Addressing Ethical Issues in Information Technology
Pick a technology that you use daily and describe an ethical concern that stems from it. Then, describe how the concern could be lessened through a code of professional ethics governing the use/application of the technology. Are there any shortcomings or challenges to making your proposed solution work?
Pick a technology that you use daily – if possible, use the same technology you discussed in above and describe an ethical concern that stems from it. Then, describe how the concern could be lessened through redesigning the technology in a more ethical way. Are there any shortcomings or challenges to making your proposed solution work?
Select one of the codes of ethics for information professionals provided, summarize it, and then answer these 5 questions about it:
What kind of ethical concerns does the code highlight as most important?
Can you identify any language that sounds like a “utilitarian”, “deontological”, or “virtue” approach to ethics?
Does it provide specific guidelines or just general statements?
Does it provide any enforcement or “teeth” in case the ethical code is violated?
Do you think a professional would be compelled to follow this, and would it help resolve ethical dilemmas related to information technology? Why or why not?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Addressing Ethical Issues in Information Technology
Introduction
Information technology has become an indispensable part of our daily lives, impacting various aspects of our personal and professional activities. However, along with the benefits that technology brings, there are also ethical concerns that arise from its use. In this essay, we will explore one such technology that is used daily by many individuals and discuss an ethical concern associated with it. Furthermore, we will propose two potential solutions to address this concern: through the implementation of a code of professional ethics and through redesigning the technology itself. We will also analyze the strengths and challenges of each solution.
Ethical Concern Stemming from Daily Technology Use
One technology that is used by a vast majority of people daily is social media platforms. These platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, have revolutionized the way we communicate and connect with others. However, one ethical concern that stems from the use of social media is the invasion of privacy.
Social media platforms collect a vast amount of personal data from their users, including their likes, interests, location, and even browsing history. This data is often used for targeted advertising, but it also raises concerns about the misuse or unauthorized access to personal information. Individuals may feel violated when their personal data is shared without their consent or used for manipulative purposes.
Lessening the Concern through a Code of Professional Ethics
One way to address the ethical concern of privacy invasion in social media would be to implement a code of professional ethics governing the use and application of these platforms. Such a code could outline guidelines and principles that social media companies should follow to ensure the protection of user privacy.
The code could include provisions that restrict the collection and storage of unnecessary personal data. It could also require transparency in data usage practices, ensuring that users are informed about how their data is being used and given options to control its dissemination. Additionally, the code could mandate regular security audits and encryption measures to safeguard user information from unauthorized access.
While implementing a code of professional ethics in social media platforms seems like a viable solution, there are several challenges to making it work effectively. One challenge is the enforcement of the code. Social media companies may not have strong incentives to comply with ethical guidelines if they perceive them as barriers to their business models. Additionally, the global nature of social media platforms poses challenges in creating a uniform code that can be applied across different jurisdictions with varying privacy laws.
Redesigning the Technology for Ethical Use
Another solution to address the ethical concern of privacy invasion in social media is to redesign the technology itself in a more ethical way. This approach involves incorporating privacy-enhancing features directly into the design and architecture of social media platforms.
For example, social media platforms could adopt privacy-by-design principles, which involve integrating privacy safeguards into every stage of system development. This could include default privacy settings that prioritize user consent and allow for granular control over data sharing. Furthermore, platforms could employ advanced encryption techniques to protect user data both in transit and at rest.
However, there are also challenges to redesigning social media platforms for ethical use. The main challenge is balancing privacy with the business model that relies on targeted advertising. Implementing stronger privacy measures may limit the effectiveness of targeted advertising, which is a significant source of revenue for social media companies. Finding a middle ground that respects user privacy while still allowing for personalized advertising is a complex task.
Analysis of a Code of Ethics for Information Professionals
One example of a code of ethics for information professionals is the ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. This code highlights several ethical concerns as most important, including ensuring privacy and confidentiality, avoiding harm, and respecting intellectual property rights.
The ACM Code of Ethics leans towards a deontological approach to ethics by emphasizing principles such as honesty, fairness, and accountability. It focuses on the responsibilities of information professionals towards society and individuals rather than solely on achieving the best outcomes.
The code provides specific guidelines rather than general statements. It outlines specific actions that professionals should take to uphold ethical conduct, such as protecting privacy, maintaining professional skills, and avoiding conflicts of interest.
In terms of enforcement, the ACM Code of Ethics encourages its members to report violations and provides a mechanism for reviewing alleged breaches. However, it does not guarantee strict enforcement or penalties for non-compliance.
Whether a professional would be compelled to follow this code and whether it would help resolve ethical dilemmas depends on various factors. The code provides clear guidelines that can guide professionals in making ethical decisions related to information technology. However, individual motivations, organizational culture, and external pressures can influence compliance with ethical codes. Ultimately, it is up to the individual professional’s commitment to ethical conduct and their willingness to navigate complex ethical dilemmas.
Conclusion
Ethical concerns in information technology are prevalent and require thoughtful consideration. Addressing these concerns requires a multi-faceted approach that includes both implementing codes of professional ethics and redesigning technologies for ethical use. While these solutions have their challenges, they hold promise in mitigating ethical concerns and fostering a more responsible and accountable use of technology.
