Academic Paper in China Sets Off Alarms in U.S.

1. Academic Paper in China Sets Off Alarms in U.S. Can this theoretical research be Considered a threat to America?

2. Topic Summary • Chinese grad student writes paper on how to shut down U.S. power grid • U.S. sees this as a threat to the security of America • China claims it is a purely theoretical situation intended to find ways to make power grids more stable.

3. Ethical Overview • It was research and people have the right research what they want to. • It outlines a possibly viable plan to hurt the U.S. and it is available to anyone that looks for it. • If turned the other direction would China look at this situation the same as it does now?

4. ACM Code View • This was a written paper but uses computers to implement. • Should not be written if can be used for harm and it certainly could. • Was intended to do good for both China and the U.S. by pointing out possible flaws in power grid.

5. Results • By an ethical standpoint it is perfectly fine to have done but does raise questions about the intent of its author. • By a computing/coding standpoint it should not have been written because of its potential to harm others.