SW Development and Ethics?

After the Cambridge Analytica "issue", ethics becomes more and more of an issue to clarify in the minds of project team members (and managers):
https://www.itproportal.com/features/rewriting-the-code-for-ethics-in-software-development/

Quoting:
"Redefining and reporting on grey areas 

However, as with all questions around ethics, inevitably, grey areas remain. Take for instance a recent survey that asked developers if they would report on ethical issues with their code in which over a third of respondents replied with 'it depends on what it is'. Equally, 58% would hold the upper management or board level members ultimately responsible for code that is produced for unethical purposes. This quite clearly illustrates the current uncertainty - and maybe even fear of speaking up - when it comes to computer ethics in action; just 13% would publicly report an unethical coding practice.  

As an industry, we need to be mindful to consider the purpose of our works and make sure there are safe ways to air concerns that arise during the course of development. Some infrastructure for this exists already in many companies, but we could regulate this to allow ethical concerns to be raised without causing undue stress and worry. (...)"

BOOK: The Clean Coder: A Code of Conduct for Professional Programmers (Robert C. Martin)

Not to be confused with the "Clean Code" excellent book, this one is about how to deal with managers in order to have a "long life" in the software development business:

The Clean Coder: A Code of Conduct for Professional Programmers: Robert C. Martin: 4708364241379: Amazon.com: Books


Quoting:
"Programmers who endure and succeed amidst swirling uncertainty and nonstop pressure share a common attribute: They care deeply about the practice of creating software. They treat it as a craft. They are professionals.

In The Clean Coder: A Code of Conduct for Professional Programmers, legendary software expert Robert C. Martin introduces the disciplines, techniques, tools, and practices of true software craftsmanship. This book is packed with practical advice–about everything from estimating and coding to refactoring and testing. It covers much more than technique: It is about attitude. Martin shows how to approach software development with honor, self-respect, and pride; work well and work clean; communicate and estimate faithfully; face difficult decisions with clarity and honesty; and understand that deep knowledge comes with a responsibility to act.

Readers will learn:

• What it means to behave as a true software craftsman
• How to deal with conflict, tight schedules, and unreasonable managers
• How to get into the flow of coding, and get past writer’s block
• How to handle unrelenting pressure and avoid burnout
• How to combine enduring attitudes with new development paradigms
• How to manage your time, and avoid blind alleys, marshes, bogs, and swamps
• How to foster environments where programmers and teams can thrive
• When to say “No”–and how to say it
• When to say “Yes”–and what yes really means

Great software is something to marvel at: powerful, elegant, functional, a pleasure to work with as both a developer and as a user. Great software isn’t written by machines. It is written by professionals with an unshakable commitment to craftsmanship. The Clean Coder will help you become one of them–and earn the pride and fulfillment that they alone possess."

Penises in the sky vs. swearing in source code?

This navy pilot drew a penis in the sky with a F18:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2017/11/17/a-navy-pilot-drew-a-penis-in-the-sky-its-not-the-first-time-something-like-this-has-been-investigated/?utm_term=.7f2f002a464c

Is this more or less severe than swearing in your code comments (like I've seen in the source code of the IS supporting all the courts of a certain European country)?

For me the severity varies (I won't tell you which one I consider more severe) but both show a dispicable lack of...
Professionalism.

Hope you agree.

Ethics and software development?

Sure! 2 examples of lack of ethic and the damage (to the image) done: Uber and Wolkswagen:
http://www.computerweekly.com/feature/Ethical-software-development-Ask-Uber-and-Volkswagen

Quoting:
"The software reportedly presents an alternative site to customers, or people wishing to book a ride from outside these buildings, which is used to prevent officials from booking an Uber ride.

Other cities have been concerned abut the use of Greyball software
(...)
This is not the first time a company has been found to have written software explicitly to get around official tests and audits.

In May 2014, Volkswagen was found to have modified its engine management software to detect when its diesel cars were being run on an official emissions test, so that it could dial down the emissions. The carmaker effectively wrote software specifically to cheat, according to the New York Times, which wrote: “Volkswagen admitted that 11 million of its vehicles were equipped with software that was used to cheat on emissions tests.”"
(...)
"The coder wrote: “I think we need to establish a code of ethics for programmers. Doctors, social workers and even lawyers have a code of ethics, with tangible consequences for skimping on them. Why not programmers as well?

“I want to live in a world where a programmer who hasn’t agreed to follow our code of ethics has a hard time getting employed. It is simply not acceptable to write code that is harmful to users. What the hell is wrong with these people?”"

I say: oh yeah! ;)