Social & Ethical Issues

Some of the Major Issues are :
○ Privacy and Security : communication technology allows data to be shared quickly between a large number of different information systems. At each of these systems any number of users may have access to the data. This makes it very easy for private and confidential data to be misused and abused. The vital importannce of digital data to individuals, businesses and governemtns also means that data must be protected against accidental or delibirate damage.

○ Access and Control : without comunication systems, such as the internet and telephone netwroks, there would be little or no flow of information to users. Whoever controls those systems also controls the information. They will decide who has accessto the information we need and how much we will pay. this could divide our society into those who are ' information rich' and those who are 'information poor.' Social scientists are already discussing the issue of the 'digital divide' - the growing gap between those who have access to computer technology and those who do not

○ Employment and The Changing Nature of Work : in the age of information technology, those who lack information skills will be left behind. Workers who cannot learn new skills and use the new technology risk becoming unemployable. All the jobs that existed when your grandparents started work have dissapeared or have changed enormously. This trend will accelerate as more industries are forced to downsize their workforce and automate their manufacturing operations in an effort to compete in the global market. Workers, even those in high technology jobs, will have to constantly retrain to keep thier skills and their jobs.