Social Issues in Computing - Essay Example

SOCIAL IMPACT OF GROWTH OF COMPUTERS AND INTERNET IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Introduction Social issues in computing essentially entail discussion of ethical use of computers in society to include aspects such as privacy, intellectual property rights and the impact of computers on society at large. Social responsibility also includes accountability of computer managers to serve the goals of society. The growth of internet is now considered essential and is set to bring about greater productivity, governance, education, health and quality of life reforms particularly in the rural areas in developing countries causing all round socio-economic development. (Madon: 1999). However this development is not merely a function of technology but is also related to many social issues to reinforce the capability of people to deploy knowledge for their benefit and within the social and ethical context of their immediate culture rather than a generalized view. (Madon: 1999). Considering these facets in the context of the developing World, where computers are being introduced in large numbers in recent years may provide useful insights of the interplay of computing in society. Technological development precedes awareness of ethics on issues arising from its use and utility. However at present in the developed World a large body of knowledge on the ethics of computer usage has already been built-up, which can be easily applied to concomitant development of technology and social goals in developing countries. Developing Systems and Ethical Awareness in Society The growth of technology in the World is all pervasive. Systems are being developed in consonance with the needs of the society as well as through vicarious adaptation of its successful employment in other geographic and professional areas. The growth of the internet is a recent phenomenon in the developing World which has been linked with creation of infra structure particularly communications and increased availability of computers. The need for the computing industry to seek other avenues of growth after relative saturation of markets in developed states has also seen proliferation of computers in the developing World. However growth of computers per se does not imply ethical awareness particularly so when it is commercially driven. Companies are more concerned, particularly at the level of middle and lower levels of management about sales targets and growth charts and thus frequently ignore social and ethical issues. However it should be evident to managers that in the overall context, neglect of social and ethical factors will affect overall growth and even survival of the company. Thus it is essential that development of technology and social and ethnical responsibility should be undertaken concomitantly. There are a number of models of social and ethical responsibility which have been identified. Some writers advocate six senses of responsibility, causal responsibility, functional role responsibility, moral accountability, honorific sense of responsibility, role responsibility and oversight responsibility across the board in the context of the business or geographical area. (http://plato.stanford.edu). It may be difficult for companies to ensure these responsibilities are undertaken while implementing internet development in developing countries. This is so as culture may prohibit or dissuade full scale implementation of such issues in Third World and Eastern culture centric nations. However awareness of these in the management from the very outset will greatly facilitate their holistic growth and understanding as the networks are developed. Norbert Wiener, a renowned mathematician and philosopher had first propounded the tenets of computer ethics as he saw it develop in the 1950's. These included what has been called as, "great principles of justice". These principles have been stated as the principle of freedom, the principle of equality and the principle of benevolence. (Bynum:2000). In the context of the principle of freedom, computers in the developing world should enable full measure of human capabilities in individuals. The principle of equality would deem that there is continuity and comparative standardization in following norms for different persons, groups and in varying situations. (Bynum:2000). The principle of benevolence would imply that there is uniform goodwill between men regardless of creed, ethnicity, religion and so on. (Bynum:2000 :).It would be seen that these are powerful principles of ethics which can ensure holistic development of the society in tune with growth of the internet and spread its benefits in an even, rather than lop sided, commercial manner. In the context of developing states the acceptance of ethical standards will be dictated by globally accepted norms applied in the local framework based on familiar traditions and culture paradigms. While computers and internet standards have been developed from a global point of view there may be many facets which may not be immediately acceptable to developing societies, such as growth of blogs and internet in China, Singapore and Vietnam. It is said that governments in these countries are planning to impose restrictions on its development. (Madon: 1999). There would thus be unique models of growth in ethical norms in developing societies and it would take some time for them to adapt to the generally accepted view. This is best explained by Madon, as a, "chicken and egg" relationship between the Internet and socio-economic development. (1999). This will be the course followed for growth of ethical standards as well. Selection of Subject to study Internet diffusion has gathered momentum in all parts of the World. While initially the United States, Japan and other developed countries had been leading in the wired World, today the growth of the internet has been very rapid in developing countries. The issue at present is essentially a technical one, which is development and proliferation of infra structure to carry the internet and growth of computers. The social role and impact of information to include growth of computers and the internet in developing countries has not been debated. Computers can perform a grand role of empowerment and enlightenment which needs to be exploited holistically. This is achieved in case applied to benefit society at large and particularly to vulnerable groups. The governments of developing countries will also have to discuss key policy implications for internet diffusion and its holistic benefits within the paradigm of the local culture. (Madon: 1999). There is very limited understanding of these issues as they relate to developing countries and the current focus is essentially on ethical and social issues in computing in the developed World which has been adequately researched. Thus there is a need to study the social and ethical issues involved in diffusion of internet technologies in developing countries. Implications for Society The growth of computers and the internet is a result of globalization which in turn is benefited by information technology and communication proliferation. Thus the impact of computer ethics and social implications is global. (http://plato.stanford.edu/archives). This implies that societies will be affected by global ethics and will have to adapt these irrespective of its level of acceptability or assimilation in