Introduction
Law enforcement agencies should not be given unhindered access to citizens’ personal information. The right to privacy and confidentiality of correspondence is a constitutional right, and violation of this jeopardizes the law. In addition, law enforcement agencies get access to the personal information of citizens in manual mode. This means that the materials are viewed by specialists working in the authorities. Thus, there is a risk of human error, personal data of individuals can be inadvertently leaked to the public or deliberately sold for personal gain (Huda, 2019). Even though people working in the authorities are checked, this does not guarantee complete safety. Thus, access to confidential information should be provided to law enforcement agencies only in case of documented confirmation of the need to do so. Otherwise, there is a risk of unnecessary surveillance of people, which is a violation of the law.
Worst-Case Scenario in Regard to Unrestricted Access
Unrestricted access to personal information might lead to negative consequences. The worst scenario in which digital communication becomes unrestricted in access is citizens’ insufficient attention to the security of their data. With the advent of new technologies, many people had communication tools that they began to use under the same principles as ordinary phones and other gadgets. However, in the modern world, much attention is paid to digital security, as personal data can be in intruders’ hands. The worst scenario would be third-party access to people’s private correspondence. This will lead to a significant increase in online fraud crimes.
Even though many companies providing communications services develop their systems of protection, ordinary users should also pay attention to how they use the means of communication. Mass hacking, loss of money, gaining access to private information from intruders are among the worst scenarios. In addition, such events already occur in the modern world and are only gradually gaining momentum.
Storing Digital Data as Physical Letters
To avoid negative outcomes of digital presence, personal information of each user of Internet resources should be similar to the protection of physical information. In the modern world, more and more services are found in the online segment. People purchase goods and services over the Internet, use online banks, email, and many other things that have appeared in everyday life relatively recently. To more easily understand the security level that must be achieved, it is necessary to project cases from digital to real. An individual will not provide private information from their records to law enforcement officials without an appropriate order or warrant.
Therefore, the authorities should not have unrestricted access to an individual’s email because the government does not have any rights to do so. Access to any personal data can be obtained by law enforcement officers only if the necessary orders are available. Otherwise, this may cause discontent among citizens and loss of confidence in the entire system of government.
Most Relevant Ethical Principles
To improve the quality of the Internet’s usage, it is essential to create some rules around it. Contemporary debate and research undoubtedly show a keen interest in recognition of two basic ethical principles. The first is respect for a person’s dignity and their initial autonomy, the ability to manage themselves, based on their principles, that is, the ability for personal development. The second is the moral, even legal, obligation of solidarity and social justice.
Finally, one cannot fail to mention the addiction caused by some games and the constant monitoring, which is carried out, particularly with the help of video surveillance systems, which suppresses everyone and everyone and does not allow people to express their opinions freely. The development of human autonomy, which implies an understanding of the Internet’s principles, knowledge of the actors associated with it, and their operational goals, is a prerequisite for any consent that a person expresses on the Internet to be truly informed and free.
The Internet needs to promote the development of autonomy, not only at the individual level but also at the level of the nation as a whole. The fact that the Internet allows each community to express itself, enrich, and expand its own culture implies recognizing each language’s right to space for existence and each nation the right to possess the means of its forms of expression. Solidarity and social justice are two more closely related principles that have been talked about by many.
Arguments to Closing Digital Gap
Solidarity implies an interest in involving those around in all actions – individual, collective, entrepreneurial. Karol Yakubovich reminds of the importance of a polite and respectful attitude towards others, even to those unknown or invisible in the process of communication (Huda, 2019). Highlighting ethical issues that arise in integrating information technology into society, it is necessary to focus on the consequences that primarily affect life, health, safety, happiness, freedom, knowledge, opportunities, or other significant values (Mittelstadt, 2019). It is necessary to competently and comprehensively weigh the applied ideas and principles of introducing information technologies, the significance and results of which may have an ambiguous impact on the development of human society.
Promoting international infrastructure development is an essential element in supporting the economic growth of developing countries. In the absence or limited functioning of energy and transport systems, the impossibility of active use of the Internet in underdeveloped countries, it isn’t easy to talk about the effectiveness of attracting foreign direct investment to promote industrialization, the development of agriculture, and tourism. There is currently no single, comprehensive list of sectors that the term “infrastructure” covers. Summarizing the approaches of international organizations to this problem, it should be noted that the common point for all is the inclusion in this group of the energy and transport sectors, information and telecommunication technologies.
Conclusion
Personal data protection is critical in the modern world. To one degree or another, every person who operates on the Internet should know that it is necessary to take steps to secure their online presence. In addition, it is required to popularize the basic principles of ethics in the information field to make it easier and more pleasant for all participants in the exchange of information to work and communicate. The above measures’ importance is evident since every year, more and more people are beginning to use digital sources to exchange data.
Reference List
Huda, M. (2019) ‘Empowering application strategy in the technology adoption: insights from professional and ethical engagement.’ Journal of Science and Mittelstadt, B. ‘Principles alone cannot guarantee ethical AI’. Nature Machine Intelligence, 1(11), pp. 501-507.