Ethics Yearly 2023 Vision

9.
ETHICS
9.1. ETHICS OF INFLUENCER ENDORSEMENTS
Introduction
The Centre has released the endorsement guidelines
for celebrities and social media influencers titled as
the “Endorsements Know-hows!”. These guidelines
have been issued under the overall ambit of Consumer
Protection Act 2019.
What are Celebrity Endorsements?
Endorsements are a form of advertising that uses
famous personality or celebrities or social media
influencers who command high degree of recognition,
trust, respect or awareness among the people.
Endorsement by celebrities or influencers have a
greater capability to persuade buyers as they are
viewed as role models in a society.
What are the prevalent ethical issues in influencer
endorsements?
• Instances of misuse of Trust: Followers are bound
in a strong manner with the influencer. They trust
that influencers would not recommend something
that is harmful, or low quality. However, this is not
the case with brand marketing by such influencers.
• High influence but less responsibility: Influencers
have higher ability to persuade consumers.
However, there is no responsibility mechanism for
checking the endorsed products.
• Difficult to distinguish commercial messaging: Perspective of influencers
Promotion by influencers often do not look like • Unreasonable expectation of detailed due diligence:
commercials but rather as general advices. Celebrities are often blamed for not performing due
o Advertisements are posted without any such diligence on brands they endorse. This expectation of due
disclosure and are difficult to identify. diligence is often open-ended and unreasonable.
• Lack of understanding of nature or quality of o Also, appropriate data for such due diligence may not
product by influencers: Sometimes, influencers be in public domain.
• Brand responsibility: Influencer groups have argued that
themselves have limited idea of the quality of
Brands should be made equally responsible for framing a
product they are promoting. This was evident in Fyre
misleading advertisement in the first place.
festival fraud. • Moral boundaries, in the case of products like carbonated
• Conflict of interest and deceptive marketing: Often beverages and fairness creams, should be drawn by the
the products are advertised showing that they have individual celebrity himself/herself.
been made keeping the benefits of consumer in o For instance, P. Gopichand decided not to endorse
mind but are actually promoted based solely on carbonated soft drinks owing to their deleterious
profit motive. health effects.
• Targeting of vulnerable groups such as children or • Influencers reputation and credibility is at stake in a
teenagers, that may not be able to critically evaluate brand’s endorsement. So, they themselves are often
mindful about endorsement decisions as their name is
the products that influencers are promoting.
associated with the brand image for a long time.
124 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

Endorsement Know-hows: Guidelines for Celebrity and Social Media Influencers
• Compulsory disclosure of monitory or material benefits of a product or a brand they are promoting through their social media
platforms.
o Benefits and incentives, and monetary or other compensation, trips or hotel stay, media barters, coverage and awards,
free products with or without conditions, discounts, gifts and any family or personal or employment relationship come
under material benefits.
• Penalty: Failure of compulsory disclosure will Penalties under CPA 2019
attract a penalty up to ₹ 50 lakh. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) can impose a penalty
o If there are any violations, the penalty of up to ₹10 lakh on manufacturers, advertisers and endorsers and for
prescribed for misleading advertisements repeated offences, a penalty of up to ₹ 50 lakh can be imposed.
under the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) The CCPA can also prohibit the endorser of a misleading advertisement
2019 will be applicable. from making any endorsement for up to one year and for subsequent
• Clear communication: The disclosures must be contravention, prohibition can extend up to three years.
prominently and clearly displayed in the
endorsement and terms such as ‘advertisement’, ‘sponsored’ or ‘paid promotion’ should be used for all sort of endorsements.
• Advertise responsibly: They should not endorse any product or service in which due diligence has not been done by them or
that they have not personally used or experienced.
Way forward
• Code of ethics for social media influencers: It should include establishment of authenticity of the products by them
and promoting safe and beneficial products to their audience.
o Such code can be interpreted in terms and conditions of social media intermediaries and they should inform
influencers about various aspects of such code.
• Self-regulation by celebrity or influencer groups: Influencer marketing industry should come up with a set of
guidelines and best practices that influencers can follow to ensure that their promotions are ethical and transparent.
• Effective age restrictions and parental controls: To prevent targeting of children or teenagers to such misleading
advertisements.
• Creation of a governmental due diligence structure: Government can form a committee or a forum to consistently
check products or services for their claims. This will limit the onus of due diligence on celebrities and will create a
sense of brand responsibility.

9. ETHICS
9.1. ETHICS OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE
Introduction
Global governance
functions through a set
of institutions, rules,
and processes that aim
to manage cross-border
issues - like diplomatic
relations, trade, financial
transactions, migration,
and climate change. It
seeks to address
collective concerns, and
mediate common
interests, creating both
privileges and
obligations for the public
and private sectors.
Global governance is,
however, not limited to
a set of treaties and organizations; it is comprised of a vast network of collaborative processes, relationships, guidelines,
and monitoring mechanisms, which are all necessary to manage our increasingly complex interdependence.

Ethical Dimensions of Global Governance
Accountability Problem Actors and Discretion problem
Example Example
World Bank is not able to hold US accountable for its United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has showcased several
obligations. instances different principles apply to developed and developing
countries.
Manifestation Resolving Ethical Issues Manifestation Resolving Ethical Issues
• International laws and rules • Global Governance • Rules are not same for • Governance in global bodies
have failed to bestow bodies should be given everyone. There is should be based on Rule of
obligations on participants more powers to enforce large distinction based Law and policymaking by
of global governance. accountability and on the interests of consensus in accordance with
• This is further compounded create monitoring those making the rules a wide participatory
because of absence of measures. and on whom these approach.
common accountability • Neutral parties can be are being applied.
mechanisms across the engaged for audits of
world. accountability
mechanisms.
Polarizing Narratives Legitimacy and leadership
Example Example
In climate change negotiations, there have been A single veto member at the UNSC can obstruct efforts to respond to a
disagreements on principles such as Common But crisis.
Differentiated.
Manifestation Resolving Ethical Manifestation Resolving Ethical Issues
• There is a growing Issues • Domination of global • The autonomous global institutions
divergence of • Keeping a dialogue institutions by powerful should strive to promote inclusivity
expectations for what based approach countries which often and participation of all stakeholders.
global governance which aims to allay results in decisions that • Idea of one country, one vote can be
should deliver due to every party’s do not represent explored rather than economic
different. concerns. interests or values of all criteria such as funding.
countries or people.
Justice and Fairness Upholding Human Rights
Example Example
Developing countries often argue that global trade • Cases of Human Rights Violation were recently observed in Iran
agreements, such as WTO mechanisms prioritize protests, Myanmar’s Rohingya crisis etc.
the interests of developed countries over those of • UN Human Rights Council is often criticized for allowing countries with
developing countries. very poor human rights record to have a seat in the council.
Manifestation Resolving Ethical Manifestation Resolving Ethical Issues
• Issues of Global Issues • Abuse of human rights in various • The upholding of human rights
commons such as • Strengthening instances is overlooked due to under UDHR can be made
disproportionate the leading differences in opinions and mandatory for UN member
impact of climate multilateral conflict of interests. states with an effective
change on vulnerable institutions. • Also, enforcement mechanisms enforcement mechanism.
communities, unequal • Global for implementing a universal set • A common minimum code of
and unfair access to governance must of human rights are lacking with conduct in relation to human
resources etc. prioritize SDGs. global governance bodies. rights can be framed.
Conclusion
For the larger part of the past 200 years, global governance has been conceived as a project of reforming the state systems
to prevent conflict and war. However, now the global governance needs to evolve to a system which is centered around
values of humanity and greater aspirations of societies.

9.2. ETHICS OF WAR
Introduction
With 8,006 civilians killed and
around 13,287 injured according
to UN Human Rights data, the war
in Ukraine has now gone on for
more than a year.
People often do not associate war
and ethics with one another, given
the death, conflict, and
senselessness that typically arises.
This highlights the importance of
Ethics of war.
War ethics and its importance
The purpose of war ethics is to
help decide what is right or wrong,
both for individuals and countries, and to contribute to debates on public policy, and ultimately to government and
individual action.
War Ethics can be broadly divided into 3 parts: Beginning of war, Manner of war, end of the war. Each part has its own
set of Ethical concerns. These ethics hold importance due to following reasons-
• Ethical conduct of soldiers and militaries on both sides:
o Minimize civilian causalities: In several instances, the chaos and uncertainty associated with the war results in
civilian casualties. For example in just 100 days in 1994, about 800,000 people were slaughtered in Rwanda’s
conflict.
o Dignity of Prison of wars: Many times, prisoners of wars get humiliated and abused by detainee. For example,
treatment of detainees of war in Afghanistan’s conflict.
o Control War crimes: War crimes are those violations of international humanitarian law (treaty or customary law)
that incur individual criminal responsibility under international law.
• To avoid conflicts: Ethical or moral obligations sometimes help to curb the war or conflicts among groups or countries.
• Dignity of Vulnerable groups: For example-after seizing
parts of Iraq and Syria in 2014, the armed group ISIL
(Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) killed 1,200 Yazidis
and enslaved and raped 7,000 others.
• Reduce the negative impact on Environment: As wars
have major impacts on environment. For example-Use of
herbicide Agent Orange in Vietnam.
Why maintaining ethical conduct is difficult in war?
• Absence of Ethical War guidelines from Global
multilateral institutions: Global Institutions have not been
able to provide mechanism to hold countries accountable.
o For Example-United Nation Security Council (UNSC)
has not been able to effectively intervene in Russia –
Ukraine conflict.
• Political considerations take precedence over ethics:
There have been regimes across the world, where
leadership has created and used war-like situations as a political tactic.

