Ethics in Information Technology, Essay Example

Ethics can be defined as a code of conduct recognised by people in a certain category of class, profession or culture. It involves the categorization of behaviour as right or wrong at given circumstances. It also involves a system of categorizing, promoting and recommending concepts of right and wrong behaviour.

Information technology is revolutionizing the way human beings do things. It has changed and continues to change the way we work, the way we communicate and the way we travel to name but a few. The essence of communication is so pronounced that it is clear to everyone. Its importance is also evident and undisputed in every aspect of human life.

Information technology should then be handled carefully so as to realise its full importance and to aid the development of human beings. Ethics need to be considered in the use and development of information technology. This shall ensure that evils in the society are not enhanced and furthered using information technology. This work handles ethics in information technology from the aspect of the users and that of developers of information technology.

Information technology has greatly enhanced the health of human beings. Equipments for use in hospital and in the manufacturing of medicines greatly rely on information technology. It is now possible to have a graphical view of an unborn child long before it is born thanks to information technology. These developments should be used to enhance the health of human beings. However situations arise where it is used unethically in the health matters. For instance information technology can be used to aid abortion or can also be used to determine the gender of an unborn child with the intention of aborting it if it is not the gender that the parent were looking for.

In today’s world, it is possible to communicate to anyone all over the world it the comfort on ones room. This has greatly enhanced the growth and conduct of business in the world (George, 2008). However it is also being used unethically in communication. For instance it can be used to communicate information to the wrong persons like an employee of a bank communicating confidential information to robbers to enable them plan their evil activities.

The use of rockets and aeroplanes has made it possible for persons to navigate the world within a very short period of time. This has enabled the transfer things throughout the world. These transport means are however also being used to do things that can be considered unethical. For instance they can be used in the transport of drugs. They are also used for destruction of properties and human beings for example in wars.

People are now able to network socially without having to see each other physically. Today, there are many people who have met and known each other through the internet. This has happened through social internet sites such as facebook, MySpace, twitter and others (CCIT, 2008). They are able to exchange messages and share pictures any time and any place. However the internet is also being used unethically by people of ill intentions. Many are cheating on their names since the receiver on the other hand has no way of vouching for the same. The internet is also being used by conmen to solicit for funds from the naïve internet users.

The social sites developers need to do more than they are doing to protect the users. Users of social internet sites share a lot of information in these sites. This information need to be secure to protect these users. The developers need to institute more measures to protect their users. They need to more ethical and not only mind about their financial returns but also the security of their users.

At times there are developers who are also using their skills to develops programs that collect data of users which is then used maliciously without the consent of the owner and at times to their detriments. This shows that developers need to be ethical in using their skills.

There are developers who have developed filters that protect accessing or downloading the content from other internet sites. This hinders competition in the business world since a competitor may decide to develop software that segregates from where a user may access information.

Information technology is being used unethically in the ownership of intellectual property rights. Technology has made it possible for instance for users to duplicate a book written by an author without his or her right. Students in many colleges and universities can make copies of books which should otherwise be copy right protected. Software developers have developed software that can take or ‘steal’ ideas from other internet sites. This interferes with the ownership of such ideas.

In conclusion information technology is of immense importance and is enhancing the way human beings live and relate with each other. It has made it easy and economical for various processes to be carried out easily and efficiently. However information technology is being used unethically to hinder its importance and carry out criminal activities.

References

George, R.T.D. (2008). The Ethics of Information Technology and Business New York: Wiley-Blackwell

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. (2005). Phenomenological Approaches to Ethics and Information Technology. Retrieved September 10, 2009 from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-it-phenomenology/

CCIT. (2008). Ethics and information technology. Retrieved September 10, 2009 from http://ccit.mines.edu/ethics/