Ethical Considerations in Information Technology
Information Technology, has without a doubt, driven so much innovation, transformed our ways of life and work and, it continues to engender creativity, abilities, convenience, efficiency and, productivity. However, as it’s often reiterated, “knowledge and power demand a great level of accountability”, the privileges that IT affords its users demand a great measure of corresponding responsibility. Social concerns have emanated over such issues as privacy, access, control, accountability, and AI deployment among others. These have informed the need to uphold ethics in the deployment of IT to ensure that it fulfills human needs while preserving their rights and dignity.
Information Technology refers to the entirety of components; hardware, software, etc. used to process, store, access, reproduce and, transmit information. Ethics in IT refers to the issues of what the right and wrong use of IT entails, the consequences for the latter use, and whose responsibility it is to address the emerging issues. As information technology continues to gain popularity and impact people and all spheres of life, ethical decisions about it are vital. Ensuring fairness, equality, transparency, and responsibility in the use of IT is essential for everyone (Study.com; 2024). This informed the emergence of a new branch of ethics, “technoethics”.
According to Lumen (undated) citing Luppicini (2010), technoethics merges the words “technology” and “ethics”, and it exists on the notion that both entities are socially embedded. It focuses on establishing standards for the right and socially beneficial use of technology while guiding against its misuse.
Issues for Ethical Consideration in IT
This article highlights some common and potential concerns around the use of technology and identifies the ways forward.
1. Data Protection and User Privacy
The proliferation of and access to technology has us all grappling with innumerable information which includes confidential, individual, organizational, and government data. The transfer of information via a network leads to the chances of disclosing information and violating the privacy of an individual or group (Geeksforgeeks; 2020). The porosity of IT tools emboldens the attending compromise of information furthering the call for the heightened protection of data privacy and user information through privacy measures and clients’ informed consent. IT users have to keep abreast of and ensure the enforcement of privacy regulations such as the European Union data protection law; the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
2. Misinformation Trend
The presence and access to information technology has been exploited for inappropriate purposes, in some instances, chief of which include, creating “deep fakes” and inaccurate contents often for the desire to be the first to report and the obsession for “likes”. This ergo calls for the need to turn to more credible sources for validated contents.
3. The Dearth of Transparency in Data Usage
Data is everywhere and within fingertips. It is readily available for use for informed decision-making, for business analytics, productivity and improved service delivery. However, the manipulation of some of this data erodes its credibility. For instance, the emergence of deepfake technology enables the generation of manipulated videos and imagery. It is however unethical when data is manipulated and when sources are not acknowledged.
4. Uncontrolled Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI Tools and platforms hold a great deal of benefits for different businesses and sectors. However, the challenge is with the uncontrolled and deceptive use of generative AI and large language models (LLM). For the transparent and accountable use of these tools as well as the generation of unbiased contents, governments, IT leaders and researchers must establish and ensure adherence to regulations that guide access to AI, intellectual property, privacy and security (Forbes, 2023).
Separately, there is also the ethical concern of the proliferation of misinformation which is detrimental to human value. Generative AI fabricate articles and statistics which are supposedly attributed to real sources. This implies that content created by generative AI have to be fact-checked to avoid the spread of disinformation and access to it must be properly regulated.
5. Illegal Disclosure of Trade Secrets
Organizations and industries operate by sets of rules, practices, and they own certain information and intellectual property which are solely theirs and are protected from being accessed by non-members. This property gives the organizations and businesses a valuable competitive edge over their competitors. It therefore becomes an ethical violation for such details to be disclosed for whatever reason, thus, the demand for the enforcement of the Trade Secret Law which prohibits unauthorized disclosure, acquisition or use of confidential property and imposes penalties on misappropriators.
6. Piracy
This is the unauthorized recreation, distribution and use of copies of a software and other intellectual property without the direct permission of the owners. This burglarizes the intellectual property and earning rights of the owner, and further widens the gap between innovation and accountability. Legislations should be enforced to prevent this unlawful practice and for an established standard of compliance and integrity.
7. Algorithmic Bias and Fairness
The employment of artificial intelligence tools in collecting data which eventually inform decision-making necessitates the need to unravel the extent of fairness in this process. The concerns of who built the system, what data was used, why and how they are used generates the bias around the deployment of technology. This also emphasises the inefficiency of this model. Consequently, Turner Lee, Resnick and Barton (2019) proffer “algorithmic hygiene” in identifying and mitigating algorithmic biases, and, promoting the fair and ethical use of AI and technology.
8. Liability
Tech developers and programmers make innovations with commitments and assertions that assure users of the credibility of their products and the promise to take responsibility for breaches. However, non-compliance with the provisions by parties involved is unethical and should be addressed in a way that developers and users are aware of all agreements and can be held accountable. Furthermore, the agreements should be documented for validation and accessibility.
Importance of Ethics in IT
Ethics play a pivotal role in the orderly running of a system and the considerate use of a thing. In the context of IT, ethics ensures that technology is employed with the right knowledge. User understands how to use technology in a way that benefits them and isn’t detrimental to the good of others.
Technoethics also guarantees that individuals’ data are used responsibly and protected in a way that engenders privacy protection, confidence, fairness, and, accountability. It also ensures that users make informed decisions concerning the choice and use of technology.
When ethical standards are prioritized, IT experts, researchers, and inventors ensure legal compliance, foster trust with end-users, and establish the practice of accountability and integrity (Todorovska; 2023).
Telliswall Inc.’s Take on Ethics in Technology
We understand the important role managed IT service provider play in ensuring that ethical standard are upheld in the employment of IT. More specifically, we are committed to the protection of clients’ data. While we relentlessly pursue the highest standards in all aspects of our work, we deliver innovative solutions for today’s work environment with due consideration for how our services impact lives, businesses and society.
At TellisWall Inc., our clients are our priority; hence, you can be sure that we place a premium on ethical standards for a trustworthy and accountable collaboration.
References
Forbes Technology Council (2023). 16 Current and Potential Ethical Crises In Technology
Geeksforgeeks (2020). Ethical Issues in Information Technology (IT) https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/ethical-issues-in-information-technology-it/
Lumen (Undated). Ethical and Social Issues in Information Technology
Study.com (2024). Ethics in Information Technology | Importance, Issues & Examples https://study.com/academy/lesson/ethics-information-technology-issues-examples.html#:~:text=Ethical%20issues%20in%20IT%20include,confidential%20information%20about%20processes%20and
Todorovska, I. (2023). Ethical Issues in Information Technology – Balancing Innovation and Responsibility
https://www.barrage.net/blog/strategy/the-importance-of-ethics-in-technology
Turner Lee, N., Resnick, P. and Barton, G. (2019). Algorithmic Bias Detection and Mitigation: Best Practices and Policies to Reduce Consumer Harms
Waters, A. (2024). 5 Ethical Issues in Technology to Watch for in 2024 https://connect.comptia.org/blog/ethical-issues-in-technology
World Intellectual Property Organization (2022). Trade Secret https://www.wipo.int/tradesecrets/en/