o For example, several cases and instances in conflict between North Korea and USA.
• Use of indiscriminate weapons like Bio-Chemical weapons: Use of such weapons acts collectively on a region harming
soldiers and civilians alike.
o For example-Use of Chlorine, phosgene (a choking agent) and mustard gas (which inflicts painful burns on the
skin) were among the chemicals used.
• Disproportionate use of force for strategic advantage: To get an upper hand in a battle, countries tend to use
disproportionate force and miss the ethical consideration of proportionality.
o For example- Use of Nuclear Weapon by USA in World War II.
• Vested interest of Nations: Hidden interest in place of treating war as last resort affects the ethical consideration.
Conditions in which war can be justified Ethics to be adhered while engaging in war
• Legitimate Authority: The war is fought by an entity that has • Differentiation: Both sides must differentiate between
the authority to fight such wars. combatants and non-combatants.
• Right Intention: Entity intends to achieve the just cause, rather • Proportionality of Force: The extent of the attacks must
than using it as an excuse to achieve some wrongful end. not supersede the intended purposes, which must be
• Reasonable Prospects of Success: The war is sufficiently likely non-other than concluding the war.
to achieve its aims. • Situation requires military intervention: The act must
• Proportionality: The morally weighted ‘Good’ achieved by the have a reasonable military justification.
war outweigh the morally weighted ‘Bad’ that it will cause. • Follow Geneva Convention of Prisoners of War (PoW):
• Last Resort (Necessity): There is no other less harmful way to If there are any prisoners of war, combatant and civilian
achieve the just cause. alike, must be treated with fairness.
Conclusion
“So long as there are men, there will be wars.”
– Albert Einstein
On the long enough timeline, war among nations, regions or people may be an inevitability. But the associated death and
destruction can be mitigated if wars are looked from the lens of reason and humanity.
“Not every war is worth fighting….”
– Naushad

9. ETHICS
9.1. AI ETHICS IN HEALTHCARE
Introduction
The Indian Council of Medical
Research (ICMR) has released the
country’s first Ethical Guidelines
for the Application of Artificial
Intelligence in Biomedical Research
and Healthcare. These guidelines
have been prepared by the
Department of Health Research
and ICMR Artificial Intelligence
Cell, Delhi.
Purpose of Guidelines
• Guiding AI technologies: The
purpose of these guidelines is to guide effective yet safe development, deployment and adoption of AI based
technologies in biomedical research and healthcare delivery.
• Involvement of stakeholders: The guidelines are intended for all stakeholders involved in AI research in healthcare,
including developers, technicians, researchers, clinicians, ethics committees, institutions, sponsors, and funding
organizations.
Need for AI in healthcare
• Diagnostics and Screening
o Reduce human error in medical diagnosis and improving its accuracy.
o Enhancing known methods of disease diagnosis.
o Guiding evidence-based treatment algorithms and predicting outcomes.
• Therapeutics, Drug Discovery and Development
o Drug discovery and epitope identification for vaccine development.
o Precision medicine - delivering personalized treatments based upon genetic based analysis.
o Predicting disease outcomes using large datasets.
• Clinical Care
o Telemedicine and self-care via interactive chatbots and digital monitoring devices.
o Solutions for medication adherence, motivation, reminders and building a care network.
• Epidemiology and Prevention of Disease
o Identification of the factors and determinants of the diseases and the trends, patterns and prediction of diseases.
o AI solutions through medical image interpretation, scrutinizing societal, behavioural and health data can enable
large-scale preventive intervention planning.
• Health Management Systems
o Enhanced productivity through automated processes.
o Automation of clinical documentation.
Stakeholders in AI usage in healthcare and their interests
Stakeholders Interests in AI use
Healthcare providers • Higher accuracy in disease detection via image interpretation from tools such as X-rays, MRIs etc. and
providing personalized recommendations using AI
• Improving efficiency of administrative tasks like maintaining patient records.
Pharmaceutical • Accelerating the drug development process and identification of potential new products.
Industry • Associating possible connections between drugs and ailments and identifying new uses for drugs by
spotting patterns.
Health Insurers • Verification of accuracy of claims by detecting anomalies in submitted claims.
• Helpful in reaching out to the unserved customer bases.
Patients • Improved access and quality of care.
• Early disease diagnosis and increased life expectancy.
• Better follow-up and improved drug regimen.
Government • Increase preparedness to tackle pandemics such as Covid-19.
• Achieving the universal health coverage and health related SDGs.
• Improved policy making and resource allocation in the health sector.
Ethical Principles for AI technology in healthcare (ICMR)
• Autonomy: AI based healthcare system should not interfere
with the patient autonomy.
o Consent of the patient for involvement of AI in medical
decision making should be made mandatory.
• Safety and Risk Minimization: Protection of dignity, rights,
safety, and well-being of patients/participants must have the
highest priority.
o Rigorous testing, control mechanisms and feedback
mechanisms are necessary to prevent unintended or
deliberate misuse.
• Trustworthiness: AI technologies should be intelligible or
understandable to developers, medical professionals,
patients, users and regulators.
o It should also be lawful, ethical, reliable, scientifically
explainable and transparent.
• Data Privacy: Data privacy must aim to prevent
unauthorized access, modification, and/or loss of personal
data.
o Users should have control over the data being collected and the purpose of its use.
• Accountability and Liability: It should be ensured through redressal mechanisms and regular audits.
o Responsibility can be assured by application Governance of AI technology use for healthcare and research in
of “human warranty”, which implies India
evaluation by patients and clinicians in the • National Health Policy (NHP) 2017: The NHP focuses on
development and deployment of AI establishment of National Digital Health Authority for
technologies. leveraging Digital health Technologies.
• Accessibility, Equity and Inclusiveness: AI for • National Digital Health Blueprint (NDHB) 2019: It aims at
health be designed to encourage the widest developing a system of electronic health records with
possible equitable use and access, irrespective of integrated ethical principles of data anonymization and de-
age, sex, gender, income, race, ethnicity, sexual identification.
• Proposed DISHA: The Digital Information Security in
orientation, ability or other characteristics.
Healthcare Act (DISHA) 2018 proposed by the Ministry of
o Datasets for AI development should not be Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) intends to establish
skewed and should be free from bias, errors, National and State eHealth Authorities and Health
discrimination etc. Information Exchanges to standardize and regulate the
Way Forward (5E approach) collection, storing, transmission and use of digital health data.
• Guidelines: ICMR’s National Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical
• Evaluate: Critically analysing the ethical concerns and Health Research involving human participants, 2017.
with use of AI in healthcare.
• Enumerate: Enumerating the key issues and loopholes that needs to be addressed for a virtuous application of AI in
healthcare delivery.
• Engage: An interdisciplinary collaborative strategy engaging different stakeholders such as healthcare providers,
software developers, policy makers etc. to develop a holistic solution.

• Enforce: Enforcement of ethical regulations in AI application through amendments in existing legal framework.
• Execute: Execution of planned course of action in time-framed and effective manner to widen the acceptance and
utility of AI applications in healthcare.
9.2. ETHICS OF ANIMAL RIGHTS

Introduction
Recently, the Bombay High Court sought
compassion and cooperation for stray dogs from
the housing societies. This has raised the aspects
of animal care and welfare in India and how we
perceive them as a society.
People’s perceptions about animal welfare are
driven by their ethical views regarding the
existence of animals.
Different perspectives on what are Animal Rights
• Inherent rights of Animals: This perspective states that animals have inherent value, and human behavior towards
them should not solely motivated based on human needs.
o It argues that animal use should end for all purposes including meat, milk, eggs, transportation, scientific research
etc.
• Utilitarian perspective: It argues that it is justifiable for some activities that negatively affect the welfare of some
animals to be done, if there is an overall increase in welfare for humans and/or animals.
o For example, it may be morally acceptable to slaughter animals for meat if the animals had a reasonably good
life, were painlessly slaughtered and the welfare benefits to people who eat that meat outweighed costs to the
welfare of the animals that were used for meat.
• Respect for Nature perspective: The respect for nature view is concerned about the loss or extinction of species.
According to this view, animals are valuable because they are part of a species or a group, and the loss or extinction
of a species is a concern.
o This approach discourages genetic manipulation looking at it as a threat to the overall ecosystem.
• Relational perspective: It argues that people have different Declaration of animals as Vermin
obligations to animals depending on the emotional relationships • Section 62 of the WPA, 1972 empowers the
they have with certain animals. Centre to declare wild animals of any species
o For example, people have different responsibilities to their except those specified in Schedule I as
pets than they do to animals in the wild, because people ‘vermin’ in any area for a specified period of
have a different relationship with the animals. time.
• The inclusion of any animal as vermin legalizes
India’s approach to Animal Rights their killing/culling in specified areas for a
India’s approach is a combination of these ideas applied for the Indian limited period of time.
• Previously, many animals such as wild boars,
circumstances-
blue bulls, rhesus macaques have been
• Protection of and compassion towards animals including declared as vermin in different states.
prevention of cruelty to animals.
o Article 51-A of the Constitution of India states that it is the fundamental duty of all citizens to have compassion
for living creatures.
o Article 48-A of the Constitution of India requires the State to protect and improve the environment and to
safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.
• Right to life: In 2014, Supreme Court in Animal Welfare Board of India vs A Nagaraja & Ors. extended Article 21 (the
Right to Life) to animals, conferring the right to live a life of intrinsic worth, honour, and dignity.
• Concept of Non-Human Personhood for animals in India: In 2019, the High Court of Punjab and Haryana in Karnail
Singh case recognized all animals in the animal kingdom, including avian and aquatic species, as legal entities.

