Ethical Theories With Regards To ICT Industry

Introduction

Information and communications technology (ICT) refer to all the technology used to handle telecommunications, broadcast media, intelligent building management systems, audio-visual processing and transmission systems, and network-based control and monitoring functions.

From the beginning the ICT industry there is a debate due to security concerns and ethics-related issues. Therefore, it is important to address the different ethical issues in the ICT industry. Primarily these issues include privacy, intellectual content right and violation of different ethical principles.

The Australian Computer Society (ACS) is an association for information and communications technology. The ACS code of ethics is part of the ACS constitution. ACS members must have to uphold and advance the dignity, honour, and effectiveness of being a professional. It entails, in the addition of being a good citizen and acting in the law. The ACS provides the six ethical values with the requirements which contribute to observing the values.

I have researched and discussed ethical theories that refer to ICT industry. From this assignment, I’m going to explain and compare ethical theories. And discuss ACS codes and the connection between the ACS code and the ethical theories.

Ethical theories related to ICT

Ethics can be characterized as “moral standards that are helpful for people to guide their actions, behaviour and choices. ICT have various ethical standards. Those are relativism, objectivism, consequentialist, deontology, rights, and lastly virtue.

Theory of relativism

This theory forms its choice on the fact that morality is relative to the traditions, practices and standards of the one’s general public and culture. There might be occasions that are named as ethically correct dependent on the standards of one society and a similar occasion is named as ethically incorrect due to the practices that are followed in the other community or society.

Theory of objectivism

The principles of this theory are the reason, purpose and self. Reason shapes the methods for getting information from various sources and also the methods for survival. Purpose includes the way an individual pick throughout their life. Self is incorporated in because there is nothing without confidence and inspiration. The theory of objectivism is based upon these three values.

Theory of consequentialist

This theory says that a demonstration is ethically right only and only if the results of the equivalent don’t hurt any substance in any capacity. There are two fundamental rules that are associated with this ethical theory which are depicted underneath,

The outcomes or the results of the demonstration decide if the demonstration is right or wrong in nature.

The number of positive results of a demonstration decides the rightness of the demonstration.

Theory of deontology

In a good way of thinking, deontological morals or deontology is the regularizing ethical theory that the ethical quality of activity ought to be founded on whether that activity itself is correct or wrong under a progression of rules, instead of dependent on the outcomes of the activity. It is defined as an obligation, commitment or rule-based morals. Deontological morals are regularly differentiated to consequentialism, virtue morals, and common-sense morals. In this phrasing, the activity could easily compare to the results.

Theory of rights

At the point when taking on the rights that are given to the individual then the first and the chief are the Legal Rights. These are the rights that are given by the State and Federal Government of the nation to every one of its residents.

Theory of virtue

This is the theory of ethics that describes an action as morally right or wrong by assessing the equivalent based on the character of the people associated with the equivalent as opposed to the demonstration itself or the overtone of the equivalent.

Comparison of ethical theories

Rights vs Virtue

Rights are created by society for the protection of general interests. It is recognized by society as common claim of the people in the society. Therefore, rights cannot be used against people. Contents of rights have been changing with time. Rights have limitations, which is essential to keep the order of society.

Virtue on the other hand is a personal characteristic that holds up the individual moral excellence. Plato considered a virtue to be an excellence of a person’s soul. Someone who cultivates virtues is virtuous only as a result of their soul is in a particular state. Aristotle has several explanations on virtues. One is “whatever makes the thing do its essential action or function well”. Virtue is a stable or unchanging facet of the individual. Any person who holds good virtues will be able to determine the good in all decisions, all the time.

Relativist vs Objectivist

In the case of relativists, we think moral or ethical principles do not reflect absolute truth but change its meaning relatively according to cultural, historical, and personal references. On the other hand, objectivist thinks that ethical principles are a set of values that will guide an individual’s actions and choices. In general, it can be said that relativism is dependent on the different variables depending on different scenarios. Normal and moral behaviour is defined in every culture. Therefore, it is not necessary that an act of a professional considered right in culture is also right in another culture. In this way, different organizations in different cultures have conflicts between them.

On the contrary, objectivism provides concrete and exact definition of things. Therefore, for an ICT practice relativism determines its rightness depending upon the circumstances. On the contrary, objectivism gives a concrete definition for the rightness of a particular practice. Objectivism states that, certain moral principles are valid for all individuals and cultures of a specific region.

Consequentialist vs Deontology

The deontological ethical theories primarily have three features. According to this theory, the duty should be done for duty’s sake. According to this theory, ICT professionals should take decisions that are based on rules and fulfill their duty. In deontology, the action is taken in a situation without thinking about the product of the action. This theory states that at least some actions are morally obligatory.

On the contrary, the theory of consequentialism is a way of justifying a professional’s actions, by considering the consequences of the taken decision. This theory concentrates on maximizing the good for a taken action or decision.

Professional codes of ethics and practice in ACS

The Australian Computer Society is governed by a national Management Committee. This committee is assisted by a National Congress, eight State and Territory Branch Executive Committees, and three expert advisory boards – the Member Advisory Board, the Profession Advisory Board, and the Technical Advisory Board. The ACS Management Committee controls and manages the Society, within the bounds set by the Associations Incorporations Act (ACT) and the Society’s Objects, Rules and National Regulations. (https://www.acs.org.au/governance/management-committee.html, 2016)

ACS has implemented the code of ethics to maintain the ethical nature of an IT professional. There are six points in the code of ethics, which is;

1. The Primacy of the public interest
2. The Enhancement of quality of life
3. Honesty
4. Competence
5. Professional Development
6. Professionalism

The Primacy of the Public Interest

This code of ethics describes that a public interest trumps personal, private and sectional interests. Along with this, any conflicts that may occur should be resolved all in favour of the public interest.

The Enhancement of Quality of life

According to this code, an IT professional should work in order to enhance the quality of the work. Also, the person is liable to improve and protect the health and safety of the people affected by the work done. The person should work toward increasing personal satisfaction, competence and control of those affected by the work.

Honesty

This code states that the IT personal will be honest in representing her/his skills, knowledge, services and products. The person mustn’t break the trust of the public and the stakeholders. She/he shouldn’t try to amplify personal image and reputation by the work of another person. Should an individual use a part or an entire work of another person, that person should be given credit.

Competence

The context of this code is that the IT personal will work competently and will not hesitate to ask for additional expertise from proper individuals. The person must be clear of her/his own limitations. The individual must accept responsibility of the work done.

Professional Development

This code mentions that an IT individual will work toward improving and enhancing one’s own skills and knowledge while improving the same in the other staff members and colleagues.

Professionalism

The individual should enhance the integrity of the society and respect members of the society. Any form of harassment and discrimination is unacceptable.

Reference

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