Abstract

Advances in generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), hardware, the Internet of Things (IoT), smart phones, and software, especially Machine Learning (ML) and social media, are creating new ethical challenges globally. Digital ethics challenges impact Information Technology (IT) professionals. IT professionals and managers play a crucial role in ensuring that digital data are captured, stored, processed, and used in an ethical manner. Digital ethics questions are often “wicked” problems for multiple stakeholders. Recently, political actors have brought greater attention to the ethical implications of capturing, and using digital data, including monetising data. Guidance for resolving problems, including laws, e.g., the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and ACM and IEEE Professional Ethics codes, are evolving. This article defines what is meant by digital ethics and digital trust and explores five “wicked” problems and dilemmas associated with digital ethics. By evaluating the dilemmas associated with making ethical decisions related to data from a normative ethics perspective, principles and strategies are proposed to help managers and IT professionals mitigate digital ethics challenges and support ethical decision making within an organisation. Embracing ethical practices contributes to the well-being of individuals and society but also helps build trust in the technology industry. Digital ethics is an important, neglected topic in academic degree programmes and organisations. Future discussions of standards and professional codes of practice should emphasise win-win solutions. Potential research should define the scope of the problem and assess the harms that are occurring or that may result from the misuse of digital data.ct of the paper

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