o All citizens of the state of Haryana were declared persons in loco parentis (in place of a parent).
o Uttarakhand High Court also gave a similar judgement in Narayan Dutt Bhatt Case of 2018.
• Laws for animal protection:
o Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 to protect animals from being subjected to unnecessary pain.
o Wildlife (Protection) Act (WPA) 1972: The Act prohibits the killing, trapping, poaching, poisoning, or harming of
any wild animal or bird.
o Indian Penal Code 1860: Section 428 and 429 provides punishment for killing or maiming an animal.
Principles for building an Animal Rights system
The Rights of animals vary across countries, environments and situations. To build an ethical Animals Rights system,
following approaches can be considered-
Five Freedoms Framework Conceptual Framework Five Domains Model
It describes animal care practices that can reduce It bases the principles on the state of animal. Based on positive welfare
negative experiences. • Affective state: An animal’s feelings or approach with five domains
Five Freedoms include: emotions. of-
• Freedom from hunger and thirst. • Natural Behaviour: An animal’s ability to • Nutrition
• Freedom from discomfort. perform natural behaviour. • Environment
• Freedom from pain, injury or disease. • Functioning: An animal’s health and • Health
• Freedom to express normal behaviour. biological functioning. • Behaviour
• Freedom from fear and distress. • Mental health
Conclusion
It is widely considered that humans have a moral obligation to care for animals because both depend on each other for
survival and have co-existed for centuries. A balanced framework is thus needed for addressing human needs and
ensuring animal welfare at the same time.

9. ETHICS
9.1. ETHICS OF MIGRATION
Introduction
The World Bank’s World Development Report 2023 proposed an integrated framework to maximize the development
impacts of cross-border movements on both destination and origin countries and on migrants and refugees themselves.
Migration is both seen as an asset and a liability by the world.
In order to utilize asset and shun away liability, countries around the world devise policies and laws as per their
suitability. Such policies often lack ethical principles.
What are the Ethical interests of different stakeholders?
Individual Origin Country Destination Country For Rescuers International
Organization
Person lives his/her home The conflict between They want to receive only Tension felt by rescuers Organizations
in search of a more decent individuals’ right to exit their productive migrants and between, on the one hand, such as
life. They expect that territories and these states’ refugees. the humanitarian imperative International
place where they are efforts to regulate the Also, they are not open to to help people in need and, on Organization for
relocating should treat recruitment and protect the migration above a certain the other hand, the danger Migration (IOM)
them as equivalent to rights of their citizens working limit as it may impact that, by doing so, one might oversee that
their citizen. They want abroad. demographic change and become coopted into the migrants’ rights
them to perceive It brings remittances and on resource utilization violent practices of either are well
themselves as an end the other hand, it causes brain patterns. states or human smugglers. protected where
rather than as means. drain (migration of talented ever they live.
people).
Ethical Issues in Migration and Refugee Policy Matrix of Migration (Match and Supply)
• Violates Human Rights: Migration policies do The destination country prefers migrants and refugee who are more
not comply with the rights enshrined in beneficial to them (upper boxes of matrix). On the other side, if they
international laws such as the Universal are not able to match the criteria of the destination country, then are
have less opportunity (lower boxes of the matrix). It keeps changing
Declaration of Human Rights (1948),
with the demand and supply condition.
International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights (1966), UN General Assembly
Resolution on the Protection of Migrants
(2014), etc.
• Utilitarian Approach: Policies give priority to
the migration of skilled workforce and
discourage the distress migration and refugees.
o For instance, engineers, doctors, etc. are
given a warm welcome in developed
countries but on the other hand when an
illiterate from Syria or Lebanon arrives, they
are not mainstreamed.
• Means and End: Labor economics emphasizes
the movement of workers across borders to
countries where their labor can be employed
more productively than in their origin country.
Humanity’s perspective is missing from it.
• Apathy: Thousands of Migrants and refugees
die while moving toward their destination
place. North African migration to Europe is a
relevant example of it.
• Sensitiveness: At the global level, policies have not been formulated to deal with this fresh wave of Climate Refugees
and Migrants.
• Ethics of temporary labor migration programs (TLMPs): Faced with labor and skills shortages in sectors such as
social care and food production, many high-income countries have been actively considering the expansion of TLMPs,
including for lower skilled migrant workers.
o TLMPs violate principles of domestic equality because they always afford migrant workers more restricted
rights than those enjoyed by citizens.
Impacts of Migration and Refugee Policy-making
Spheres When Ethical Principles are Not Incorporated When Ethical Principles are Incorporated
Citizenship Treated like a Secondary Citizen (considered Treated equally in different arenas of life.
status subordinate).
Rights Social, political, and economic rights are not They enjoy all the rights in an effective way. This helps them to
entitled to them. live a decent life.
Potential In adverse situations, they are not able to give Due to equal opportunities, they are able to fully utilize their
their best in a different arena. potential. Jews community in India is the best example of it.
Activities Due to unfavorable situations, they get involved Along with their development, they contribute to the
in illegal activities such as terrorism, drug development of society and the country at large.
trafficking, etc.
Peace and Improper integration with society leads to They are well integrated into society. Principles of tolerance,
Security various conflicts such as ideological, sympathy, etc. are being upheld in society.
psychological, etc. E.g. Issue of Rohingyas Exodus.
How we can Integrate Ethical Principles in Policy-Making?
• Equality and non-discrimination: It prohibits distinction,
exclusion, restriction or preference on the basis of a list of non-
exhaustive grounds such as race, colour, descent, ethnic origin,
etc.
o States should address direct and indirect discrimination
against and unequal treatment of people in laws, policies,
and practices, etc.
• Respecting Human Rights: Nations should refrain from human
rights violations of migrants. This includes refraining from
arbitrary detention, torture, or collective expulsion of
migrants.
• Participation and inclusion: Everyone is entitled to active,
free, and meaningful participation in decisions that affect the
enjoyment of their rights.
o Migrants should be consulted and included in the development of relevant public policy.
• People-centric Approach: It recognizes that migrants and refugees are men and women who make often difficult
choices and deserve fair and decent treatment. They are people with identities, skills, cultures, and preferences.
• Accountability and rule of law: States should ensure transparency in the design and implementation of their policies
and ensure that rights-holders have access to redress mechanisms and enjoy effective remedies when human rights
breaches occur.
o The system governing migration should allow migrants full access to justice, including redress and remedies if
they experience human rights violations.
Conclusion
The policies related to migration and refugee needs to be comprehensive and broad in nature. The interest of the
vulnerable needs to be given priority. Sustainable Development goals will be achieved only when all the people of the
world will prosper.

9. ETHICS
9.1. CLINICAL TRIALS
Introduction Regulation of Clinical Trials in India
• Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940: In India, regulations pertaining to
As per the joint report by the USA India Chamber
clinical trials are placed in Schedule "Y" of the Drugs and Cosmetics
of Commerce & PwC India titled, “Clinical Trial Act 1940, and the rules framed thereunder.
opportunities in India”, Clinical trial activity in o New chemical entities cannot be administered to human
India has been increasing steadily due to several subjects in a clinical trial without permission from the Drugs
key regulatory reforms aimed towards global Controller General of India
harmonisation, enabling open access to clinical o The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) is an official of the
trials in India. The country’s diverse population, Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) who is
combined with its rapidly advancing healthcare the final regulatory authority for the approval of clinical trials
infrastructure, provides a fertile ground for in the country.
clinical trials to flourish. • ICMR Ethical Guidelines: It mandates setting up of Ethics
Committees (EC's) at the institutional levels, for the purpose of
About Clinical Trials scrutinizing and approving a clinical trial before it begins; and to
conduct periodic reviews of the progress of the trial.
• Clinical trial can be defined as a set of practice
that helps certify a new drug
molecule as safe and
efficacious before reaching the
market.
• Clinical trial plays a critical role
in health care delivery.
• It’s through clinical trials that
scientists develop new
treatments, cures and
preventive measures that help
mediate the spread of disease.
• There are various types of
clinical research like Treatment
research, Prevention
research, Diagnostic research, Genetic International Rules and Regulations regarding Clinical Trails
studies, Epidemiological studies, Clinical • Belmont Report: Three basic principles, among those generally
accepted in our cultural tradition, are particularly relevant to the ethics
studies etc.
of research involving human subjects: the principles of respect of
o Genetic studies examine the link persons, beneficence and justice.
between genes and disease with the • Declaration of Helsinki: It is an international agreement put forward by
goal of improving disease prediction the World Medical Association and amended many times over the years
and estimating the chances of an to address new ethical concerns.
individual contracting a specific • Nuremberg Code: It was ratified following World War II, in response to
disease. the abusive and exploitative clinical trials undertaken by Nazi scientists.
o Epidemiological studies are intended It provides an international standard for clinical research ethics.
to spot patterns, causes and ways to • Good Clinical Practice (GCP): It is an international ethical and scientific
control diseases in certain populations quality standard for designing, conducting, recording and reporting
by identifying risk factors and trials that involve the participation of human subjects.
protective factors for those diseases. • International Ethical Guidelines for Health-related Research Involving
Humans, 2016: They are prepared by the Council for International
o Clinical studies are also referred to as
Organizations of Medical Sciences (CIOMS) in collaboration with the
observational studies. Clinical studies World Health Organization (WHO).
observe people in normal settings to •
group volunteers by characteristic and note changes over time.

