Information Technology underpins every activity of modern Society. Consequently digital systems must be dependable i.e. able "to deliver service that can justifably be trusted" [A. Avižienis et al. "Basic Concepts and Taxonomy of Dependable and Secure Computing". IEEE TDSC. 2004]. But dependability is not enough; computer systems don't exist in isolation; they are designed, built, acquired, used by humans and their use have an impact on Earth, Society, Individuals. Besides demainding their dependability, Society has to take into account the domains of application of Information Technology and monitor that its use is appropriate for each such a domain, controlling such uses and possibly ban those that are not appropriate, because, for instance, of unacceptable environmental damage or infringement of Human or Civil Rights or of Human Dignity.
The mission of the CeS WG of the GI-STS is to study such an impact and make both colleagues and citizens aware of such an impact. This is done mainly by means of promting informed discussion on issues concerning Computers and Society, with particular focus on the most cotroversial ones.
Mieke Massink, CNR - Istituto di Scienza e Tecnologie dell'Informazione (ISTI - Institute of Information Science and Technologies)`` A. Faedo '' (email: mieke.massink[AT]isti.cnr.it).