WOLKITE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF COMPUTING
AND INFORMATICS
DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION
SYSTEMS
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
Explain Ethics in
Explain Ethics in Information
Information Systems
Systems context.
context.

 Ethics in Information Systems refers to the set of moral

principles and values that govern the behavior of
individuals and organizations in the use, development, and
dissemination of information technology.

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 Cont…

• Information systems: are a critical component of

modern society, with vast amounts of personal and
sensitive information being generated, collected, and
processed every day.
• This creates a need for ethical considerations to be taken
into account when developing, deploying, and using
these systems.
• Some of the ethical issues in information systems
include privacy, security, intellectual property rights,
accessibility, and social responsibility.
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 Cont…
• For example, ethical issues related to privacy might arise
when companies collect and use personal data without
the consent of the individual or use it for purposes
beyond what the individual agreed to.

• Security issues might arise when systems are vulnerable

to hacking, resulting in the loss of sensitive information
or personal data.

• Ethical considerations also play a role in decisions about

how to use technology. For example, in some cases,
automated decision-making systems might be biased
against certain groups, leading to unfair outcomes.

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 Cont…

• In these cases, ethical considerations require that such

biases are addressed to ensure fair and just outcomes.

• Overall, Ethics in Information Systems is essential for

ensuring that technology is developed and used in a
responsible and ethical manner, and that it serves the
best interests of society as a whole.

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 What are information
system privacy issues?

 Information system privacy issues refer to concerns

related to the collection, storage, use, and dissemination
of personal information through computer-based systems.
These issues can arise in various contexts, including
healthcare, financial services, social media, e-commerce,
and government services.

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 Cont…
 Some common privacy issues in information
systems include:
• Unauthorized access: This occurs when someone gains access
to personal information without proper authorization, either
through hacking or through negligence on the part of system
administrators.
• Data breaches: A data breach is a security incident where
sensitive or confidential information is stolen, viewed, or used by
unauthorized individuals. Data breaches can result in identity
theft, financial fraud, and other harmful consequences.
• Data misuse: This occurs when personal information is used in
ways that the individual did not authorize or expect. For
example, a company may use personal data for marketing
purposes without obtaining proper consent.

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 Cont…
• Lack of transparency: When individuals are not
informed about how their data is being collected, used,
and shared, it can lead to mistrust and concerns about
privacy.
• Inadequate security measures: Inadequate security
measures can lead to vulnerabilities in information
systems that can be exploited by cybercriminals or
other malicious actors.
• Data retention: Personal information is often retained
longer than necessary, which can increase the risk of
unauthorized access and misuse.

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 Cont…
• Discrimination: Information systems can perpetuate
discrimination by collecting and using personal
information in ways that disproportionately affect certain
groups or individuals.
 Addressing these privacy issues requires a combination
of technological solutions, legal frameworks, and ethical
practices. It is important for organizations to prioritize
privacy as a fundamental right and to take steps to
protect personal information from unauthorized access
and misuse.

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 Discuss Accessibility, Confidentiality and
privacy in information Society context.

 Accessibility, confidentiality, and privacy are important

concepts in the information society context. Here's a brief
discussion of each:
 Accessibility: Accessibility refers to the ability of
individuals to access information and communication
technologies (ICTs) without any barriers.
 In an information society, ICTs play a significant role in
education, employment, and social interaction, and it is
essential that these technologies are accessible to everyone.
Barriers to accessibility can include physical, cognitive, or
sensory.
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 Cont…
 as well as financial or geographical limitations. To promote
accessibility, ICTs should be designed with universal design
principles in mind, which means that they should be usable by
the widest possible range of users, without the need for
adaptation or specialized design.
 Confidentiality: Confidentiality refers to the protection of
sensitive information from unauthorized access or disclosure.
In an information society, individuals and organizations rely
on ICTs to store and transmit sensitive data, such as personal
information, financial data, or business secrets.
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 Cont….
 Confidentiality can be achieved through the use of
encryption, access controls, and secure communication
protocols. It is also important to establish policies and
regulations that govern the collection, use, and disclosure of
sensitive information.
 Privacy: Privacy refers to the ability of individuals to
control the collection, use, and disclosure of their personal
information. In an information society, the collection and
processing of personal data are ubiquitous, and individuals
are increasingly concerned about the potential misuse of
their data.
Privacy protection is crucial to ensure that individuals have
autonomy over their personal information and can exercise
their rights to freedom of expression and association without
fear of surveillance or discrimination.

