Introduction
As the global socioeconomic landscape heavily shifts under the overwhelming tectonic forces of technology, the other side of computing and computer technology emerges. The explosive adoption of computers and digital communication in the internet-driven generation of consumers exacerbates the situation to abysmally frightening levels. Digital and cyberattacks, internet privacy, social media bullying, and digital terrorism add to the plague of ethical issues in the daily socioeconomic interactions and activities based on computer and digital technology. The amount of information that resides in the internet space is insurmountable. The sheer volumes of individual and corporate information in the online space make it very easy for unscrupulous internet users to exploit any emerging security gaps.
In this paper, the focus is on the book, Introduction to Computer Literacy, with a specific outlook on chapter one – Ethical Concerns in Computing. The paper offers a comparative context of the points of view and arguments offered by the author of the topic compared to the other two journal articles others. An analytical perspective of the book section and the two selected journal articles provide a widened understanding of the critical phenomenon of ethics that is continuously affecting the internet and IT developments experienced today.
Comparing the Points of View by the Different Authors
Ethical Concerns in Computing (Chapter One of Introduction to Computer Literacy)
Computers came to simplify the ways of life. With a meaningful socioeconomic impact, computer and digital technology have become the new norm. The author of this chapter understands the significant role that computing has played in transforming the ordinary life. The social impact of digital technology remains a critical feature of the world we live in today. In this chapter, the first ethical point of view with computing technology is collaboration. As computers become ubiquitous, the author recognizes the role of ethical collaboration and relationships between people located in different geographical places. The internet has enhanced collaboration, but the pressure to remain ethical is growing as more collaborations are made through the internet, especially the social media connection.
Another imperative feature of ethics in this chapter is privacy. The internet space has been clouded by all sorts of information and consumers. Computing technology has exacerbated the privacy challenge as information shared through various platforms can be exposed to malicious users and hackers (Bowles, 2013). Another key feature discussed in the chapter is identity theft. Websites, personal social media accounts, business account details are facing a rising concern of identity theft. Social media networks enjoy fewer security restrictions and rules, so the class of unscrupulous data and information users hardens their position. They continue to inject pain and damages in the online space through incidences of identity theft (Bowles, 2013). Other ethical concerns illuminated in this book section include the broader domain of computer threats. Securities compromised by unethical hackers are on the rise, and the threats associated with malware, viruses, and computer crimes are rising. People who break into computer databases without the authority of the system’s owner continue to cast worrying image ethics as many organizations strive to transition to the e-commerce and cloud spaces.
Journal Article One
In this article, Ferrettia et al. (2021) discuss a raft of ethical issues experienced in health and medicine. The innovation of mobile applications in medicine and healthcare has come with notable benefits. However, this does not come without a hefty price of ethical challenges and concerns. The authors of this article narrow their focus on the ethical issues surrounding travel medicine and how computing technology has impacted travel medicine services.
The paper paints a comprehensive picture of several ethical concerns surrounding the adoption of digital services and mobile service networks in travel medicine. They include autonomy, de-identification, data sharing and control, fairness, equity, and data quality. Other ethical concerns include oversight safety and harm minimization. A unique feature of ethical consideration emerges from the paper. “CANDALS” classification has emerged as a critical ethical feature in the computing technology that slowly dominates healthcare systems, including travel medicine. CANDALS is the synonym of Citizenship, Ability, Neurodiversity, Disability, Age, Literacy, and Size. The paper digs deeper into the perspective of ethnicity, age, and health literacy as crucial ethical elements from the CANDALS (Ferrettia et al., 2021). The innovation of digital technology continues to propagate a divided society that is seriously divided despite all efforts made to establish digital and technological equity.
Health literacy is serious, and the wake of COVID-19 has widened the ethical concerns associated with disease management practices. This article shows the precarious loopholes that have opened due to missing transparency in the scientific evidence attached to the origin of the COVID-19 virus. The dilemma shows how developed countries continue to use the technological muscles to suppress the truth when health-related crises emerge. If the society lacks enough health literacy capabilities, the chances are that the eHealth platforms and online care programs will be facing a lot of ethical challenges. Literacy enhances the connection between technology and access to quality care.
