Notice! This is a local copy of the document at http://www.csc.fi/suomi/funet/etiikka.html.en and therefore possibly not up-to-date!
A lot of intellectual and material resources were needed to build up the system of the communications networks linked together to serve the research community on a global basis. This network is now there to serve the international scientific community in its daily work. It is an objective shared by both the network users and the maintaining and funding parties that the network would operate in a reliable and efficient manner. These instructions promote the responsible use of the network, while at the same time act to prevent abuse.
A commonly shared objective is to keep the communications networks as open as possible. Therefore, it is self-evident that users must respect certain ethical rules in operation of these networks. These rules are not very different from those otherwise followed in modern society.
As communications networks are continuously developing, those in charge of them must sometimes use the network in a manner that deviates from the norm. It is of major importance that these persons are take maximum care in their operation.
However, there are things that Funet would expressively define as unethical and therefore unacceptable. Such things include any express operation:
These ethical rules originated among the Nordic network community NORDUNET, and are for the essential part, valid (or will be valid) in all research networks in the Nordic countries.
Similar rules have also been applied to other networks serving the research community; for example, the US-based NSFnet.
These ethical rules are mainly based on the corresponding rules applied by: