What is the ethical issue between those who have access to and those who do not have access to modern information and technology?
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CAUSES AND TYPES OF DIGITAL DIVIDEThe digital divide was initially attributed to underdevelopment and was perceived as something temporary that would disappear with the popularisation of technology. Instead, the divide persists today despite the mass marketing of electronic devices with Internet access. The causes can range from the high price of the above-mentioned devices to the lack of knowledge about their use or the lack of infrastructure for their access. In this regard, we review the types of digital divide:
A few years ago, ITU established the Digital Access Index (DAI), which measures the overall ability of a country's citizens to access and use ICT. This index takes into account various variables grouped around five categories, which are as follows: quality, infrastructure, knowledge, accessibility and use. CONSEQUENCES OF THE DIGITAL DIVIDETechnological discrimination is a form of poverty and social exclusion, depriving some citizens of essential resources for development and wealth generation. We have seen this a lot during the COVID-19 pandemic, as many students and workers found it difficult to work from home and follow classes online. We review the main effects of the digital divide below: Lack of communication and isolationPeople in remote areas who do not have access to the Internet are disconnected. Something similar happens to urban residents who are disconnected which causes social isolation. Barrier to studies and knowledgeThe coronavirus crisis has shown the effects of the digital divide in education: teachers and students out of the loop because they lack sufficient technology and digital skills. It also increases lack of knowledge by limiting access to knowledge. Accentuates social differencesDigital illiteracy reduces the chances of finding a job and accessing quality employment, which has a negative impact on the workers' economy. Gender discriminationAs we saw at the beginning, the digital divide negatively affects women more than men, which violates the principles of gender equality. STRATEGIES ON BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDEThe UN includes the reduction of the digital divide (SDG 9) in its Sustainable Development Goals. That is why, in many places initiatives have been launched to facilitate access to technology. Here we mention some of the most relevant ones:
What are the ethical issues related to access and use of information?Based on extant literature, several ethical issues such as plagiarism, hacking, viruses, data access rights, piracy, ergonomy and health issues amongst others were identified as possible ethical issues related to IT.
What are some ethical issues in information technology?Most Important Ethical Issues in Technology. Misuse of Personal Information. ... . Misinformation and Deep Fakes. ... . Lack of Oversight and Acceptance of Responsibility. ... . Use of AI. ... . Autonomous Technology. ... . Respect for Employees and Customers. ... . Moral Use of Data and Resources. ... . Responsible Adoption of Disruptive Tech.. What are the ethical issues that surround information privacy?Freedom from unauthorized access to private data. Inappropriate use of data. Accuracy and completeness when collecting data about a person or persons (corporations included) by technology. Availability of data content, and the data subject's legal right to access; ownership.
What are the ethics to consider in dealing with technological advancement?Promote the Values of Autonomy, Transparency, and Trustworthiness: To create and maintain a healthy relationship between technologists and the public, respect for autonomy, transparency, and trustworthiness is key.
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