According to the authors of this article, ethical standards have dropped significantly in developed countries, and selection bias has become the new norm in the admission of key care services. The perfect example of runaway selection bias is the vaccine management programs during the era of COVID-19. Minority groups have been denied equal chances and access to health information, and the situation is worsening in the developing world. Starting with travel medicine and care programs, the relevant global organizations should stand tall and voice the underlying ethical issues as illuminated in the article (Ferrettia et al., 2021). Otherwise, health-related injustices will persist, and the world will become a more unfriendly place to live despite the momentous strides in digital and computing technology. Oversight mechanisms are highly needed to monitor the quickly evolving landscape of eHealth for the overall benefit of the entire society. Health injustices will continue to bite if the necessary ethical interventions are not implemented, and the vulnerable groups will remain in the shackles of oppression and marginalization.
Journal Article Two
ITBE STAFF (2011) discusses eight emerging trends that are directly or indirectly affecting information technology today. One of the top ethical trends that are discussed in the article is platform architecture. The soaring volumes of data have pushed platform architecture designers to an integrity crisis where the complexity of data management dominates the question. Rational planning of the database structures gives the majority of platform architecture designers many challenges. They face unclear paths that may expose their integrity and preparedness to offer the best solutions possible.
Another imperative ethical issue discussed in this article is user experience. Boosting customer experience remains a top concern for many system designers. The team of platform designers is always challenged to offer the best user experience to maximize customer satisfaction. More layered approaches for greater experience enhances the designer’s commitment to the ultimate user experience. The room for complexities and inefficiencies triggers a serious challenge in user experience, and the ethical perspective of user experience is unfortunately lost.
How the Authors Agree on Numerous Ethical Concerns
The three articles agree that data security is an element of ethical concern in computing technology. Every user will exhibit a fortress mentality of system trust if there is an outright sense of data security. The automated capabilities adopted by contemporary data security operators should not decline the trust users have in the entire data security network. They should always be protected and given the space to conduct their business of communication, data sharing, or research without the fear of a compromised network system. Data security is essentially helpful in enhancing data privacy. If the system is secure, personalized and sensitive data elements are not vulnerable at all incidences. Cyberspace and government policy enforcement is a vital element of ethics that is associated with data security. All online service providers should embark on a strong mission to ensure reputation-policy enforcement and superior handling of personal data. The available data controllers should lead the way towards policy enforcement and adherence to data security practices. In the three articles, the authors agree on the role of system and data management experts in shaping a secured environment for consumers. Without a robust architectural design, security loopholes emerge, exposing the entire data system to the hands of malicious hackers and system attackers. Ethical standards should be established at all levels of data usage, and the internet access networks monitored to avoid cases of data theft or system hacking.
Conclusion
Ethical Concerns in Computing Technology is a hot topic has drawn the attention of many organization operating or shifting to the cloud space. The unprecedented impact of the internet and computing technology will be in jeopardy if the emphasis on a topic such as this is ignored. This topic lays the foundation of a secured interaction and transition to the internet and computer space. Every stakeholder in computing technology and cyberspace projects should understand the intrigues of this topic so as to exhibit a full understanding of the potential threats and vulnerabilities of shifting operations to computing and digital technology.
References
Bowles, M. (2013). Introduction to digital literacy. Zovio.
Ferrettia A., Hedrich N., Schlagenhauf P., Vayena E., & Lovey T. (2021). Mobile apps for travel medicine and ethical considerations: A systematic review. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease 43, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1477893921001848#sec1.
ITBE STAFF. (2011, February 22). Eight Trends Driving the Future of Information Technology. Retrieved from https://www.itbusinessedge.com/networking/eight-trends-driving-the-future-of-information-technology/
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