Ethics in an Information Society - Essay Example

?ETHICS IN AN INFORMATION SOCIETY Ethics in an Information Society Affiliation Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 Basics of Ethics 3 Ethics in Constructing Information Society 4 Basic Ethical Concepts 5 Ethical Analysis 7 Privacy and Freedom in Information Age 7 Professional Code of Conduct 8 Professional Responsibility 9 Intellectual Property 10 Conclusion 11 References 12 Introduction These days we proficiently describe our society as an information society due to the fundamental function performed by information in various services (company and goods services, interactions, economics and indemnity organizations), civil areas (edification, general management, health units) and logical indefinable resources. However, like a social framework, the information society has been facilitated by a group of information and communication technologies (ICT) in various aspects of society. Thus, the ethics of information must be capable to deal with as well as explain the ethical issues taking place in the latest and innovative background based on the basic values of reverence for information, its management and effective maintenance. In addition, this aspect of ethics should have to be an environmental ethics in support of the information. In this scenario, ethics could be defined as the ideologies or ways leading an individual or business or standard of performance in the society (Floridi, 2001; Bynum, 2008; ArifSari, 2011). This paper discusses the basics and importance of ethics in information society. The basic aim of this research is to proficiently analyze the basic ethical aspects such as responsibility, accountability, and liability. Basics of Ethics The practice of information technology IT is upgrading a lot of aspects of individual effort and way of life. It seems to be doubtful that what are challenges and the societal and ethical inferences of these improvements? The bases of these challenges are the several means wherein an individual is able to conceive as well as understand the practice of IT or society inter-association. All of these ways of formation and elucidation allow an individual to discriminate the society association or IT in a different way and consequently interpret its social as well as ethical inferences in a diverse way. This access is related to an approach which is acknowledged as the phenomenological approach to understand IT along with its social and ethical suggestions (Introna, 2005; Froehlich, 2004). Moreover during the last few years, information ethics emerged as a field of study in information science and library sciences, however the area or the expression has been changed with the passage of time and it started capturing several other areas of interest and research. Actually, it could be seen as a convergence of the ethical doubts of media, reporting, information and library sciences disciplines, computer ethics comprising cyber-world ethics, MIS, web based technology and the business framework (Introna, 2005; Froehlich, 2004). Ethics in Constructing Information Society The technological frameworks which offer the basis for the information society or ICTs are proposed through the integration of principles and values. Additionally, sometimes these principles are not identified by the designer, as in recent times we can see obvious principles for instance the security of individual confidentiality which is allowed to be utilized openly. In this scenario, the basic purpose behind designing the WWW (World Wide Web) was to offer a decentralized distribution of data as well as information, available for all individuals. In addition, ease of access by all societal groups is currently one of the prime concerns of the information society, highlighting the identical privileges of each associate of the society. However, the analysis of a lot of technical professionals is that the methodologies they propose are only tools as well as worth free (Duquenoy, 2009). Basic Ethical Concepts Ethics means to understand the beliefs that persons as well as businesses are able to apply to find out right as well as wrong guidelines. Additionally, the typical assumption in the area of ethics is that the persons are liberated ethical negotiators who have the potential to formulate alternatives. In this scenario, the ethical alternatives are considered as the decisions carried out by persons who have the responsibility of effects of their events and activities (Laudon & Laudon, 2007; Scribd, 2011). Responsibility: It is an imperative factor of ethical activity. Responsibility implies that we recognize the possible expenditures, functions, and commitment intended for the decisions we reach. In addition, the responsibility also signifies that like civil ethical representatives, persons, societies and companies are answerable for the events carried out (Laudon & Laudon, 2007; Scribd, 2011). Accountability: It is a vital characteristic of social associations and systems. Accountability represents the methods and practices those are prepared to find out that by whom liable action was taken, as well as who is answerable in response of that action. Associations and systems wherein it is impractical to discover that who did what activity are innately unable of ethical activity or ethical study. In addition, the accountability also specifies that businesses, persons, and societies ought to be considered responsible to other people for the outcomes of their activities and events (Laudon & Laudon, 2007; Scribd, 2011). Liability: It is as well an imperative aspect of political structures wherein a unit of rules and regulations is prepared in order to facilitate a person to improve the harms made to them by other persons, businesses