How the Internet Has Caused an Ethical Debate on Our Information Privacy - Case Study Example

We Live In A World Where The Internet Plays A Pinnacle Role In Our Day To Day Lives. Discuss How The Internet Has Caused An Ethical Debate On Our Information Privacy? Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 Discussion 4 Conclusion 10 References 11 Introduction Technological innovation has become quite essential for modern organisations and individuals in order to process human thought and at the same time allocate global resource effectively (Thisted, 1997). Amid the pioneering technological innovations, the advent of the internet has been a path-breaking development. It has made the work process of individuals and organisations much smoother and convenient. However, irrespective of a number of decisive benefits associated with daily activities of human beings that can be accomplished by the use of the internet for various purposes, the facet of information privacy has emerged as a critical concern to leverage utmost benefits out of this unique technological development i.e. the internet. A rudimental ethical debate has propagated wherein a number of critics and users have raised doubts whether they can use the medium of the internet to share their personal information or not. The wider reach of the internet in this regard has been acting as the key concerning factor due to which certain sections of ill-minded people have targeted the online medium to gain and manipulate personal information. The study intends to critically analyse that despite a pinnacle role played by the internet in daily lives of human beings, a profound ethical debate on information privacy has raised. The way in which this ethical debate has raised associated with the use of the internet will be highlighted in the study. Discussion In accordance with Temmel & et. al. (n.d.), technology has influenced the modern life of human beings. During daily life, human beings are dealing with several electronic devices and techniques. Especially, the internet has emerged as one of the most advanced innovations of science and technology, which has facilitated the modern civilisation to march towards a more lucid future. Thus, it can be evidently asserted that the internet can also influence our lifestyle in both ways such as good and bad aspects (Temmel & et. al., n. d.). According to the observation, it has been determined that the impact of the internet has changed the aspect of modern life enormously. In order to measure the advantages of the internet it can be highlighted that the internet has delivered several facilities to the human beings, which have not been ever-expected by human kind before. Due to enormous technological advancement, people can access the internet from their home for personal requirement and also can use the internet from workplace for professional uses. Due to the availability of the internet facility, people have become more reliable on its facilities. The use of Telegram facility has been almost vanished from the earth surface. It was also observed during last couple of decades that people have preferred the internet for communication purposes rather than telephones and mailers. Even people have also forgotten the traditional approach of communication through letters. Instead of traditional way, modern people have adopted a new dimension, which can be referred as e-mail (Temmel & et. al., n. d.). Moreover, the internet has also availed several other facilities for human beings. According to the observation, it has recognised that the internet is the most useful and essential medium of communication in case of maintaining security of the defense system. At the same time, People can use the internet for studying purpose as well. Apart from this, in case of downloading and sharing software, music and video files the use of the internet has been involved in the modern civilisation (Temmel & et. al., n. d.). From the analysis, it can be asserted that from scientific development to technological innovation both have led to a new dimension or communicational revolution in modern civilisation. This revolution can be referred as an e-commerce era. E-commerce revolution has brought about the need for undertaking online transactions, making online payments and browsing through different websites for selecting the preferred options. In this regard, the users are often required to provide important personal credit card related information among other sensitive information which can violate information privacy. In case of industrialisation, it has been observed that the traditional commercial transitional process has been transformed into a new methodology, where transaction has been done virtually through the help of information technology via web facility. However, the physical approaches even cannot be seen apparently. For example, it can be stated that now people can pay bills or taxes through the help of internet banking or plastic card. Consequently, people can transfer money from one account to the other at any point of time, without the assistance of any banker. Thus, from the analysis and evaluation, it can be evidently asserted that the internet plays a pinnacle role in modern