In our society where we rely on the technological advances that mankind has achieved in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, storing information electronically has become the common practice. However, when storing people’s personal information, ethical issues arise in how we go about doing so. With cyber criminals seeking to exploit and steal this sensitive information, it is important that those responsible for safeguarding our information be aware of thee threats that are posed, and how to prevent attacks. One of the ethical issues that arise when storing an individual’s electronic information is that person’s right to privacy and confidentiality. With information such as financial, health, and personal habits being stored, there is a devastating risk of this data being leaked or used without a person’s consent. This can damage a person’s personal life and destroy the trust between corporations and the individual.
Security is another issue that arises when storing someone’s personal electronic information. Security breaches can happen to any organization and by various means. Through hacking, malware or human factors/errors, sensitive information can end up in the wrong hands, resulting in identity theft, financial loss and other devastating consequences. It is important how organizations handle this data and try to mitigate the risks associated with data breaches. A third issue that arises is data accuracy. If information is stored inaccurately or if the integrity of the data is compromised, it can lead to negative consequences for users pertaining to things like employment, healthcare, and finance. If someone were to intentionally compromise the integrity of stored data, it can result in broken trust between the organization and individual.
Lastly, another issue that arises is the one of access. Individuals should reserve the right to access their own information and make changes as desired, but the issue arises with how much control should organizations have over people’s information. Lots of organizations sell or share information to third parties which can raise issues, especially when that information is misused for unethical purposes.