or systems. In addition, the liability improves the idea of responsibility more to the prospects of regulations (Laudon & Laudon, 2007; Scribd, 2011). Due process: It is an allied trait of societies those are administered through laws. Additionally, it is a procedure wherein laws are acknowledged as well as recognized and there exists a capability to fascinate higher authorities to ascertain that the rules and regulations are implemented according to the standards (Laudon & Laudon, 2007; Scribd, 2011). The basic concepts discussed above make the foundation of an ethical study of information societies and the individuals who administer these aspects. Initially, information technologies are pervaded shared individuals, societies, companies. The 2nd aspect is the responsibility used for the effects of technology decreases obviously on the associations, businesses, as well as individuals who decide to apply the new and useful technology. With the help of IT within a socially liable way implies that we are able to and will be blamed for the effects against our activities. Finally, within an ethical, society, persons and others are capable of reviving the harms caused to them by a group of rules and regulations distinguished with the help of due process (Laudon & Laudon, 2007; Scribd, 2011). Ethical Analysis Ethical analysis could be explained with the help of a question for instance, in the way of tackling a scenario which appears to the existing ethical concerns, how we are able to evaluate it? In this scenario, the following five-step process could be helpful: (Laudon & Laudon, 2007; Scribd, 2011) Distinguish the influential effects of our selections Describe the difference or predicament as well as recognize the superior values concerned with the process. Stakeholder’s recognition Identify as well as recognize evidently the specifics Define the selections that we are able to acquire practically Privacy and Freedom in Information Age The internet and other communication technologies have formulated extraordinary ways for distributing vital business data and information, creating the ways for pro-democracy group, campaigners, reporters and persons around the globe to systematize, and blamed the responsibility on the management. However innovative technology based tools and devices are exposed to misuse by administrations aspiring to destroy competitors as well as disallow privileges. Sometimes, we hear in the news that computer and database security has been compromised and violated extensively. Even, regardless of the truth that missing laptops and unprotected server machines compromise our confidentiality, seclusion and protection are usually measured out of the context. In this scenario, privacy supporters have decided to defend persons from snooping businesses, whereas promoters of safety have decided to protect companies from snooping persons and other businesses (Human Rights First, 2011; Chander, Gelman, & Radin, 2007). In this technology based era, an organization “Human Rights First” is working on a number of issues to protect Internet freedom, comprising the following: (Human Rights First, 2011; Chander, Gelman, & Radin, 2007) The GNI (Global Network Initiative): GNI states that they facilitated initialization as well as persist to dynamically uphold this multi stakeholder plan to watch over and move on the freedom of confidentiality and expression within the field of Information Communication Technology (Human Rights First, 2011; Chander, Gelman, & Radin, 2007). The “Netizen” project: This project is responsible for upholding open access to the communications tools and internet is necessary to the effort of reporters, advocates and various website bloggers from all over the globe who make use of them to manage or classify. So supporting this Netizen effort offers us a viewpoint of retaining that web space effectively (Human Rights First, 2011; Chander, Gelman, & Radin, 2007). Professional Code of Conduct When large number of individuals declares to be specialized, then they engage extraordinary obligations as well as privileges due to their unique argument to the respect information and insight. In this scenario, the professional codes of conduct are disseminated by various unions of professionals across the globe, for instance the American Bar Association (ABA), the American Medical Association (AMA), the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) and the Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP). In addition, the codes of ethics are guarantees via jobs in order to standardize themselves within the wide-ranging societal awareness. Such as, nullifying damages to other individuals, glorifying assets privileges (comprising intellectual property), as well as paying reverence to confidentiality are among the General Moral Imperatives of the ACM’s Professional Conduct and Code of Ethics (Laudon & Laudon, 2007). Professional Responsibility In the present era of technology, professionals of computers encompass expert acquaintance as well as frequently have arrangements by means of influence and reverence within the society. Just because of the fact that they are capable to have a considerable influence upon the globe, comprising many of the things that people think significant. And such authority to change the globe is the task to implement that authority reliably and according to perfection. In addition, the experts of computer systems discover themselves in different specialized associations with other individuals comprising: (Bynum, 2008; Laudon & Laudon, 2007; Drexel University, 2010) Manager to worker relation Customer to professional relation Professional to professional relation Society to professional relation The relationships mentioned above engage