Generally speaking, in most nations of the globe, advancements in technology have changed many life aspects markedly such as traveling , education, commerce, privacy, security, communication, confidentiality, and many others ( Quarshie, 2012). Presently, the rising sophistication of technology with its ability to gather, examine, and disseminate information on people poses a tremendous ethical challenge to the society. Ordinarily, information collection concerning various users has gradually become a lucrative business. Even though new sophisticated technologies can have significant advantages, research has it the rapid, and wide technology adoption by society as well as business organizations has increased existing ethical challenges and consequently resulted in the arising of new ethical problems (Quarshie, 2012).
According to Stahl, Timmermans & Flick (2016), privacy is one of the most discussed ethical challenges, and it is a crucial concern for many individuals. Many new technologies often exacerbate issues of privacy or even establish new ones. This could ensue because of the rising amount of information that most technology systems such as robotics and ambient intelligence could develop and collect (Quarshie, 2012). What’s more, emerging new types of technologies have a possibility of providing new ways of storing, interpreting, as well as processing this data flood. Lastly, persons can expect new data types to arise that may heighten similar novel issues of privacy. Affective computing, for instance, specialises in harvesting information on emotional states, which may have aftereffects that are presently not been fully comprehended .
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Second, technology can also affect personal autonomy. Many technologies are said to contribute to heightening human self-control (Stahl, Timmermans & Flick, 2016). Technologies certainly make individuals more aware of their environment and, at the same time, themselves. Further, technology provides people with more control over their environment . For example, ambient intelligence makes the environment of an individual more responsive to the intentions and needs of a person consequently enabling personalized information and interaction. In addition , technologies may improve our abilities such as our motor and cognitive skills , escalating our control over our lives . At the same time, however, the same technologies that strengthen our autonomy have a possibility of also minimizing it. Undoubtedly, emerging new forms of technology enable the close monitoring and controlling of individual’s attitudes, behaviors, thoughts, emotions, actions, moods, and many more (Stahl, Timmermans & Flick, 2016 ) . Individuals may ordinarily delegate various decisions and tasks to smart applications f such kind of technologies. These establishments demonstrate a control shift from people towards technology. In other words, there is an increasing dependence on technologies to carry out particular tasks. The possibilities provided by technologies together with governmental paternalism, market and social pressure may convince persons to use these technologies.
Third, technology poses a great ethical challenge when it comes to human treatment. Because technology allows refined and life-like interaction with, gathering and utilization of particular and detailed personal information, technology allows the establishment of coercive and persuasive systems that can manipulate people into carrying out specific involuntary and unwanted behavior (Stahl, Timmermans & Flick, 2016). Moreover, some technologies can lead to user addiction or offer various ways to escape from activities of real life. Another query related to this problem is whether people are granted the opportunity to provide their informed consent when taking part in human-machine system interaction especially people who are vulnerable such as the elderly and children. Another challenge is whether different regulations apply for human treatment in technology-enabled interactions , for example, do virtual environment event have similar ethical status as their counterparts in real-life?
Fourth, the society’s nature is impacted by the use of technology especially when it comes to using digital devices. In this regard, one major concern deals with the issue of fairness and equity. These considerations are considered in terms of those who technology access and those who do not. This division may lead to or raise inequality between or within societies, for instance, wealthy and developing nations ( Stahl, Timmermans & Flick, 2016). This may, therefore, result in group stratification according to their technology access and, at the same time, undermine communication. While some people and groups may have the ability to better communicate with one another, the availability of various technology types as well as varying abilities to employ them may generate communication barriers in some cases. Also, stigmatization of those who lack access to technology may arise because they fall behind and cannot live up to technological innovation standards.
Fifth, like Stahl, Timmermans & Flick (2016) cite, there is the issue of collective human identity as well as the good life. Simply put, there are broad concerns regarding the technological impact on human culture as well as the related notions, particularly regarding what leading a good life should involve (Stahl, Timmermans & Flick, 2016). Technology certainly affects our life and changes human interaction conditions, therefore, resulting in uncertainty as to what preferences should be satisfied by technology and, at the same time, to what extent new technology types modify these preferences. Generally, technology may change the role of humans since technology allows artefacts to replace humans. It has been argued that the tasks carried out by human will ultimately be taken over by machines and systems will possess the ability to utilize humans as processors of sub-personal information lacking human characteristics such as conscious and intentional thinking in carrying out their tasks. These related problems generate queries concerning what entails to be human, and how people see themselves within a technological society.
To sum up, despite the many advantages of technology, people and the society, in general, finds themselves in conflict as a result of the ethical dilemmas and issues brought about by technology.
References
Quarshie, H. (2012). Ethical Challenges in a Computerized Society. Journal Of Emerging Trends In Computing And Information Sciences , 3 (11), 1495. Retrieved from http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.648.2181&rep=rep1&type=pdf
Stahl, B., Timmermans, J., & Flick, C. (2016). Ethics of Emerging Information and Communication Technologies. Science And Public Policy , scw069. doi: 10.1093/scipol/scw069
