. Soon the identification card designed by
Lentz was issued to everyone in the Netherlands.