a multiplicity of interests, as well as these interests are able to acquire inconsistency with one another. A computer expert or professional with some sort of responsibility, hence, will be responsive to potential divergences of interest as well as attempt to shun these divergences. Additionally, both IEEE and ACM have implemented Codes of Ethics in an attempt to support their affiliates. In this scenario, the latest ACM Code 1992 comprises “wide-ranging ethical essentials”, for instance “shun damage to other people” and “remain sincere and reliable”. Consider another code that is IEEE Code of Ethics (1990) comprises such ethics like “keep away from existent or ostensible divergences of interest every time possible” and “show integrity and common sense in describing arguments or ideas obtained from the available data and information (Bynum, 2008; Laudon & Laudon, 2007; Drexel University, 2010). Intellectual Property Intellectual property is considered to be indefinable property produced by people or different companies. The massive implementation of IT has enabled the hard security of intellectual property for the reason that information placed on the computer system could be easily shared or copied over multiple network arrangements. In addition, the intellectual property is dependent on a diversity of securities under 3 diverse legitimate societies: copyright law, business clandestine and exclusive rights (Bynum, 2008; Laudon & Laudon, 2007; Turban, Leidner, McLean, & Wetherbe, 2005). One of the divisive domains of computer and information ethics is related to the rights of intellectual property associated with software rights. A number of individuals, similar to Richard Stallman who initiated the Free Software Foundation, considered that software rights must not be permissible by any means. He also argues that the overall information should be available without any charges. Additionally, all the software applications should be offered for replication, analysis and changing by someone who may need to perform that. However, many other individuals claim that software programmers or development corporations would not spend months or weeks of effort and valuable finances in software development if they would not be able to get the money back like sales or license fees of the software. In addition, a lot of people believe that software program ought to be accessible; however informal replication of individually possessed software programs in order to help each other should also be allowed. On the other hand, the software industry argues that millions of dollars are omitted in selling software products due to such illegal and prohibited replication (Drexel University, 2010; Laudon & Laudon, 2007; Bynum, 2008). Conclusion Current era is known as the era of information technology. And there emerge a lot of different issues in this information society. Ethics is an important aspect of the information society. This paper has discussed the basics of ethics and information society. In this scenario I have outlined the basics such as responsibility, accountability, and liability issue of ethics in information society. I have also analyzed professional code of conduct for ethics. Then I have presented overview of ethical analysis. After that I have presented the importance of ethics in creating an information society. This paper has also highlighted the privacy and freedom in the internet age along with intellectual property and professional responsibility. References ArifSari. (2011). 2.1 Ethics in an Information Society. Retrieved April 19, 2011, from http://arifsari.net/cis402course/Lecture2.pdf Bynum, T. (2008, October 23). Computer and Information Ethics. Retrieved April 20, 2011, from The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-computer/ Chander, A., Gelman, L., & Radin, M. J. (2007). Securing Privacy in the Internet Age. Stanford University Press. Drexel University. (2010). Responsibility, Accountability, and Liability: Studies in the Theory of Responsibility for Engineering Ethics. Retrieved April 18, 2011, from http://www.materials.drexel.edu/programs/Sensors/Links/theories-of-responsibility-accountability-liability.ppt Duquenoy, P. (2009). Ethics in the environment of the information society. Retrieved April 17, 2011, from UNESCO: http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/files/25453/11909027561Duquenoy-Penny.pdf/Duquenoy-Penny.pdf Floridi, L. (2001). Informational Ethics: An Environmental Approach to the Digital Divide. Philosophy in the Contemporary World Volume 9, Issue 1, pp. 1-7. Froehlich, T. (2004). A brief history of information ethics . Retrieved April 19, 2011, from University of Barcelona: http://www.ub.edu/bid/13froel2.htm Human Rights First. (2011). Internet Freedom and Privacy. Retrieved April 18, 2011, from http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/our-work/business-and-human-rights/internet-freedom-and-privacy/ Introna, L. (2005, February 19). Phenomenological Approaches to Ethics and Information Technology. Retrieved April 20, 2011, from The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-it-phenomenology/ Laudon, K. C., & Laudon, J. P. (2007). Chapter 4: Ethical and Social Issues in Information Systems. Retrieved April 19, 2011, from Management Information Systems:Managing the Digital Firm, 10/e: http://www.prenhall.com/behindthebook/0132304619/pdf/laudon%20MIS10_CH-04%20FINAL.pdf Scribd. (2011). INTRODUCTION TO E-COMMERCE. Retrieved April 20, 2011, from http://www.scribd.com/doc/52567682/112/Basic-Ethical-Concepts-Responsibility-Accountability-and Turban, E., Leidner, D., McLean, E., & Wetherbe, J. (2005). Information Technology for Management: Transforming Organizations in the Digital Economy . New York: Wiley. Read More