Data has become an integral part of modern life, and its usage is growing exponentially. From businesses to governments, organisations are collecting, storing, and analysing vast amounts of data in order to gain insights, make decisions and develop new products/services. However, with great power comes great responsibility. The more data organisations process, the bigger the spotlight on them, not only to ensure regulatory compliance but also to focus on the significant ethical concerns resulting from data collection and its use. Furthermore, the growing use of technology, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics stems concerns about the extensive use of data and potential for misuse.
Doing the right thing, regardless of legislations, takes you into the field of ethics. Organisations usually focus on various regulatory obligations that they must comply with, but organisations also have a responsibility to their stakeholders, including their employees, customers, their vendors, and investors. This goes beyond regulatory compliance.
Accountability can be intricate to define and demonstrate, often leading organisations to set out some principles they should adhere to such as privacy, fairness, nondiscrimination, transparency, and more, while processing data. Embedding Digital Ethics into an organisation involves promoting the moral values of the organisation through alignment of data processing practices and processes with those values. Digital Ethics refers to a set of principles and moral values that guide the responsible and ethical use of data.
The following eight guiding principles define an approach to AI and digital ethics.