• The process of conducting clinical trials is characterized not only by scientific rigor but also by a strong commitment
to ethical standards.
o For instance, in the COVID-19 crisis, clinical researchers understood the sense of urgency surrounding the need
for treatments and vaccines. However, they were compelled to follow ethical protocols to ensure their data was
accurate and transparent.
Various Ethical principles involved in Clinical Trials as per stakeholders
Clinical Trial Patients Sponsors Researchers
• Informed Consent: Patients have the right to • Avoiding Conflict of Interest: • Principle of Essentiality:
receive comprehensive information about Sponsors should have robust Researchers should only involve
the research, ensuring they fully comprehend policies and procedures in place human participants when it is
it and voluntarily participate. to identify and mitigate essential for the proposed
• Beneficence: Patients are entitled to ethical potential conflicts of interest. research, considering all
treatment that respects their decisions and • Post-Research Access and alternatives and existing
protects them from harm, while also Benefit Sharing: Sponsors knowledge.
promoting their well-being. should ensure that the benefits • Privacy and Confidentiality:
• Compensation for Research-Related Harm: from research are accessible to Researchers should safeguard the
Patients who suffer harm from participation relevant individuals, confidentiality of participant and
are entitled to fair compensation after communities, and populations. community data.
proper assessment. • Distributive Justice: Sponsors • Environmental Protection:
• Privacy and Confidentiality: Patients have should strive for equitable Researchers are responsible for
the right to control their personal distribution of research protecting the environment and
information, and this information should be benefits and burdens among resources at all stages of the
safeguarded by the research team. participants. research.
Regulatory Agencies Healthcare Providers Society
• Benefit-Risk Assessment: Regulatory • Beneficence: Healthcare • Post-Research Access and Benefit
agencies should ensure that the social and providers should ensure Sharing: The benefits from
scientific value of research justifies the patients participating in trials research should be accessible to
potential risks. are treated ethically, with their relevant parts of society.
• Transparency and Accountability: Agencies well-being a top priority. • Distributive Justice: The selection
should ensure research plans and outcomes • Informed Consent: Providers of research participants should
are accessible to the public, while respecting should support the process of aim for an equitable distribution of
participant privacy. informed consent, helping research benefits and burdens.
patients understand the • Transparency and Accountability:
research and their voluntary The wider society should have
participation. access to research plans and
outcomes, contributing to broader
understanding and awareness.
Clinical Trials
• Side Effects: Medical research often entails minor pain, discomfort, or injury from invasive procedures, or potential
harm from drug side effects.
• Lack of Transparency: Some researchers and sponsors may bypass the regulatory framework to expedite trials for
increased profit.
o There also exists a significant challenge of nexus managing the intertwined relationships among sponsors,
researchers, regulators, and ethics committees.
• Targeting Vulnerable Populations: Those in desperate financial situations can become easy targets for unethical
clinical trials.
• Lack of Informed Consent: Complex language in consent forms can make them difficult to understand, particularly
for those with low literacy levels.
• Compensation: Participants sometimes fail to receive compensation when clinical trials do not succeed. This raises
questions about the extent to which financial incentives could encourage research subjects to provide misleading or
false information.

• Stem Cell Research: Despite the proven therapeutic value of human stem cells, ethical concerns remain around their
harvesting, particularly from human embryos.
• Drug Trials in Neonates: Ethical challenges include the inherent vulnerability of this population, their higher risk of
mortality and morbidity, and the difficulties in obtaining informed parental consent.
Way Forward
• Regulatory Approval: The approval
process is slow due to new
requirements for the submission and
review of clinical trials which needs
to be streamlined.
• Patient Recruitment: The
recruitment of patients depends on
the availability of investigator sites
and patient willingness. Increasing
the number of investigator sites
could help.
• Ensuring Quality and Compliance:
Institutional ethics committees (ECs) should devote time and effort to understanding ethical issues - human
protection, independent decision-making, handling conflict of interest, reviewing safety reports and compensation,
and overseeing clinical trial conduct.
• Development of National Clinical Trial Infrastructure: Researchers in low- to middle-income settings need support
and training to conduct clinical trials independently or collaboratively.
• Regulatory Approval: Clear and unambiguous regulatory provisions applicable to diverse situations would enhance
the efficiency of trial approval.
• Education in Ethical Clinical Trials: Different stakeholders, including CDSCO functionaries, IEC members,
academicians, CROs, and industry professionals, should be educated on ethical clinical trial practices.
• Compensation for Trial-Related Death or Injury: Insurance coverage should include all costs associated with
investigations and treatments arising from trial participation, the limit and period of insurance coverage, liability per
claim, and the aggregate liability.
Legal Framework for child artists

9.2. CHILD ARTISTS AND ETHICS • Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment
Introduction Rules, 2017 provides for the mechanism and procedure
that needs to be followed by the production houses for
Child artists have come at the crossroads of with their needs using children as an artist.
and rights at one side and their ability to contribute on the • Such children who are working in this industry when
other side. In this context, the National Commission on subjected to cruelty, exploitation and abuse are
Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has issued Guidelines for considered to be children in need of care and
Child and Adolescent Participation in the Entertainment protection whereby which the rehabilitation of such
Industry or Any Commercial Entertainment Activity. children is governed by the provisions of Juvenile
Justice (Care and Protection of Children) (JJ) Act, 2015.
Need for guidelines
• Increase in child participation: With the boom of technology and social media, children are increasingly participating
in content creation.
• Child exploitation: Children have been exploited for their innocence, for lack of adequate regulations protecting them
and their rights from the multiple stakeholders.
• Work Environment: It is necessary to ensure a healthy work environment for them with minimal physical and
psychological stress.
• Stressful exposure: Participating in an adult-oriented industry, children are often exposed to unsuitable, anxiety
inducing, and at times, dangerous operational hazards and situations.
• Crimes against children: The children are also susceptible to a plethora of other crimes against children such as sexual
exploitation, child trafficking, bonded labour, etc. if working in an unregulated ecosystem.
Key provisions of the Guidelines
• Scope: Cover television programmes including reality shows, TV serials, news and informative media, movies, OTT
platforms, content on social media platforms, performing arts, advertising and any other commercial entertainment
activity.
• Registration of Child Artist with District Magistrate (DM): Children could be involved in any audio-visual production
only after obtaining the permission from the DM.
o Producer should also furnish the consent of parents or guardians, and name of the individual responsible for
safety and security of the child to the DM.
• Inspection of workplace: DMs have been empowered to instruct the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) to inspect
the workplace and accordingly issue a permit to the producer.
• Content Restrictions: No child/adolescent should be cast or made to participate in a role or situation or content:
o That is inappropriate to the child or that may distress him or put him in embarrassing situations.
o Which exposes child to a situation causing unnecessary mental or physical suffering.
o Involving the indecent or obscene representation of a child or nudity or sexual act.
o Which is not advisable/ not certified to be viewed by them.
• Presence of one Parent/Guardian: If child is below the age of 6 years, at least one parent or guardian must be present.
• Working hours: No child shall be allowed to work for more than 5 hours in a day.
• Wages: At least 20% of the income earned by the child/adolescent from the production to be directly deposited in a
fixed deposit account.
• Education: The work of child should not affect his/her school education and minimum number of working days and
instructional hours in an academic year should be maintained.
• Children in news and media: Media and production houses shall ensure that child victims of sexual offences,
trafficking, drug/substance abuse, organized crimes, and children used in armed conflicts, children in conflict with law
and child witnesses etc. are automatically guaranteed anonymity for life.
Stakeholders’ Perspective and Ethical Concerns
Stakeholders Ethical Concerns Responsible Conduct
Children • Lack of one’s choice in kinds of situation which • Regular sessions of children with social workers and
children faces. counsellors to understand their choice/ problems.
• Conflict with education and cognitive • Compulsory attendance criteria in schools with
development. minimum exceptions.
• Can be detrimental to physical and psychological • Children to be educated about their bodily
health due to different kinds of exposure. autonomy, rights and should have access to help in
• Erosion of privacy due to public visibility. case of exploitation.
• Role being played by child should not be detrimental
to the child’s health.
Parents/ • Attraction of fame and fortune creates enormous • Sensitization of parents and children on the
Guardians pressures on children and their parents. difficulties and realities of industry.
• Parents face difficulties in reinforcing a child’s • Parents should also be given full information about
sense of self and coming to terms with reality of all aspects of child’s employment for an informed
the profession in which appearance matters the consent.
most.
Production • Showcases child actors as models for ideal lifestyle • Enforcement of statutory working hours.
Houses/ or stardom, which many would want to emulate. • Heavy fines and penalties on illegitimate agenting
Industry • Extension of work shifts to more than statutory practices and frauds.
Agents limits.
• Low wages to child actors. • A model contract laying out some basic
• Various unscrupulous agents cash in on hopes of responsibilities of production houses and enforcing
parents and children. basic child rights.
Viewers/ • Representation of false ideals and maturity that • The film rating system needs to incorporate different
Audience children find difficult to emulate and come under kinds of portrayals and accordingly certify the films
extreme stress. for appropriate audiences.
• Negative impact from inappropriate display of a • Inappropriate display of a child’s character should
child’s character. not be a part of any production.
• Much is left to the viewers’ discretion to make • Statutory warnings on such situations which might
sense of some visuals, which sometimes influences influence viewers in a negative manner.
viewers, especially children to their detriment.
Government • Lobbying by industry groups to relax regulations. • Government organizations such as National Human
• Difficulties in striking a balance between child’s Rights Commission should can be involved at policy
rights, education, parental aspirations, industry’s level.
demands, viewers’ discretion etc. • Regulations and laws should factor in the best
interests of the child involved, in terms of his/her
education, cognitive development and values
incorporation.