civilisation by leveraging its multifaceted benefits (Sembok, 2003). At the same time, it has been also observed that the changes in technology have often affected the society. As it was mentioned earlier that the impact of information technology development can benefit an individual or a group and on the contrary, it can also be detrimental by a considerable extent. Subsequently, it can be asserted that advanced technologies have a few ingrained disadvantages, which can affect the image of privacy and security issues (Olumoye, 2013). In order to highlight those privacy related challenges, it can be emphasised that the increasing capacity and reach of information and communication technology has rapidly affected this modern civilisation globally. In accordance with Sembok (2003), several countries have adopted legal and regulatory frameworks to address those privacy constraints. Apart from privacy challenges, cybercrime has also become a global threat for all the countries, which can directly affect the performance of economic development (Sembok, 2003). However, the speedy advancement of information communication technology has led to new forms of transactional crime globally. Moreover, the global internet and computer based commercial transaction has also became miserable, which has directly affected the growth of e-commerce globally (Sembok, 2003). Contextually, corporations such as Intel, Microsoft, Compaq and IBM among others have relied on information technology marketplace. Correspondingly, tradition automotive manufacturers such as General Motors, Ford Motors and Toyota have used computers, computer software, and computer networks in their businesses significantly. Likewise, financial institutes such as banks and broking house, government agencies, schools, or other organisations usually operate computer technology and digital networking extensively (BerkeleyLaw, 2014). In this regard, it is apparently determined that the internet and electronic commerce have challenged modern businesses to protect privacy and intellectual property of their users and their business related accounts as well. As an effect, new laws and rules have been introduced to maintain the ethics of information technology. In accordance with Tiwary (2011), only information security can manage the appropriate use of internet network internationally in order to enhance the corporate information security culture (Tiwary, 2011). Figure: 1 Ethical Responsibility (Tiwary, 2011) Consequently, as observed by Tiwary (2011), people can maintain ethical responsibilities through reducing crime, by developing working condition, health and employment and concern about privacy issues sincerely (Tiwary, 2011). Information technology ethics has become more complex in these days. Several software and tools have been used by computer experts or hackers in order to break the internet security protocol, which causes several difficulties such as violence against individual, cyber-crime, and sexual offence among others. These are the factors, which have affected vulnerabilities of information systems and caused an ethical debate on our information privacy (Tiwary, 2011). From the analysis, it has been ascertained that information technology based development namely the internet has been the backbone of modern civilisation. According to the study, the internet has become the most significant entity, which helps human kinds in case of business activities, education purpose and in scientific innovation among others. Specially, it has been observed that most of the industries and global users have elaborately used the internet as an effective communication medium. Figure: 2 Industries Using Internet As An Effective Communication Medium (EMC Corporation, 2014) From the above figure, it can be evidently determined that the internet has established its importance among the various industries around entire world. Consequently, it can be also asserted that it has surved its benecial outcomes massively among financial, e-commerce and retail sectors. Additionally, it has also become quite essential for a few other industris as well such as technology and software, transpotation, health and pharmaceutical among others (EMC Corporation, 2014). Consequently, from the analysis, it has been also revealed that several activities may harm information systems’ efficiency. During the analysis, it has been found that certain parties have engaged with some unethical conducts with the aim of gathering information about certain individuals or companies or government authorities. For example, it can be asserted that American former National Security Agent (NSA) Edward-Snowden had disclosed an issue regarding internet associated unethical approach, which had created a high amount of hype in international news in the year of 2013. According to his view, American government had designed special software, which helps American to track-down every kind of essential and confidential information about developing and developed countries around the world. Moreover, he has also declared that America does not have the privilege of monitoring information about other countries, which has been regarded as an unethical approach from his viewpoint (Telegraph Media Group Limited, 2014). Besides, cyber-attacks have become one of the most common occurrences in the information technology driven world today. According to the 2013 cyber-crime report, global cyber-attack rate has increased 20% as compared to the previous year’s (2012) report (ETH Zurich, 2014). Consequently, it has been also seen that several computer hackers or experts have intrude on personal information such as account number, password and other highly intangible information through the internet from individuals and organisations, which has caused difficulties for general people as well as for several industries. The tracking of confidential information related to information of strategies by companies has created an intrusion of information privacy and has at times created unfair advantages (Tiwary, 2011). On the other hand, it has been also observed that terrorists have used the internet as a medium of communication and as logic bomb before attacking predetermined events. Moreover, it can be also affirmed that several sexual scandals have been spread through the internet quite rapidly, which has affected the youth segment of the society inversely (Tiwary, 2011). Altogether as an effect, cyber cost has also increased, which has affected the modern civilisation directly and indirectly. In order to ensure ethical internet consumption for maintaining the privacy and security, encrypted passwords, message files and special mathematical algorithms to digital data have been used to ensure the development of the security system to ascertain information privacy (Solove & et. al., 2006; Tiwary, 2011). Thus, it can be evidently asserted that though the internet plays a pinnacle role in our day to day lives, still it has caused an ethical debate on our information privacy by a considerable extent. Conclusion From the foregoing discussion, it has been ascertained that information technology has become interrelated with human kind and modern era indivisibly. According to the observation, human beings in recent years have become extensively depended on the internet for their personal, professional and social requirements. On the other hand, a number of domestic and international organisations, governmental authorities, education institutes and defence bodies have relied on the internet for several activities on a regular basis. Consequently, through the internet different violent activities can be done against of laws. Accordingly, it has been revealed that cyber-crimes such as software piracy and email piracy have become more evident offences in modern days. Apart from this, different fraudulent activities have also affected and are violating modern business policies and principles such as computer hackers are always in lookout for private information from individuals or organisations. At the same time, many anti-social activities have been executed through the help of internet communication medium. Moreover, online predators have become a devastating avenue to commit crime against innocent minds on the medium of the internet. Thus, conclusively, it can be apparently asserted that for protecting information privacy and security related issues, modern era’s information technological system based frameworks have emphasized especially on ethical approaches in order to reduce the complexity for future generation. References BerkeleyLaw, 2014. Introduction to Computer Technology, Network Economics, and Intellectual Property Law. The Early History of Computers. pp. 1-46. EMC Corporation, 2014. The 2013 E-Commerce Cyber Crime Report: Safeguarding Brand and Revenue This Holiday Season. Analyst-Reports. [Online] Available from: http://www.emc.com/collateral/analyst-reports/h12493-ar-2013-ecommerce-cyber-crime-report.pdf [Accessed May 16, 2014]. ETH Zurich, 2014. 2013 Cost of Cyber Crime Study: Global Report. Executive Summary. [Online] Available from: http://www.csg.ethz.ch/education/lectures/ManSec/HS2013/Ponemon2013CyberCrimeReport_Global_1013-1.pdf [Accessed May 16, 2014]. Olumoye, M. Y., 2013. Ethics and Social Impact of Information Systems in Our Society: Analysis and Recommendations. International Journal of Science and Research, Vol. 2, Issue. 11, pp. 154-158. Sembok, T. M. T., 2003. Ethics of Information Communication Technology (ICT). Regional Unit for Social & Human Sciences in Asia and the Pacific, pp. 239-324. Solove, D. J. & et. al., 2006. Privacy, Information, and Technology. Aspen Publishers Online. Temmel, M. & et. al., No Date. The Impact of the Internet on Our Daily Life. Thompson Rivers University. [Online] Available at: https://www.tru.ca/cpj/essay.html [Accessed May 16, 2014]. Telegraph Media Group Limited, 2014. Edward Snowdens Statement to Human Rights Groups in full. World News. [Online] Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/10176529/Edward-Snowdens-statement-to-human-rights-groups-in-full.html [Accessed May 16, 2014]. Thisted, R. A., 1997. Computer Architecture. Departments of Statistics, Health Studies, and Anesthesia & Critical Care, pp. 1-5. Tiwary, D. K., 2011. Security And Ethical Issues In It: An Organization’s Perspective. International Journal of Enterprise Computing and Business Systems, Vol. 1, Issue. 2, pp. 1-13. Read More