Ethical & Legal Issues in ICT PDF

Ethical and Legal Issues in ICT Gaborone Campus Plot No:50661, Fairgrounds International, P/Bag 137, Gaborone, Botswana Tel: (+267)3953 062 Fax: (+267)3919 118 Francistown Plot No:31403, Mo at Street, P/Bag 137, Francistown, Botswana Tel: (+267)2410 558 Fax:(+267)2410 534 Introduction to IC...

Ethical and Legal Issues in ICT Gaborone Campus Plot No:50661, Fairgrounds International, P/Bag 137, Gaborone, Botswana Tel: (+267)3953 062 Fax: (+267)3919 118 Francistown Plot No:31403, Mo at Street, P/Bag 137, Francistown, Botswana Tel: (+267)2410 558 Fax:(+267)2410 534 Introduction to ICT Ethics and Law What is ICT? ❑ ICT refers to the use of technology for communication and information management, encompassing a wide range of tools and applications. Why Ethics and Legal Considerations Matter ❑ Ethical and legal considerations ensure the responsible use of technology, protecting users, and upholding societal standards. They also help prevent harmful consequences such as data breaches, privacy violations, and cybercrime.  Data Privacy & Protection What is Data Privacy? ❑ Data privacy involves safeguarding personal or sensitive information from unauthorized access or misuse. Ethical Considerations: ❑ Organizations must respect user privacy and be transparent about how personal data is collected, stored, and used. Legal Considerations: ❑ Laws like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) establish strict guidelines on how data should be handled, ensuring that individuals' privacy rights are protected. Intellectual Property (IP) in ICT What is Intellectual Property? ❑ Intellectual Property refers to the legal rights that creators have over their inventions, designs, software, and digital content. Ethical Issues: ❑ Using someone else’s intellectual property without permission or proper attribution is unethical. Legal Considerations: ❑ Copyright laws protect intellectual property, and violating these laws can result in penalties. Digital content creators must understand these laws to avoid infringement. Cybercrime & Cybersecurity Laws Cybercrime: ❑ Cybercrime involves illegal activities carried out using computers or the internet, such as hacking, identity theft, and spreading malware. Ethical Implications: ❑ Organizations and individuals have a responsibility to safeguard their systems and data against cyber threats. Legal Frameworks: ❑ Various national and international laws outline criminal offenses related to cybercrime, imposing strict penalties on those who engage in illegal digital activities. Digital Divide & Ethical Access to Tech What is the Digital Divide? ❑ The digital divide refers to the gap between individuals or communities that have access to modern ICT and those who do not. Ethical Considerations: ❑ Ethical questions arise about the equitable distribution of technology, particularly in underserved communities, and ensuring fair access to digital resources. Social Impact: ❑ Lack of access to ICT can widen educational, economic, and social inequalities, limiting opportunities for many individuals. Cyberbullying & Online Harassment What is Cyberbullying? ❑ Cyberbullying involves using digital platforms to harass, threaten, or intimidate others. Ethical Issues: ❑ ICT users have a responsibility to foster respectful and safe environments online, promoting kindness and discouraging abusive behaviour. Legal Issues: ❑ Many countries have laws against cyberbullying and harassment, which may result in legal penalties such as fines or imprisonment for offenders. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Ethics AI in ICT: ❑ Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the development of systems that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as decision-making, speech recognition, and problem-solving. Ethical Concerns: ❑ Ethical challenges include bias in AI algorithms, invasion of privacy, and the potential displacement of jobs. There is ongoing debate about how AI should be regulated to minimize harm and maximize benefits. Legal Considerations: ❑ Governments and organizations are beginning to develop laws to regulate AI use, ensuring it adheres to ethical principles and doesn’t harm individuals or society. Social Media & Misinformation The Role of Social Media: ❑ Social media platforms are powerful tools for communication and content sharing but also create opportunities for the spread of misinformation. Ethical Issues: ❑ Users and platforms have a responsibility to verify the accuracy of the information they share and combat the spread of fake news. Legal Considerations: ❑ Some countries are implementing laws to address misinformation, holding individuals and platforms accountable for the spread of false or harmful content. Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing & Data Protection Introduction to Cybersecurity What is Cybersecurity? ❑ Cybersecurity refers to the practices, technologies, and processes designed to protect networks, devices, and data from cyberattacks or unauthorized access. Why Cybersecurity Matters ❑ It ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data, especially in the face of increasing cyber threats like malware, phishing, and ransomware. Cloud Computing Overview What is Cloud Computing? ❑ Cloud computing is the delivery of computing services—including storage, processing, and networking—over the internet (“the cloud”) instead of relying on local servers or personal devices. Types of Cloud Services: ❑ IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) ❑ PaaS (Platform as a Service) ❑ SaaS (Software as a Service) Benefits of Cloud Computing: ❑ Cost efficiency, scalability, and remote access to data and applications. Cloud Computing Security Cloud Security Concerns: ❑ Securing data in transit and at rest, managing user access, and preventing breaches in cloud environments. Key Security Measures: ❑ Encryption, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and data backup strategies. Data Protection Principles What is Data Protection? ❑ The practice of safeguarding personal and sensitive information from being misused or accessed by unauthorized parties. Key Principles of Data Protection: ❑ Confidentiality: Only authorized personnel should access sensitive data. ❑ Integrity: Ensuring data is accurate and unaltered. ❑ Availability: Data must be accessible to authorized users when needed. Cloud Computing & Data Protection Data Privacy in Cloud Computing: ❑ Organizations must ensure that personal and sensitive data stored in the cloud complies with data protection laws. Legal Compliance: ❑ Cloud service providers and users must comply with regulations such as GDPR or local data privacy laws. Data Residency: ❑ The physical location of the data storage matters, as different countries have different legal standards for data protection. Common Cybersecurity Threats Types of Cyber Threats: ❑ Phishing Attacks: Attempts to deceive individuals into revealing sensitive information. ❑ Malware: Malicious software that damages or gains unauthorized access to systems. ❑ Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS): Overloading servers to disrupt services. How to Mitigate These Threats: ❑ Regular security audits, user awareness training, and up-to-date antivirus software. Strategies for Securing Data in the Cloud Best Practices for Cloud Security: ❑ Regularly update and patch cloud services. ❑ Employ data encryption for all stored and transmitted data. ❑ Ensure strong identity and access management controls. Cloud Backup Solutions: ❑ Use secure cloud backup services to ensure business continuity in case of data loss. Thank You For Your Attention!