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 Cont…

 In conclusion, accessibility, confidentiality, and

privacy are essential concepts in the information
society context, and they should be integrated into the
design, implementation, and regulation of ICTs to
promote a more inclusive, secure, and trustworthy
digital environment.
 Explain and discuss Intellectual
Property.
o Intellectual property (IP) refers to intangible creations of the
human intellect, such as inventions, literary and artistic works,
symbols, designs, and trade secrets. These creations can be
protected by legal means to prevent unauthorized use,
copying, or distribution.
IP law exists to provide exclusive rights to the creators or owners
of these intangible assets, allowing them to control and profit
from their creations. There are several types of intellectual
property, including patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade
secrets.
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 Cont…

• Patents are exclusive rights granted to inventors for their

inventions, which can include products, processes, and designs.
A patent gives the inventor the right to prevent others from
making, using, or selling their invention for a limited period of
time.
• Copyrights, on the other hand, protect original literary, artistic,
or creative works such as books, music, paintings, or movies.
The copyright owner has the exclusive right to reproduce,
distribute, and display their work, and can prevent others from
using it without permission.
• Trademarks are distinctive symbols, names, logos, or phrases
used to identify a particular product or service. The owner of a
trademark has the right to prevent others from using a similar
mark that may cause confusion in the marketplace.
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 Cont…
• Trade secrets are confidential business information that
provides a competitive advantage to a company,
• such as formulas, processes, or customer lists. Companies
can protect their trade secrets through contracts, such as
nondisclosure agreements, and by limiting access to the
information.
• In today's digital age, intellectual property has become
even more important. With the ease of copying and
distributing information online, protecting intellectual
property has become more challenging. Many countries
have laws and regulations in place to protect intellectual
property, but enforcement can be difficult in some cases.

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 Cont…
• Overall, intellectual property plays a crucial role in
fostering innovation and creativity, as it incentivizes
creators to invest time and resources into developing
new ideas and products. Protecting intellectual property
rights is essential for the continued growth and
development of industries and economies worldwide

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 Explain and Discuss intellectual
property protection and
Information Society

Intellectual property (IP) refers to intangible creations of the

mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works, designs,
symbols, and names used in commerce. IP protection is the legal
framework that enables creators and innovators to safeguard their
creations, preventing others from using or exploiting them
without permission.

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 Cont…
o There are several types of intellectual property protection
available, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade
secrets. Patents protect inventions and provide the owner with
exclusive rights to prevent others from making, using, or
selling the invention. Trademarks protect the names, logos, and
symbols used to identify a product or service and prevent
others from using similar marks that could cause confusion.

o Copyrights protect original works of authorship, such as

books, music, and artwork, and prevent others from copying,
distributing, or displaying the work without permission. Trade
secrets protect confidential business information, such as
formulas, processes, and customer lists, and prevent others
from using or disclosing the information.

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 Cont…

• In conclusion, intellectual property protection plays a

crucial role in the Information Society by enabling
creators and innovators to safeguard their creations and
prevent others from using or exploiting them without
permission.

• While IP protection is essential for promoting

innovation and creativity, it can also be a source of
controversy and requires a delicate balance between
protecting IP rights and promoting competition and
innovation.
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 GROUP 2 ASSIGNMENT
NO NAME F.NAME ID.NO

1 YOHANES MEKONEN NSR/2557/14

2 BIYA KUMILACHEW NSR/0592/14

3 DAWIT MAMO NSR/0702/14

4 AYANA OLJIRA NSR/0362/14

5 NAOL ASEFA NSR/1878/14

6 ABDULREZAK SHUKRA NSR/0052/14

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