Code of Ethics - SIGCSE Virtual 2026

SIGCSE Virtual 2026 Conference will implement the ACM Code of Ethics principles and its Policy Against Harassment at ACM

The ACM Code of Ethics provides a framework for ethical decision-making and professional conduct for computing professionals, emphasizing principles like honesty, fairness, and social responsibility. The ACM Code of Ethics outlines essential principles for ethical practice are:

Legal Compliance — ACM members must adhere to local, national, and international laws unless there is a compelling ethical reason not to.
Professional Integrity — The Code emphasizes honesty and fairness in all professional interactions.
Social Responsibility — Computing professionals are encouraged to consider the broader impact of their work on society.
Respect for Privacy — The Code advocates for the protection of individuals’ privacy and confidentiality.
Continuous Improvement — Members are urged to engage in lifelong learning and professional development.

Based on Policy Against Harassment at ACM Activities these are expected and unexpected behaviors at any ACM event.

Expected Behavior

We expect all participants in ACM activities to abide by this policy in all venues, including ancillary events and unofficial social gatherings:

Exercise consideration and respect in your speech and actions
Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behavior and speech;
Be mindful of your surroundings and of your fellow participants;
Alert community leaders if you notice a dangerous situation, someone indistress, or violations of this policy, even if they seem inconsequential.

Unacceptable Behavior

Unacceptable at any ACM activity is:

Abuse: Any action directed at an individual that (a) interferes substantially with that person’s participation; or (b) causes that person to fear for his/her personal safety. This includes threats, intimidation, bullying, stalking, or other types of abuse.
Discriminatory Harassment: Any conduct that discriminates or denigrates an individual on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, caste, citizenship, nationality, age, sexual or gender identity, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law in the location where the ACM activity takes place.
Sexual Harassment: Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal/physical conduct of a sexual nature. Examples include (but are not limited to):
Alert community leaders if you notice a dangerous situation, someone indistress, or violations of this policy, even if they seem inconsequential.
- unwelcome advances or propositions, particularly when one individual has authority over the other;
- inappropriate touching of an individual’s body;
- degrading or humiliating comments about an individual’s appearance;
- using an activity-related communication channel to display or distribute sexually explicit images or messages;

Reporting ethics violations should be done via email to the conference Steering Committee at steering@virtual2026.sigcse.org.

We also have guidelines for how to behave on our ZOOM and SLACK platforms