Describe four ethical issues that arise when storing electronic information about individuals.

The internet has become so embedded into our everyday lives to the point where storing personal information online has progressively become easier through storages such as iCloud, google drive, and dropbox. However, the easier it becomes to store information online the easier it is for cybercriminals to seize such information and exploit it for their own gain. As more and more people begin entrusting their personal information into these online storage providers, there is a concern for how their information may be possibly stolen. The four ethical issues that arise when storing information online are as follows: privacy and confidentiality, security, systemic integrity, and data inaccuracy. When individuals put their trust in these providers, they are assuming that their information cannot and will not be viewed by anyone else but themselves. Their private information will continue to remain private. In regards to security, businesses that store information are expected to have progressive security measures in place in the event of a security breach. Additionally, when a security breach does occur, the consumer must trust the provider to inform them if the event ever happens. Businesses that are not adequately prepared to protect their consumers’ information will then have a negative reputation. Systemic integrity allows consumers to trust their providers with storing their information. If this provider misuses their information and sells it to other third-party companies, there is a loss of trust and confidence between the consumer and the provider. Lastly, data inaccuracy serves as another ethical issue because if data is lost, then the rest of the consumer’s data will be compromised or inaccurate. Online storage providers must have ethical oversights to ensure that they are safely storing their customers’ personal data. Their customers’ data must always remain confidential, protected, and private. These ethical issues can only be resolved through the further development of online storage systems.