Social & ethical issues in a networked world

Privacy

There are a number of issues in regards to privacy in a networked world, including:

• Data Privacy
• Surveillance
• Cybersecurity
• Consent & Control
• IOT
• Social Media
• Tracking
• Data Sharing & Third party access
• Cross border transfers

Discussion Questions

1. How can individuals protect their personal data privacy in a networked world where data is constantly collected and shared by various entities?
2. What are the ethical implications of surveillance technologies, such as facial recognition, in terms of privacy and civil liberties? How can we strike a balance between security and privacy?
3. How can organizations ensure that they are collecting and using personal data in a transparent and responsible manner, while respecting users’ privacy rights and obtaining proper consent?
4. How do cultural and legal differences across countries impact privacy in a networked world, particularly in the context of cross-border data transfers and data protection laws?
5. What are the potential consequences of data breaches and cyber threats on individuals and organizations, and what measures can be taken to enhance cybersecurity and protect privacy in a networked world?
6. What will privacy look like in future? Will technology allow us more or less privacy?

Cyberbullying & Online Harassment

Cyberbully is where a person is targeted using digital technology with the intent to hurt or harass or intimidate them.

It can involve things like sending mean or threatening messages, spreading rumors, sharing embarrassing or private information, or posting hurtful comments or images online.

There are a number of issues to consider when discussion cyberbullying:

• How does it differ from normal bullying? How is it worse?
• Who is responsible for reducing cyberbullying?
• How can technology help, how is technology responsible?
• What legal protections are available?
• Who is particularly vulnerable to cyberbullying
• What are the consequences?

Examples

Chris Packham

More Examples

Digital Divide

The digital divide refers to the gap between people who have access to technology like computers and the internet, and those who don’t. This can create a problem because technology is becoming more and more important in many areas of life, including education and work.

For example, if you don’t have access to a computer at home, you might find it harder to complete your homework or research topics online. You might also miss out on online learning resources that your school provides.

The digital divide can also affect your future job opportunities. Many jobs now require some level of digital skills, and if you haven’t had the chance to develop those skills because you didn’t have access to technology, you might be at a disadvantage when it comes to finding a job.

The digital divide can particularly affect:

• Poorer people
• Old People
• Those in developing nations
• Women
• Those with disabilities
• Ethnic minorities
• Undocumented migrants

Women’s access to the internet

Artificial Intelligence & Automation

Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation have brought many benefits to society, such as increased efficiency and improved decision-making capabilities. However, they also raise a number of ethical issues that need to be addressed, including:

• Bias: AI systems can perpetuate and amplify biases that already exist in society, such as racial, gender, or socioeconomic biases. This can lead to discrimination and unfair treatment of certain groups.
• Privacy: AI systems often collect large amounts of data, including personal information, which can be used to track and monitor individuals. This raises concerns about privacy and data protection.
• Accountability: When decisions are made by AI systems, it can be difficult to determine who is responsible if something goes wrong. This raises questions about accountability and liability.
• Job displacement: Automation can lead to job displacement, which can have negative economic and social consequences for individuals and communities.
• Transparency: AI systems can be opaque and difficult to understand, which can make it difficult to determine how decisions are being made. This raises questions about transparency and the right to know how decisions that affect us are being made.
• Autonomous weapons: There is concern about the development and use of autonomous weapons that could make decisions to harm or kill people without human oversight.
• Unintended consequences: The use of AI and automation can have unintended consequences that are difficult to predict, which can have negative impacts on society.

Net Neutrality

Net neutrality is the idea that all internet traffic should be treated equally. This means that internet service providers (ISPs) should not be allowed to discriminate against certain websites or online services by blocking or slowing down access to them.

For example, imagine that you want to watch a video on YouTube. With net neutrality, your internet provider can’t slow down your connection to YouTube or make it harder for you to access the video. They also can’t charge you extra to access YouTube or give preferential treatment to a different video platform that they own or have a deal with.

Net neutrality is important because it protects our freedom to access information and express ourselves online. Without net neutrality, ISPs could have too much control over what we can access on the internet and how we access it. This could limit our ability to express ourselves online, harm competition and innovation, and create a digital divide where some people have better access to information than others.

The ethical considerations include:

• Freedom of expression: Net neutrality is important for protecting freedom of expression online. Without net neutrality, ISPs could block or slow down access to certain websites or services, which could limit people’s ability to express themselves online.
• Competition: Net neutrality is important for promoting competition and innovation online. Without net neutrality, ISPs could favor certain websites or services over others, which could harm competition and limit innovation.
• Discrimination: Net neutrality is important for preventing discrimination online. Without net neutrality, ISPs could prioritize certain websites or services over others, which could harm smaller websites and services that can’t afford to pay for priority access.
• Privacy: Net neutrality is important for protecting privacy online. Without net neutrality, ISPs could monitor people’s internet activity and use that information to target them with personalized ads or other marketing messages.
• Digital divide: Net neutrality is important for bridging the digital divide. Without net neutrality, ISPs could prioritize access to certain websites or services, which could make it harder for people with limited internet access to get the information they need.

Fake News

Fake news is a term used to describe false or misleading information that is presented as if it were true. Fake news can lead to  a number of ethical issues, including:

• Misinformation: Fake news can spread misinformation and distort our understanding of important issues. This can have negative consequences for individuals, communities, and even society as a whole.
• Manipulation: Fake news can be used to manipulate people’s opinions and behaviors. This can be done for political, commercial, or other purposes, and it can harm democracy and individual autonomy.
• Trust: Fake news undermines our trust in information sources and can make it difficult to distinguish between what is true and what is false. This can harm our ability to make informed decisions and participate in public discourse.
• Responsibility: Those who create and spread fake news have a responsibility to ensure that the information they share is accurate and truthful. When they fail to do so, they can harm individuals and society as a whole.
• Free speech: Fake news raises questions about the limits of free speech. While free speech is an important right, it can also be used to spread harmful and false information. Balancing the right to free speech with the responsibility to avoid harm is an important ethical challenge.

Big Data

Resources

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