Conclusion
Ensuring ethical conduct in the employment of children in the entertainment industry is of paramount importance.
Industry stakeholders, parents, child rights organizations, and government should collaborate to develop and adhere to
a comprehensive code of ethics for the employment of children.

9. ETHICS
9.1. PATRONAGE APPOINTMENTS
Introduction
Patronage appointments refer to the appointments which are made on the basis of the recommendation or source
(personal connections) of an influential person, political leader, public servants, etc. This has not only affected the people
involved by has affected the overall Governance of India.
Ethical Issues involved in Patronage Appointments
• Loyalty to the person vs.
accountability to the system:
When appointees get their
position through patronage,
then they are likely to be
more accountable to that
person rather than to the
system.
• Violates the principles of
meritocracy: Ideally, positions should be awarded based on individuals' abilities and qualifications. Bypassing
meritocracy indirectly compromises integrity of the system and can result in ineffective or incompetent individuals
occupying important roles.
• Violates Principle of Equality of Opportunity: In the light of appointments through patronage, qualified and capable
individuals may feel their efforts and qualifications are not given equal consideration.
• Trust of People: It erodes public trust in the fairness and impartiality of the system and people in power. It leads to a
loss of confidence in the administration as a whole.
o The associated Nepotism/Favouritism further erodes the trust of the individual in the system.
Impacts of Patronage Appointments
• Corruption and Mismanagement: It can be used as a means to reward political allies, secure support, or engage in
quid pro quo arrangements. It promotes the diversion of resources away from public welfare toward personal gain.
• Impaired policy implementation: Incompetent and inexperienced officeholders appointed through patronage
struggle to implement policies effectively. This can result in poor policy outcomes, delays, or hinderance in the overall
governance process.
• Demoralization of competent officials: This can lead to a loss of motivation and talent within the public service as
individuals feel undervalued and unappreciated.
• Reduced legitimacy: Citizens may perceive the system as corrupt, nepotistic, and lacking in transparency. This can
weaken the legitimacy of the government and undermine its ability to govern effectively.
• Stunted Economic development: Growth and development are dependent on governance. Ineffective officials who
are appointed through patronage system may not be able to effect optimal utilization of resources.
Measures taken to Curb Patronage Appointments
• Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005: It has empowered citizens to seek information from public authorities, including
information related to appointments and recruitments.
• National e-Governance Plan (NeGP): This has reduced human intervention and enhanced transparency and efficiency in the
appointment process.
• Whistleblower protection: The Whistleblower Protection Act, 2014, provides protection to individuals who expose
corruption and wrongdoing, including cases of patronage appointments.
• Strengthening anti-corruption measures: Government has set up specialized anti-corruption agencies like the Central Bureau
of Investigation (CBI) and the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
• Other: Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, Lokpal etc.

Way Forward
• Strengthening institutions: Ensure that institutions have the authority, resources, and mandate to conduct fair and
transparent selection processes based on merit.
• Depoliticizing appointments: Reduce political influence in the appointment process by establishing an independent
and non-partisan body responsible for overseeing appointments in public offices.
• Promoting merit-based recruitment: Emphasize the importance of qualifications, experience, and competence in the
recruitment and selection process.
• Enforcing code of ethics and conduct: Promote the internalization of concepts of public service and integrity to
ensure ethical decision making.
• Encouraging Multi-stakeholder deliberations: Foster collaboration with civil society organizations, professional
associations, and academic institutions to promote accountability, monitor the appointment process, and advocate
for reforms.

9. ETHICS
9.1. SCIENCE WITHOUT HUMANITY
Introduction
Science without humanity is one of the seven deadly sins propounded by Mahatma Gandhiji. He asserted that if science
becomes all technique and technology, it quickly degenerates into man against humanity. He emphasised focusing on the
higher human purposes that technology should strive to serve.
Recent Examples of Scientific development sans humanity
• Use of deadly weapons in the Russia-Ukraine war despite knowledge of negative repercussions on human lives.
• A researcher in China used gene editing techniques to create a designer baby (children with desired characteristics).
• Artificial technology and related disruptive technologies are progressing quickly without considering their
consequences, such as privacy violations (human dignity).
Key stakeholders and their interests
Scientific • Scientists: Scientific development, personal growth along with public welfare at large.
Community • Institutions: Includes both public and private entities.
o Public institutions are generally guided by the national interest.
o Private institutions generally emphasize more on profit.
Regulatory Bodies • Regulatory bodies aim to promote utilizing science for the welfare of humanity.
(national and o They aim to bring transparency and accountability among others in the sphere of research and
international) scientific development.
Sovereign States • The interest of Sovereign states depends on their national interest.
o This interest can vary with geopolitical conditions and domestic needs among others.
Citizens • Aspiration of an individual is to improve his/her life with the help of scientific developments along with
/Individuals the overall welfare of the human civilization.
Ethical concerns/issues in Science without Humanity

• Unequitable distribution of benefits: The direction of scientific development is often driven by issues of more well-
off sections of society.
o For instance, many common problems poorer sections of society face do not receive their due weight, such as
manual scavenging, malnutrition, etc.
• Limited accountability: Lack of precise accountability mechanisms and systems to check the development of
potentially destructive technologies.
o E.g., the development of chemical or biological weapons by some countries.
• Illicit use of technology: Public trust is eroded when scientific development or methodologies are hidden or
manipulated for personal gain or to support a specific agenda.
• Human being as means: Often, science uses human beings as a means which violates human dignity and
fundamental human rights. For instance, in some surrogacy cases, financially vulnerable women are exploited.
• Science as a means: In the present scenario, many countries use science to enhance their influence. Priority is given
to personal interest or gain rather than the collective welfare of people.
The issues of Science without Humanity get further compounded by a growing appeal for reckless development, limited
consideration for ethical principles in technological projects, and the need for global cooperation in developing a
collective ethical framework.
Way Forward
• Scientific Ethics: Implementation of scientific ethics needs to be an integral part of the scientific process, ensuring
that science is used responsibly and for the greater good.
• Multistakeholder engagement mechanisms: Creating systems where scientists, researchers, policymakers, and the
public can engage in seamless and open dialogue. Such a discourse can shape the direction of scientific development.
• Part of the education system: Emphasizing Moral education, i.e., focus on principles and values and scientific
knowledge, needs to be promoted.
• Social Impact Indicators: Common social impact indicators can be developed for technological developments. This
will indirectly nudge the scientists and technocrats towards a more welfarist direction.
• Establishing a permanent forum that includes all primary global science and technology players will provide a
platform for international deliberation.
9.2. ETHICAL CONDUCT OF CONTROLLED HUMAN INFECTION STUDIES (CHIS)

