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As technology takes control over everything in this digital world, it is crucial to have some ethics so as to control the activities done. Every day we come across newer technological innovations and updations, but even more than that the negative side of this growing field is evident, especially through the activities of some among us, hackers, and cyberbullies to name a few. This is where the term digital ethics should be best understood. Digital ethics can be defined as a study of moral guidelines and rules that control the use of technology to interact with fellow people and companies. The article is an informational guide and a reminder to follow while in cyberspace.
What Is Digital Ethics?
Digital ethics is a branch of ethics that addresses a set of rules and moral principles that should be followed by individuals as well as organizations while being in the digital space. It is also called information ethics and is a way of keeping human conduct while being a part of society. The interpersonal behavior between people or companies should follow some moral guidelines while being mediated by computer technology in a company or society. The ethical standards that should be followed while creating, collecting, and using information come under this branch. More than the legal formalities and privacy regulations, digital ethics is a call to action for individuals on the rights and wrongs of their own actions. It focuses on the idea of what ‘not’ should be done for the betterment of society in general.
The rules and regulations of cyber activities are already set and monitored by the respective governments of nations. For example, collecting and storing users’ data and information can be legally done according to cyber rules, but managing them without affecting users’ privacy comes under the ethical standard of the organization. Some of the ethically unjust things to do are selling or collecting particular data, treating people differently based on their vulnerabilities, or misleading them to do some sort of unjust thing is an exploitation of the human race.
Key Principles Of Digital Ethics
Using technology responsibly can foster a better digital environment. The following are some of the key principles of digital ethics that ought to be understood by everybody using digital technology to be responsible and respect individual rights.
- Transparency: The data used by the digital entities should inform the users of how they are being used.
- Consent: User’s permission should be ensured before collecting any of their personal information.
- Security: The collected data should be protected from any sort of unauthorized access.
- Equity: Every individual across communities should be able to access the technology without discrimination.
- Accountability: Individuals and organizations are responsible for the digital actions and decisions made.
Best Practices
The best practice for keeping ethics in a digital environment is sticking to the principles of digital ethics. The privacy and security of the user should be prioritized in all cases. Getting consent from the users before collecting any sort of data and using them only for the intended purpose comes under this practice. Cybersecurity measures can also be utilized to secure the privacy details of customers or employees.
Being transparent as mentioned previously is another best practice. The user should be aware of the sort of data collected, why is it collected, the duration of storing the data, and the security measures in which the data is stored. Being accountable for the activities done is another good ethical practice. The state might have rules and regulations for account or data management, and would also have ethical policies, but all these should also meet the industry standards. The privacy of users should be respected and these should not be widely disseminated or publicly posted even within an organization.
As AI is getting increasingly popular, ethical standards around it should also meet the growth. The AI algorithms should be free from biases and should not be misleading or discriminating. The same fairness practices should be applicable everywhere in the digital environment.
The impact of technology should be taken into consideration even before implementing it in the public. An ethical culture should be maintained within any technological frame to avoid any kind of unjust activities that can harm humanity.
Technological resources should not be used without authorization or the consent of the owner. The technological advancements should not be used to invade other’s privacy or personal space, nor should they interfere with their computer work. Each digitally done work should not be copied without the permission of the owner and plagiarism should be avoided as well.
AI, Media, And Digital Ethics
Digital ethics discussions will not be complete without talking about AI as AI is getting more and more integrated into everyday life. One of the major concerns about the growth of artificial intelligence technology is the challenges it poses to the existing job roles. The ethical standards of AI in replacing human jobs should be addressed along with giving better training programs to go beyond this technology.
Many artificial intelligence platforms and AI assistants are providing information and services based on the data provided and this data should be ensured to be free from biases which can lead to unfair treatment. AI usage should also be regulated with ethical guidelines to prevent the technology from taking over humanity.
Digital media holds responsibility for providing accurate information as large sectors of the human population depend on digital media as a source of information. Some of the critical ethical issues concerning media are data privacy, misinformation, intellectual property, and editorial bias. As in any digital platform, digital media is also accountable for collecting and storing personal data with proper ethical guidelines. Spreading false or misleading information can have far-reaching negative impacts on a society and hence should be regulated under ethical standards.
Any sort of content or information should not be distributed without permission or proper attribution. Media has the power to kindle with the minds and thought process of people and should be ethical and unbiased while reporting any kind of information.
Conclusion
The digital footprints, or the residue of online activities are the core factor of the majority of digital ethics concerns. The boundaries of the digital world and physical world are getting more and more blurred, and ethics stand a chance to keep the harmony of the people. Understanding digital ethics is crucial as technology is rapidly evolving and is now a part of each and every daily process. Digital ethics can protect individuals’ autonomy, honor, dignity, and respect in the digital space. For seamlessly blending technology into human lives and for a sustainable future, digital ethics has a big task to do.
