Computer security and privacy have become major concerns in today’s society as the Internet becomes more widely available. There is a great deal of concern about people who misuse computer systems, including illegal or unauthorized access to data. However, there are also many new key technologies that raise ethical questions regarding what people are able to do on the Internet. Social networking sites such as Facebook allow people to share personal information about themselves, such as their name, age, location, photo album, and even their birthday. This information is not made public, so it can raise questions as to whether the user has authorization to disclose this information.
Another current key technology is location-based services. GPS devices and cell phones now come equipped with capabilities that allow businesses to determine locations of their clients’ vehicles. Cell phone users have also raised concerns about whether their location is publicly available, although some cities and states are attempting to curb this practice by passing ordinances that require businesses to obtain customers’ consent before collecting this information. Some legal experts argue that the laws are too vague and that they may not apply to all businesses.
Electronic Medical Records
Electronic medical records, or EMRs, are another area of current key technology trends that raises ethical questions. EMRs include detailed records about a person’s medical history, from symptoms and medicines taken to treatments administered. The Electronic Health Records Act in the United States requires that hospitals provide patients with a copy of their EHR, but it is up to the patient to ensure that he or she receives a copy of the EHR. Some companies are working to publish all EHR information on their own websites, although others have decided to take advantage of EHR software that already exists and create a web-based interface for EHR records.
Cameras and wearable technologies are also becoming common electronic devices. For example, cameras are increasingly used to monitor nurses and other medical staff during a patient’s appointment. Such technologies raise questions about the invasion of privacy, particularly as some patients feel that a nurse is intruding on their private space. In addition, some wearable technologies exist that can be monitored by a computer. Such technologies raise ethical questions, because the use of such equipment raises the concern that it may be used to spy on a target without the patient’s knowledge or consent.
Other current key technology trends raise more complex issues regarding what should be permissible in the workplace and what should be prohibited. For example, a wearable computer technology that can be worn like eyeglasses has led to the concern that workers may be engaged in illicit activities while they are supposed to be performing work-related tasks. In addition, devices that can be programmed to record videos and store them may also raise questions about whether employees have a right to privacy when it comes to the contents of those recordings.
The rise of smartphones and other mobile devices has also created new concerns about the way in which current key technology trends may affect the use of electronic devices in the workplace. For example, it has been noted that workers who are using mobile phones while they are on the clock, but are expected to be away from their desks throughout the day tend to spend much more time chatting on their phones than their colleagues who do not use mobile devices to connect to the Internet during their break times. Such practices are said to violate the Electronic Communication Privacy Act of 1996, which prohibits telecommunications companies from tracking individuals’ telephone usage. In addition, studies have shown that mobile phone users are quicker to download apps that they may not otherwise want, which also violate the law.