Why in the news?
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Bioethics Unit has formulated a consensus policy statement for the ethical
conduct of CHIS, also known as Human Challenge Studies, in India.
About Controlled Human Infection Studies (CHIS)
In CHIS, healthy volunteers are intentionally exposed to pathogens in a controlled environment to promote an
understanding of the pathogenesis, transmission, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases in humans.
While Infectious disease contributes about 30% of the disease burden in India, it has not undertaken such trials before.
The key difference between Human Clinical Trials and Human Challenge Studies is the nature of exposure-
• Human Clinical Trials: The core objective of clinical trials is to test the efficacy of medical, surgical, or behavioural
interventions in people.
o Here participants avoid getting infected, and any exposure to the microbes and infection arising in the
participants from such exposure is left to chance.
• Human Challenge Studies: The core objective of Human Challenge Studies is to learn more about the disease by
studying an infected body. Thus, volunteers are deliberately exposed to disease-causing pathogens.
Key stakeholders and interests
Participants • Right to receive comprehensive information about the research, ensuring they fully comprehend it and
voluntarily participate.
• Compensation for Research-Related Harm after proper assessment.
• Privacy and Confidentiality of Participants.
Society • Public health benefits, improved pandemic preparedness, and community empowerment.
o Many infectious diseases are endemic in several developing countries, and resistance to existing drugs is
increasing.
Regulatory • Responsible stewardship of science and research resources.
Agency • Ensure that the social and scientific value of research justifies the potential risks.
• Transparency and Accountability in research plans and outcomes.
Researcher • Researchers are responsible for protecting the environment and resources at all stages of the research.
• Minimization of suffering and the promotion of human health.
Media • Increasing awareness and disseminating information about CHIS.
Ethical Concerns
• Violates medical ethics principle of ‘do no harm’: Intentional exposure to pathogens in developing a human infection
is considered a contravention of the Hippocratic Oath and infringes the “do no harm” ethical code for medical
practitioners.
• Psychological distress: Reduced social interaction and limited access to emotional support systems can adversely
affect participants' mental well-being—for example, psychological distress such as anxiety, loneliness and
depression.
• Non-adherence to Informed Consent in some cases: For instance, the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine trial in
2010 became notorious as informed consent requirements were violated.
• Privacy & Confidentiality issue: CHIS involves sensitive data which may affect participants' health and well-being with
a risk of social stigmatisation.
• Risk to Third Parties & Communities: Risks of transmission to other individuals, Environmental risks (such as the
contamination of local groundwater systems), and Erosion of public trust in case of a mishap, among others.
• Nefarious means to invite participation: Enticing people to participate by advertising the large amount of money that
volunteers will be paid is quite common in traditional clinical trials, as was seen in the Covaxin trial conducted in
Bhopal.
Way Forward
• Risk Minimisation Strategy:
o Society: Public engagement regarding research design.
o Participants: Selection of low-risk participants, close monitoring, early diagnosis and supportive care, including
critical care if required, Compensation for any study-related harms, and appropriate provisions to cover insurance.
o Third parties: Selection of sites with stringent infection control processes, including protective equipment for staff.
• Responsibility of Researcher:
o The informed consent content should align with ICMR National Ethical Guidelines 2017.
o Researchers and their teams should be adequately qualified, trained, and skilled with prior experience in
conducting clinical trials.
o They must be trained per Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and ICMR National Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical and
Health Research Involving Human Participants.
• Collaboration and data sharing: CHIS is a highly complex area and may require collaborations at different levels
between researchers, institutions, organisations, and other countries.
• Transparent regulatory ecosystem: Institutions must comply with the regulations and guidelines set forth by the
appropriate regulatory bodies in India, such as the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) and the
bio-safety monitoring committee.
9. ETHICS
9.1. MEDIA ETHICS AND SELF-REGULATION
Introduction
Recently, the Supreme Court expressed concerns about the ineffectiveness of the self-regulatory mechanism set up by
the News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority (NBSA). This also highlights the importance of adherence to
Media ethics in the modern age, where breaches of media ethics are rising.
What are Media Ethics?
Media ethics is concerned with the question of what is right or wrong, good or bad, acceptable or unacceptable, about
the means and ways that the media collects and presents information and news.
Principles of media ethics
• Golden mean theory:
Aristotle’s golden
mean focuses on the middle
ground between two
extremes. In media ethics,
this theory could be used for
redacting names from a
sensitive article or blurring the faces of those who are a victim of crime.
o Journalist can use this theory to determine whether or not to publish/telecast something. This theory allows
them to strike a balance between too ethical and too neutral.
• Harm Limitation Principle: It states that in the process of reporting an issue to the general public, journalists and
reporters must do so with great sensitivity and in such a way that it does not harm certain groups of people.
• Principle of utilitarianism: The theory contends that people should prioritise the greater good. Utilitarianism can be
used to justify sacrificing the privacy of a few individuals if it would facilitate greater access to information for the
general public.
• Deontology: Focuses on a person’s duty as a means to determine appropriate action.
o This is a very pertinent concept for the media as it is the media’s duty to serve the public by providing information
which is impartial and which promotes knowledge and reason.
Key stakeholders Their Interests
in Media Ethics
Media actors Media ethics must ensure that journalists observe principles of integrity, professionalism, privacy and
impartiality.
Government Media ethics promotes and defends values such as a universal respect for life and the rule of law and legality.
General Public Serve the public by providing information which is impartial and which promotes knowledge and reason.
Police Media must facilitate assistance to the police and it must applaud when criminals are brought to justice as a
result.
• The press must also hold the police to account, acting as the eyes and ears of the public.
Instances of Breaches of Media Ethics
• Ineffectiveness of the self-regulatory mechanism has led to a rise in breaches of media ethics, some such instances
are below:
o Media trials: Undermining the concept of free and fair trial.
o Media’s love for borewells: An example of the media’s role in ‘making news’ rather than ‘reporting news’ as was
a case of the five-year-old boy who accidentally fell into an open borewell.
o The Aarushi–Hemraj murder case: The manner in which the media covered it sparked a debate on crime stories
being sensationalised to attract viewers and readers.

o Kathua Rape Case: Several media houses revealed the identity and pictures of the victim and did not handle the
case with the required sensitivity.
o Violation of privacy: From Bollywood stars to cricketers and politicians are victims—Ex. paparazzi.
Rationale behind Self-Regulation of Media
Of the various models of Media regulation like state control, statutory regulation, etc., self-regulation has been given due
importance. In India, organisations like NBSA and Broadcasting Content Complaints Council have been set up as internal
self-regulatory mechanisms for television news and entertainment, respectively.
• Ensures independence of media: Self-regulation ensures that the media can operate independently.
o This is in the interest of the media as well as its different stakeholders and the audience.
• Bring efficiency: Media participants are likely to have superior knowledge of the subject compared to a government
agency.
o This is important where technical knowledge is needed to develop appropriate rules and determine whether they
have been violated.
• Provides greater incentives for compliance: If rules are developed by the media, industry participants are more likely
to perceive them as reasonable.
Why the need for effective Media Ethics is becoming paramount in India?
• Conflicts of Interests: Impartiality is one of the pillars of media ethics. But a dilemma occurs when one is assigned to
cover a story about someone s/he has an existing personal relationship with.
• Confidentiality and Integrity: Serious ethical concerns have been expressed where reporters covered special stories
based on information concerning an individual’s personal conduct in private life.
• Bias and subjectivity: News reports are often reported in a particular style, and bias in a manner that has led to the
suspicion of the news media’s intentions and objects.
• Emerging dilemmas: Cross-media ownership by big corporate companies has assumed alarming proportions.
o Leaving the regulation to the media itself generates the likelihood that it may subjugate regulatory aims to its
own business goals.
• Ineffectiveness of the self-regulatory mechanism: Due to reasons like
o Media and market pressure: Business imperatives of increasing revenue have taken (and continue to take) their
toll on journalistic excellence.
o Inadequate penalty: Currently, ₹ 1 Lakh fine is ineffective as this fine is not in proportion to profits earned by the
offending channel from the corresponding show.
o Absence of journalistic ethics: which is reflected in inaccurate news being broadcasted.
Way ahead
Self-regulation in the broadcast media could be the best way forward in achieving a balance between the media's duty
to empower the participatory role of the people in governance and the reasonable restrictions that prevent the abuse
of its immense strength.
• There should be a universal code of ethics which specifies the following guidelines for journalists :
o Take responsibility for the accuracy of their work.
o Never deliberately distort facts or context, including visual information.
o Recognise a special obligation to serve as watchdogs over public affairs and government.
o Objectivity is an essential technique for removing bias in seeking truth.
• There is a necessity for media training that can be commenced by media establishments as part of journalism courses.
The need of the hour for reporters is to be aware of the sensitivities of their audiences.
• Self-regulation system of media needs strengthening.
o Hutchins Commission report advocated for freedom of the press, and self-regulation was considered as the key
feature, and government intervention as the last resort.
o Penalties should be in proportion to the profits earned by an errant channel, as recently advocated by the
Supreme Court.