the cultural context. Thus it is seen that Microsoft has global standards for copy right which are enforced and adopted through out the World and it will not be possible for any society to state that these principles cannot be applied to it as it is not in the legal and cultural context in which they operate. The growth of e commerce on the internet is also likely to impact on the applicability of global laws to transactions and disputes that may arise there from. (http://plato.stanford.edu/archives). In case of disagreements between two parties on aspects such as control of information, the criteria for resolution have to be established. For example if a report on the web site of CNN about happenings in a Third World nation is questioned how the issue will be settled Which laws will adjudicate on such issues and in which country, is likely to be a matter of debate. Moreover the report even if true may have some adverse impact on community relations and maintenance of peace and harmony in the area. Thus responsibility and accountability issues also arise. In case there are universal values and norms which are well established and accepted by all concerned, the growth of such disputes will be restricted. In the initial stages of growth of the internet in developing countries there would be a trend wherein some areas will develop faster than others resulting in imbalances. Such disparities will have a long term impact on societies creating digital divides. This will have to be corrected by positive measures including the development of social alternatives for which the information technology corporate authorities may not like to take responsibility as it is not directly within their purview. Such inequities will thus have to be addressed by local governments in a holistic manner. There are also fears that the growth of global business and education on the internet will lead to creation of monopolies in these vital fields of human endeavor, thereby driving out smaller players and marginal companies in the developing World. The impact of such large scale enterprise wide changes on society will be monumental and in extreme cases may even result in military confrontation between nations as well as within countries, if the digital gap creates socio-economic disparities. Thus growth in use of computers must ensure that no schism is created between the information rich and the information poor. (http://plato.stanford.edu/archives). The growth of the internet has provided society with great powers for enlightenment as well negotiation. However there is a need to ensure that there is concomitant investment in the social infra structure and the skills to use the technology in a manner which is in consonance with the local circumstances. The need to prevent digital divides implies that there may a need for governments to evolve appropriate policies to enable the disempowered entry into the digital World by affirmative action. (Madon: 1999). Implications for IT Industry The IT industry will also be greatly impacted by this issue. It will have to factor in variations in culture, social customs, norms, traditions and ethical values in development of the internet and computers in states where these are being introduced. IT industry will have to understand the impact of these issues within the global and the local paradigm in which they operate. Integration strategies will have to be evolved not just in terms of technological integration but also integration of social practices, culture and ethics. International companies will have to support parallel initiatives not directly related to the growth of computers by planning merging strategies in various fields. Thus we find that there are a number of foundations which are formed by the corporate sector business houses to supplement technological initiatives with social sector schemes such as the Bill and Linda Gates Foundation which is extensively supporting programmes for AIDS awareness and control in Third World countries, thereby contributing in its own way to overcome the negative impact of uneven growth set into motion by technology. Thus the IT industry will not only have to invest in technology infra structure but also in social infra structure of the nations concerned. Initiatives in the field of education such as scholarships, chairs and schools of excellence can be established to promote equitable growth for the meritorious. There is also a need to understand that the company's bottom line is not just dependent on the increase in number of connections but includes knowledge and information consciousness in societies. It is this factor which is promoting socio-economic development and internet and computers are the accelerating medium for the same. Thus the foundation of sound growth has to be information, learning and adaptation and the IT industry will have to develop an innate understanding of its application in the target society to enable full fledged benefit from it in the long run. Alternate Perspectives Norbert Wiener has developed a cybernetic view of human nature which deems that people are essentially social beings, who reach their full potential only by active participation in communities and societies. Social organizations are essential for human development. However there is also a view that societies are oppressive and tyrannical which limit and hinder freedoms which were set as ideals for a computer based congregation. It is there fore, felt essential as per Wiener to introduce a freedom to limit the negative influence of society on the natural freedoms which has been called as the principle of minimum infringement. This implies that a community or state may have compulsions on development of the internet and computing which should be exercised in a way that it does not create additional infringement of freedom. (Bynum:2000). This essential facet in the context of developing countries needs careful analysis as it is particularly relevant due to variations in culture and context, from the developed world from which most competing power and authority as well as technology is being developed. Reliance on indigenous knowledge systems for growth is another perspective which has been debated from time to time. This is said to enable the economically poor to survive by integrating short term and long term options as also the secular with the non secular in both economy and philosophy. The disadvantaged communities are also known to have developed creative options which could be of great utility to the World at large. (Madon: 1999). Thus establishing information and knowledge structures and values using indigenous knowledge as a base is considered better than the traditional modernist outlook. This perspective also needs some detailed consideration. References 1. Madon, Shirin. (1994). The Internet and Socio-economic development: Exploring the interaction. http://is2.lse.ac.uk/ifipwg94/pdfs/internet.pdf . (8 April 2006). Computing and Moral Responsibility. http://plato.stanford.edu)/entries/computing-responsibility/ (8 April 2006). 2. Bynum, Terrell Ward. (2000). Norbert Wiener's Foundation of Computer ethics.http://www.southernct.edu/organizations/rccs/resources/research/introduction/Bynum:2000_wiener.html. (9 April 2006). 3. Computer Ethics: Basic Concepts and Historical Overvie. http://plato.stanford.edu/archives)/win2001/entries/ethics-computer/ (8 April 2006). 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