Ethical Problems within Information Technology

Ethical Problems within Information Technology: The Use of AI Technology, Misuse of Personal Information and Responsibility of Disruptive Technology
University
Abstract
The paper focuses on ethical and global problems within three facets of the information technology, including the use of AI technology, misuse of personal information, and disruptive technologies. The approach used was to research academic materials analyzing the ethical and global issues associated with the above three areas. The research done was used to make the decision in the concluding paragraph about whether the ethical and global concerns are worthwhile.
Ethical Problems within Information Technology: The Use of AI Technology, Misuse of Personal Information and Responsibility of Disruptive Technology
1. INTRODUCTION
The rapid advancement of technology has facilitated positive and adverse impacts on users. Many people can now afford electronic devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and computers, which they use in their daily lives, including managing businesses, communicating with families and colleagues, and entertainment. That has led to massive information sharing, which in most cases, users have no control over it once they share it on social media. Several ethical and global implications involved within information technology arise from the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, misuse of personal information, and responsibility for disruptive technology.
2. BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE
Information technology has significantly contributed to effective communication by minimizing the barriers of geographical location. Individuals can obtain knowledge and share information. The only thing that users cannot do is control the data once it is posted online.
2.1 The Use of AI Technology, Misuse of Personal Information, and Responsibility of Disruptive Technology
Information technology promotes the accessibility of data in distinctive fields, saves time, and improves efficiency [1]. Individuals can use AI technology for facial recognition, biometrics, and health tracking. The personal information shared on different social media platforms can be detrimental to owners if it gets into the wrong hands. Disruptive technologies, such as human cloning, might lead to the violation of human rights, despite their importance in medical research.
3. ETHICAL AND GLOBAL PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THE USE OF AI TECHNOLOGY
3.1 Advantages and Disadvantages of the Use of AI Technology
The use of AI technology has numerous advantages and disadvantages. The merits include reducing human errors, improving online security, promoting proper decision-making, fostering new inventions, and the availability when needed. On the contrary, AI technology has various disadvantages, including making people lazy, increasing the rate of unemployment, massive gathering of sensitive data, and might leading to destruction if controlled by hackers. AI technology has led to the emergence of big data, where organizations are now competing by collecting more data so that they can use it to make better strategic decisions [2]. When gathering this massive information from users and other stakeholders, some of these companies do not have proper security measures to ensure that unauthorized personnel cannot access it. That leaves room for hackers using intelligent systems to breach the information, leading to ethical and global concerns.
3.2 Ethical and Global Concerns of AI Technology
AI is gradually replacing humans since this technology is becoming more reliable when it involves making accurate, valid, and credible decisions [3]. Based on the teleological ethical theory, the use of AI technology has more positive impacts than adverse ones. Besides, the theory aligns with utilitarianism, which asserts that an action is considered better if it leads to the happiness of many people or if its positive outcomes outweigh its negative consequences. Currently, the majority of individuals using electronic devices have used AI technology. For example, smartphones have facial recognition that is used as a security measure. Some people use AI technology in their smart homes to control everything. However, software and devices using AI gather more information, which can be used against owners in the case of hacking. For instance, if a hacker intrudes on the system of a smart home, the cybercriminal can tamper with electronic devices, such as a television and a fridge. The unauthorized person can increase the temperature in the house and lock all the doors, preventing the owner from controlling the house.
4. ETHICAL AND GLOBAL ISSUES ARISING FROM THE MISUSE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION
4.1 Misuse of Personal Information
Smartphones, tablets, computers, and other electronic gadgets have become ubiquitous. Many people own these devices since they want to access and share information with friends, families, and colleagues. The benefits of electronic gadgets include facilitating faster communication, access to more information, eliminating geographical barriers, and promoting learning and information sharing. In contrast, the primary demerit entails the lack of control of personal information once it is made available on the Internet [4]. Numerous social media platforms require individuals to provide personal details, such as actual names, date of birth, physical address, contact, and credit card numbers, particularly when subscription or payments of goods and services is involved. However, many users do not read the terms and agreeme...