9. ETHICS
9.1. CONSUMERISM
Introduction
In the last few decades, it has been noticed that the tendency of consumerism has been rising among people. This
tendency was more prevalent in the West, but now developing countries like
India have come under its grip. This has manifested in people running behind
multiple gadgets, luxury accessories etc., which they might not need, but they
desire.
What is Consumerism?
• Consumerism is the idea that increasing the consumption of goods and
services purchased in the market is always a desirable goal, and that a
person's well-being and happiness depend fundamentally on obtaining
consumer goods and material possessions.
• Consumerism is an ideology where consumers are motivated or manipulated to buy something, even if they don’t
really need it.
o It is mainly derived by the lifestyle obsession instead of necessity.
✓ For instance, replacing a perfectly working mobile phone or laptop because a new model is launched.
o It is based on the assumption possession of the material wealth and things make a person happy and satisfied.
o In present scenario, it used as a tool to show off one's wealth or status. This was called "conspicuous
consumption" by Thorstein Veblen, a 19th-century economist and sociologist.
o As per economist, it strengthens the economy by increasing demand and production. While, on the other hand,
it harms society and the environment.
• Consumerism is driven by 4 factors majorly:
o Advertising: The first driving force of consumerism is advertising, a vast industry dedicated to the power of
persuasion.
o Debt: Credit cards, store cards, payday loans and ‘buy now, pay later’ schemes all bring forward our expenditure.
o Obsolescence: This stems from the realisation by capitalism that life cycles of products could be planned and
managed.
o More: Tendency to have more than one. For instance, 3 cars for one house rather than one car per household.
Key Stakeholders Interests
Consumer • Consumer always hopes for best and latest products and services.
• They expect that product owner will always share true information about the product.
• The advertisement which manipulates them should be avoided.
Brands • Their main objective is to enhance their profit and increase the market share of their products.
Advertising Companies • They work according to the demands of the brands. Do not consider much about the interests of
consumer.
Government/Authorities • Their motive is to ensure welfare of all, both consumer and companies. They regulate market
activities but they can’t control consumerism when it is done through legal means.
Environment • Resources should be utilised in the sustainable manner so that it does not cause negative
externalities on environment such as pollution.
Ethical values undermined by Consumerism
• Promotes undesirable means: In order to achieve end, both consumer and brands can resort to means which are
not ethically correct. For instance, advertisements (Beauty and cosmetic services/products) claim that products will
change user’s life.
• Subordinate Consciousness: In consumerism, person just thinks about buying products and creating collections. In
this race, he loses his consciousness i.e. awareness of one’s thoughts and feelings. This resists them from taking right
decisions. E.g. Doing shopping for their social media uploads etc.
• Equity/Equality: It has been found that in societies which are driven by consumerism have huge disparities; some
people live lavish life while other’s basic needs are not fulfilled.
o It under mines the effort of the Social Justice (fair division of resources,
opportunities, and privileges).
• Violates basic tenets of the society: Most of the religion/societies propagate
that satisfaction will bring inner solace. However, tendencies like
consumerism are against it.
o It also include the loss of traditional cultures and values; the decline of
altruism and community.
• Derive Selfishness: Consumerism ultimately creates selfish society in which
people just think about their need. E.g. many people spend lakhs on clothes, this amount can be utilised to support
education of a poor children.
• Violates Environmental ethics: An increase in demand naturally increases production, in turn, leading to change in
land use, threaten biodiversity, generation of more waste and emission of pollutants.
o For instance, in fashion industry, skin of different animal is used to make leather products. This has pushed certain
species on the verge of extinction.
o Also, changing mobile phones every year leads to generation of more e-waste.
Society and Consumerism
Sphere/Domain Society with limited consumerism Society with hyper-consumerism
Disparity • Social justice is upheld. • Certain section of the society owns more resources
than they actually need.
Humanity • People cherish principle of humanity. • Humanity is being replaced by the selfishness.
Environment • People follow lifestyle in which adequate • Pollution, resource depletion etc. are being witnessed.
care of environment is taken of.
Psychological • People are psychologically fit. • Stress, anxiety, insecurity, and depression are
health common among people.
Striking a balance between Needs and Desires
• Adopting Ethical Consumerism: It promotes practice of purchasing products and services in a way that minimises
negative impact social and/or environmental consequences.
• Moral and Consumer Education: These subjects’ needs to be part of the curriculum at all levels of education.
o Financial literacy programs needs to be covered.
• Promoting corporate responsibility: Corporates should adopt ‘Stakeholder Capitalism’ instead of ‘Shareholder
Capitalism’.
o Stakeholder capitalism proposes that corporations should serve the interests of all their stakeholders, and not
just shareholders.
• Curtailing Advertisements/Influencers: Regulating authorities like Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI)
should keep eye on the advertisements which try to manipulate consumer.
• Setting up Role Models: Celebrities/influencers should become role model for others by practicing responsible
consumption and making sustainable choices.
• Effort by Government/Authorities: It can be controlled by imposing taxes on luxury goods and giving incentives for
sustainable practices.
o More impetus should be given to initiatives like Lifestyle for environment (LiFE).
• Effort of Civil Society Organisation: Volunteer of civil society organisation can carry out awareness derive to combat
consumerism and promote sustainable living.
Conclusion
Consumerism is a never-ending chase. Pause, reflect, and make conscious choices. Let's prioritize what truly enriches our
lives, rather than what simply fills our spaces. It's time to consume with intention, rather than just to seek attention.

Check your Ethical Aptitude
Vijay is a rising social media influencer. Company X has hired him to advertise their newly launched cosmetic product. Company is
of view that by using influencer they will promote consumerism in the society. For this they have paid him good amount. Also, this
will play key role in changing his career. Later, Vijay comes to know that product is not much effective as it was claimed in the
advertisement. He thinks to take legal action against company but his well-wisher suggest him to drop the idea of legal action as it
may harm its career.
On the basis of case study answer the following questions:
• Examine the ethical dilemma involved in the case.
• What are the options available with Vijay to cope with the situation?
• What ethical responsibility does celebrities/influencers have in preventing spread of consumerism?
9.2. ETHICS OF MEDIA TRIAL

Introduction
In the present times, the media has clothed itself with the power of investigation and trial and ultimately branding him/her
as a criminal, even before our courts of law have delivered a judgement. In this context, the Supreme Court (SC) directed
the Union government to prepare guidelines on how the police should brief the media about ongoing investigations in
order to prevent media trials.
What is a Media Trial?
• It is generally considered as the process in which media publishes their own versions of facts in newspapers, news
websites, and news channels in order to sensationalize the case.
• This function of media is seen as an invasion of the domain of the judiciary by conducting indirect trials parallel with
the courts.
• In some cases, it has also been noticed that irresponsible media briefings by police officers during ongoing
investigations enable the process of media trials.
o E.g., statements made by the accused under Section 161 [before the police] and 164 [before a judicial magistrate]
of the Criminal Procedure Code were released to the media.
Key Stakeholders Their interest
Judiciary/Judges • Free trial is the foundation of justice. Anything which may make judges biased towards the accused
should be avoided.
Accused/Family • The accused expects that the media will show things without fabricating facts and figures.
members
Victim/Family • Victims/Family members expect that their identity/personal information will not be revealed by the
members media. Also, they hope that the media will help them in getting justice.
Witnesses • The protection and safety of the witness is crucial in the entire justice ecosystem. Their stake lies in
Media not disclosing their identity.
Media • Reporting the truth i.e., acting as 4th pillar of democracy and managing the commercial angle
connected with popularity and viewership.
Individual/Citizen • The general public expects that socially significant issues are given priority and honestly reported by
media i.e., without bias, prejudice or any vested interests.
Key Ethical Issues with the Media Trial
• Credibility of the Justice System: It undermines the principle of innocent until
proven guilty which advocates that every accused is presumed innocent until
proven guilty by the law. E.g. Aarushi–Hemraj murder case
o It also leads to contempt of court (disrespect or disobedience toward a
court by entering into their domain).
• Undermines Right to fair trial: When sub-judice cases (case is under trial) are
being discussed by experts in media, their opinions can affect the perception of
judges toward the accused/victim. E.g. Jasleen Kaur harassment case.

o Article 21 of the Constitution of India guarantees everyone the right to a fair trial (part of the right to life and
liberty).
• Threatens Right to Privacy: The identity/personal information of the accused and victim is revealed which can
negatively affect the Public image of an individual. E.g. in Sushant Singh Rajput case.
• Undermines Media Ethics: It violates key principles of Media Ethics such as truth and accountability. It goes against
the idea of responsible journalism.
Challenges in Controlling Media Trials
• Ineffective Self-regulation of media: In India, organisations like the News
Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority (NBSA) and Broadcasting Content
Complaints Council have been set up as internal self-regulatory mechanisms for
television news and entertainment, respectively.
o This mechanism has not been very effective as these bodies lack statutory
backing.
• Balance between the Freedom of Media and Media Trial: Under Article 19 of the Constitution, media enjoys the
freedom of expression, but it is at times misused when engaging in Media Trials.
o Also, for regulating agencies it becomes difficult to decide what constitutes a Media Trial as there is no clear
definition or guidelines. E.g., in cases of investigative journalism.
• Rise in Social Media: With the rise in internet penetration, social media has
emerged as the new platform for media trials. E.g., sharing of sensationalized
or fake posts to alter public opinion.
Way Forward: Finding the Right Balance
• Creating a balance between the rights of the accused and the media: In
sensitive cases, media can delay reporting on certain aspects until the trial is
over.
o In Sahara India Real Estate Corporation v SEBI (2012), the SC highlighted the need for a delicate balance between
the rights of the accused and the media’s right to report.
• Promoting Self-regulation Mechanism: Organisations like the Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority (NBSA)
should create comprehensive guidelines, especially for sensitive cases such as national security issues like reporting
of 26/11 attacks.
• Authenticity: Media should reveal facts/figures only after scrutinizing their
authenticity.
• Prohibiting Opinion-Based Reporting: Media channels should regulate opinion-
based reporting i.e. either favouring or defaming any person/party.
• Implementing Media Ethics: The Press Council of India should emphasize and
encourage the implementation of the Code of Journalistic Conduct (2010).
o Code of Journalistic Conduct defines the boundaries of the media and the proper
code of conduct to be followed by Journalists.
• Implement the recommendation of the 200th Law Commission:
o A prohibition on the dissemination of material that is harmful to the accused, effective from the time of
detention.
o The High Court should have the authority to order the delay of publishing or transmission in criminal cases.
Conclusion
Although Right to Freedom of Press flows from the Article 19 of the Constitution, it is the moral duty of the media to show
the truth in a transparent and objective manner to preserve Right to life under Article 21 of citizens. Also, in context of
SC’ directive on media briefing, certain global best practices of various police departments across the globe (New York,
London, etc) having handbooks dealing with media relations can serve as good examples.

