Ethics and technology are dynamic and ever-changing, and the relationship between the two is complex. Technology ethics is the study of the moral implications and considerations of technology, from its development to its use. It involves analyzing the ethical dilemmas that arise from the application of technology in various fields. Therefore, ethics is the dynamic, evolving activity of applying, balancing, and modifying principles in light of new facts, new technology, new social attitudes, and changing economic and political conditions.
Here are some ways that ethics and technology are changing:
Values
Values keep changing with time and situation. New knowledge about existing problems or techniques can lead to changes in values. This is because technology can make some values relevant again while others become irrelevant.
Technology trends
The disruption of Automation and AI technologies can disrupt work ethics and raise ethical questions about human employment and job security. Also, technological advancements raise ethical considerations related to data security and privacy that must be resolved before industries can deploy them in the production environment. Government and business leaders are taking steps to address them through regulations and policies. These ethical frameworks are designed to avoid negative consequences and promote safety, privacy, and societal values while promoting responsible innovation.
Privacy
With advancements in AI, machine learning, and cloud computing, privacy, and security risks have greatly increased. Technology can make it easier for companies and criminals to collect and use personal information without people’s consent. This can include data mining, identity theft, electronic surveillance, and the use of cookies and spyware which raises concerns about data usage and personal boundaries.
Misinformation
Deepfake technology is a type of artificial intelligence (AI) that uses machine learning to create fake images, videos, or sounds. Deepfakes are often used to create realistic hoaxes, such as videos of celebrities or world leaders saying things they never did. The internet provides real-time access to news and information, which can be misinterpreted or spread without fact-checking.
Ethical considerations
Ethical considerations in research are a set of principles that safeguard the legitimacy of research and results. These principles include voluntary participation, informed consent, anonymity, confidentiality, potential for harm, and results communication.
Ethical Policy-making
Ethical policy making is the process of framework of laws, regulations, and actions governments implement to achieve social and economic goals with ethical consideration on technological innovation.
