Information Technology Ethics Essay

This essay discusses the ethical implications of information technology, particularly focusing on security and privacy issues related to open internet access in the EU. It analyzes a media article on net neutrality through classical ethical theories such as utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, and social contract theory. The essay concludes with recommendations for maintaining security in open internet services.

Information Technology Ethics
Open Internet
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Information Technology Ethics
Introduction
Information technology plays a crucial role in our life. Its different applications are used for
business as well as for other personal web related activities. For last many years, IT has been
growing enormously and providing various benefits to its users. Moreover, now advanced
version of IT is Information Communication and Technology (ICT) and it is considered as
effective solution for high quality communication and content sharing anywhere in the world.
ICT has connected several devices through vast networks that work as effective modes of
interaction among people. There is no doubt that with the help of ICT, business organizations are
providing amazing telecommunication services to its users. But on flip side, some security and
privacy related issues are also found by users of ICT. These issues are known as ICT-related
ethical issues. For every user who is using online services and submitting its data online, security
is the prior concern. Here a media article is selected about Open Internet and this essay will
emphasize on ICT ethical issue of security that is mentioned in this article. Further, the analysis
about media article will be done on the behalf of classical ethical theories.
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Information Technology Ethics
Discussion
According to media article, EU has done commitment in 2015 to adopt net neutrality rules. Then
in 2016, these rules were applied in EU. These rules and regulations are considered big
revolution in digital single market. Under these rules, open internet access is the right of every
end-user and distribution of content of internet and services can also be done by them according
to their choices. This EU law of open internet ensures that no blocking, throttling and
discrimination will be done for applicants anywhere in EU. Moreover, users also have free
access to favorite apps and services whether they have subscribed or not. There will be no
prioritization among network traffic, everyone will be treated equally. The management and
technical requirements will also be fulfilled at priority basis for everyone in EU. The
implementation of these common rules of net neutrality shows that internet access providers will
not pick losers and winners over internet (Digital Single Market, 2017).
This step of open internet in EU is effective to provide open service to people without any
partiality. But in case of open internet access chances of lack of security and privacy of
information increase and can cause problem for users. So here sustainability of security and
privacy of information is very much important. It means, here in this article security is an ICT
ethical issue. The four classical ethical theories that are required to discuss in this essay are
utilitarianism, deontology, virtue and contract.
Analyze of Media Article on the behalf of Ethical Theories
Utilitarianism
The main focus of this classical theory is on right and wrong outcomes of an action. Besides this,
utilitarianism also describes that an option is considered as best if that has potential to increase
maximum utility. After analyzing this media article about open internet on behalf of this theory
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Information Technology Ethics
then it can be said that the action of EU government regarding net neutrality is right and it
enhances the utility internet to large extent. Due to this action, it has become easier for people to
communicate and share information among others from anywhere without any restriction. This
action is also right because there is no need to worry about security of information because EU
government also have laws and techniques for this. So the decision of net neutrality is correct
(Encyclopedia Britannica, 2017).
Deontology
This second classical theory favors morality of claims and duties and their correctness and
wrongness. In other words, deontology emphasizes on the fact that which entity can make an
action right. It does not focus on consequences of wrong action. In article of Open Internet, EU
has also emphasized on that how the action of net neutrality can be made so effective for users
rather concentrating on its other consequences. It does not mean that government has not
considered security and privacy issues. EU has measured security appropriately and also
provides solutions for that (Alexander & Moore, 2017).
Virtue
According to this classical theory, ethics are concerned with representatives rather than actions
and there consequences. Basically, the good traits of personality of an individual are considered
rather than his or her bad personality traits. In case of this media article, the good traits of EU
government and IT professionals can be considered because they are taking challenges to
provide open services to people with security and privacy. They understand that security is
important for everyone and it must be maintained.
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Information Technology Ethics
Contract
Social contract theory of classical ethical issues describes that to live together in society morality
is required. Morality consists of some rules and also believes in the concept that political and
moral duties of persons are based on an agreement between them. In case of media article of net
neutrality, people believes on security and privacy of open internet service and EU government
also have trust on people that will not misuse this service. In this way, with a mutual agreement,
this action has taken and it will provide successful outcomes.
Therefore, from above analysis it is cleared that the action of net neutrality is right in all ways
but there is only need to give focus on long term maintenance of security of this network.
Otherwise, various issues of hacking and phishing can occur. Now in next segment of this essay,
it is showed that how EU government will maintain security of open internet.
Solution for ICT Ethical Issue of Security
In this media article, some rules and regulations are decided by government of EU to get
protection against security of information in case of open network. Those regulations consists of
following points:
1. It is important for National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) to monitor market
developments. Its responsibility is to evaluate network traffic, its management, execution
of commercial processes and appropriate implementation of regulation (Christian
Research Institute, 2017).
2. Other step to maintain security of open internet that will be taken by EU government is to
ensure the quality of internet access service. This quality should be better as compare to
traditional internet services. The high quality of open internet is required to provide
internet access in whole EU so that everyone can enjoy good quality of this service.
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Information Technology Ethics
3. The Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications i.e. BEREC will also
contribute to manage whole process of net neutrality. BEREC will provide some essential
guidelines to NRAs for managing the rules of implementing open internet in EU.
In this way, whole process of net neutrality will be implemented and its security and privacy will
be maintained as whole. The above discussed steps of EU government will provide significant
results and people will get amazing and fast internet service.
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Information Technology Ethics
Conclusion
To sum up, it can be said that security and privacy of information is necessary for everyone
while using quick internet service without any issue of hacking and phishing attack. In given
media article, EU government has taken an initiative to provide open internet service to every
individual of EU without any bias and people no need to worry about their online content.
Therefore, at every place where internet services are provided at government level or at level of
business organizations, secure network environment should be provided to them. Basically, it is
matter of trust of customers on service providers that should be maintained.
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Information Technology Ethics
References
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Christian Research Institute. (2017). Ethics Theories: Utilitarianism Vs. Deontological Ethics -
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Alexander, L., & Moore, M. (2017). Deontological Ethics. Plato.stanford.edu. Retrieved 19
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