Describe four ethical issues that arise when storing electronic information about individuals.
Four ethical issues that arise when storing electronic information about individuals are Privacy, Security, consent, and data retention. Individuals have the right to privacy, and unauthorized access to their personal data can be a violation of this right. Privacy can be an ethical issue when electronically storing data about an individual because electronic data may contain sensitive personal information, such as medical records, financial information, and biometric data. If this information is not secured correctly, it can be vulnerable to hacking, identity theft, or misuse. Security can be an ethical issue when electronically storing data about an individual because electronic data can be susceptible to unauthorized access, theft, or tampering. If electronic data is not adequately secured, it can be stolen, modified, or deleted, leading to significant harm to individuals. Unauthorized access to electronic data can lead to identity theft, fraud, and other forms of cybercrime. Consent can be an ethical issue when electronically storing data about an individual because the collection, use, and sharing of personal data may not be fully understood by the individual or may not be done with their explicit consent. Suppose individuals are not adequately informed about how their data is being used and do not give their informed consent. In that case, this can be a violation of their autonomy and privacy rights. Data retention can be an ethical issue when electronically storing data about an individual because retaining data for longer than necessary can pose risks to individuals’ privacy and autonomy. Organizations that collect and store electronic data about individuals may be tempted to keep this data indefinitely, but this can be problematic. In conclusion, electronic data storage about individuals presents various ethical issues, including privacy, security, consent, and data retention. Organizations must implement appropriate measures to address these issues, such as implementing strong security measures, obtaining informed consent, and establishing clear policies for data retention.