Related News
Self-Regulation of News Channels
• Recently, SC observed that there is a need to strengthen and fine-tune self-regulation mechanism to bring discipline in TV
channels as present system lacks teeth.
o Current mechanism of self-regulation of news channels in India is discussed below.
• Legal/Statutory Provisions:
o Cable Television Networks (CTN) Amendment Rules, 2021 (released under Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act,
1995):
o Three-level regulatory mechanism:
✓ Level I: Self-regulation by broadcasters,
✓ Level II: Self-regulation by authorities created by the news broadcasters,
✓ Level III: Oversight by Central government.
o Grievance Redressal:
✓ Viewer can file a complaint directly to broadcaster, who has to respond within 15 days.
To know more about Media ethics and self-regulation, kindly refer to Article 9.1 Media Ethics and Self-Regulation in the August
2023 edition of Monthly Current Affairs Magazine.

In 2020, renowned Bollywood actor passed away. The cause of his death as per preliminary report was asphyxia caused due to
hanging. This incident was sensationalized by media. Experts on news channels discussed what could be probable reason behind
his death and who may be responsible for his death. They even named certain personalities who may be responsible for actor’s
death. This manipulated the opinion of certain section of society.
On the basis of case answer the following questions:
• Identify the stakeholders and their interest.
• What are the ethical issues involved?
• How should media maintain delicate balance between freedom of press and individual rights of a person?

9. ETHICS
9.1. ETHICS OF LAWMAKERS
Introduction
In various instances, concerns have been raised over the conduct of
lawmakers in the Indian political system. Such instances include the
‘Cash for Query’ probe by the Ethics Committee of Parliament and the
suspension of some lawmakers for unruly conduct in the House. The core
reason being cited for such issues is the general decline of values in
public life.
Ethical values and the Stakeholders Involved
In the capacity of a lawmaker, the individual is expected to uphold certain
values which aid the functioning of the whole ecosystem (refer to
infographic).
Apart from Lawmakers, the whole representation and legislative exercise
involves various stakeholders in upholding and promoting ethical values
of public life.
Stakeholders Role Responsibility
Citizen/Voters Electing lawmakers and holding Being informed voters, participating in the democratic process, and
them accountable. advocating for ethical behaviour from their elected representatives.
Political Parties Selecting and endorsing Ensuring candidates adhere to ethical standards and promote a culture of
candidates. integrity.
Media Informing the public and shaping Reporting accurately and objectively, holding lawmakers accountable
public opinion about lawmakers through investigative journalism, and avoiding sensationalism or biased
and their actions. reporting.
Judiciary Interpreting and upholding the Ensuring that legal processes are followed and adjudicating cases of
law, providing a check on actions corruption or ethical violations.
of lawmakers.
Election Conducting free and fair elections Monitoring election campaigns, enforcing electoral rules, and ensuring
Commission that candidates adhere to ethical standards.
Factors causing the decline in ethical values in Law makers
• Corruption: Instances of bribery, embezzlement, and other forms of corruption erode public trust and contribute to
a perception of unethical behaviour.
o For example, the coal scam, 2G spectrum scam, Commonwealth Games
scam etc.
• Criminalisation of politics: Vohra Committee in 1995 pointed out the nexus
between criminal gangs, police, bureaucracy and politicians. The
increasing involvement of politicians with criminal backgrounds contributes
to a decline in ethical values, undermines the rule of law and erodes public
trust.
• Limitations of the Criminal Justice System: The existing criminal justice
system faces challenges in addressing the activities of organized crime,
economic offences, and effectively negating the criminal nexus.
• Conflict of Interest: There may be occasions when a member may have direct, indirect or specific pecuniary interest
in a matter being considered by the House or Ministry or Department.
o For instance, a lawmaker with business interests that stands to gain significantly from proposed changes in
environmental regulations will showcase a clear conflict of interest in voting for such changes.

• Nepotism and Dynastic Politics: The prevalence of dynastic politics, where family members of established politicians
enter politics without a merit-based selection process, leads to a perception of favouritism and compromised ethical
standards.
• Weak enforcement: There are weaknesses in the procedures for maintaining and enforcing high standards of public
life, leading to a culture of impunity.
o For instance, there is no clear mechanism for addressing Ethics Committee of Lok Sabha
the ethical misconduct of lawmakers outside the • The Ethics committee consists of 15 Members
parliament house. nominated by the Speaker for one year term.
• The First Ethics Committee of Lok Sabha was set
• Influence of interest groups: Powerful interest groups,
up in 2000 and of Rajya Sabha in 1997.
whether business or social, exert undue influence on
lawmakers, compromising their ethical standards in favour of
personal or group interests.
Measures to imbibe ethical values required in lawmakers
• Strengthening legal measures: Enhancing the legal
provisions with protection of whistleblowers and
implementing stringent anti-corruption laws with severe
penalties.
o A strong mechanism for discouraging politicians with
criminal backgrounds.
• Code of conduct: The Code could help evolve certain
standard norms of behaviour which everyone intending to
enter a legislature was expected to follow.
o The essence of the code of conduct is to encourage self-
discipline among lawmakers.
• Political party reforms: The political parties need to regulate the conduct of their members. Without the sincerity
and commitment of political parties, integrity in public life would be difficult to ensure.
o There should be transparency in the funding and working of political parties.
• Electoral reforms: Measures minimising the role of money power in
elections such as revision of ceiling on election expenses, corporate or
State funding of political parties, regulating foreign donations to political
parties, etc.
• Penalties in the House: In the event of a proven unethical or other
misconduct or a breach of the code, the House can impose penalties such
as censure; reprimand; suspension from the House for a specific period or
termination of its membership.
o This can be done through empowering the Ethics Committee in the
House.
• Education Programmes: Introduce civic education programs that emphasize ethical values, governance, and the
importance of public service from an early age.
o Also, leadership programmes can be started to prepare future leaders
with ethical values.
Conclusion
In essence, the ethical values of lawmakers are a collective responsibility,
requiring the active involvement and vigilance of all stakeholders. That will foster
a political environment characterized by integrity, fairness, and adherence to
democratic principles. The collaboration and engagement of all the stakeholders
contribute to establishing a robust ethical framework that underpins the
functioning of a democratic society.

Check your ethical aptitude
Imagine yourself as a newly elected lawmaker. Your election campaign was significantly funded by a large corporation, 'XYZ
Industries', which is a major player in the your state's mining sector. Post-election, a bill is introduced in the state legislature
proposing relaxed environmental regulations for mining operations, which would greatly benefit XYZ Industries but potentially
harm the environment and local communities.
On the basis of the case study answer the following questions:
• What are the ethical dilemmas before you and who are the associated stakeholders?
• Evaluate the possible options before you.
• What would be your ideal course of action?
9.2. AI AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Introduction
Freedom on the Net, an annual study of human rights online, states that
conditions for human rights online are deteriorating. The finding highlights
that AI technologies have the potential to not only promote but also infringe
upon human rights. An understanding of a delicate balance between them
is the need of the hour.
Stakeholders Interests
Governments • Interests in national security, law enforcement, and public administration. They also want to
foster innovation and economic growth in the AI sector.
Users of AI (citizens) • Concerned with ensuring that AI technologies are used in ways that respect fundamental rights,
such as privacy, freedom of expression, and protection from discrimination.
Civil Society and Activists • To raise awareness of human rights issues and to hold governments and corporations
accountable for any violations.
AI Developers and • Aim to advance their field, solve complex problems, and may be concerned with issues like
Engineers algorithmic bias and fairness.
International • International bodies, such as the United Nations, have interests in global peace, security, and
Organizations development.
Does AI harm human rights?
While AI itself is a tool and does not inherently possess the intention to harm, its
applications and implementations have raised concerns in the recent past in the
following ways:
• Right to privacy: Big-data surveillance systems aggregate and analyze
massive amounts of personal data, inferring people’s most sensitive
information.
• Free expression: Automated systems are deployed to censor political, social,
and religious speech.
o AI surveillance can incentivize people to avoid reprisal through self-censorship.
• Access to information: Platform algorithms have promoted incendiary content over reliable information.
o Pro-government commentators can use generative AI to create disinformation at scale.
• Due process: AI-enabled surveillance tools, such as social media monitoring, forgo standards like “probable cause,”
treating everyone as a possible wrongdoer.
• Discrimination: Algorithmic systems can perpetuate bias built into their training data and exacerbate long-standing
discrimination.
• Association and assembly: AI systems with abilities like facial recognition can identify and track potential protesters,
allowing state forces to arrest and retaliate against them.
• Digital election interference: Harnessing AI to augment disinformation campaigns, creating deep fakes to sow doubt,
discredit opponents, and manufacture public support etc.
Does AI strengthen Human rights?
While there are challenges and risks associated with AI, there are also significant opportunities for promoting and
upholding human rights.
• Right to equality: AI algorithms can be designed to reduce biases in decision-making processes.
o By eliminating or minimizing bias in areas like hiring, lending, and criminal justice, AI can help ensure that
individuals are treated more equally and fairly.
• Privacy Protection: AI technologies can be used to develop advanced privacy protection mechanisms, including
secure data encryption, identity protection, and secure communication, which are essential for safeguarding
individuals' freedoms.
• Ensuring Accountability: AI-powered surveillance technology can be used to hold governments and institutions
accountable.
o For example, facial recognition technology can be used to document and expose police brutality, ensuring
transparency and accountability.
• Protecting collective rights by enabling Governance: For example-
o Predictive Policing: AI can help law enforcement agencies allocate
resources more effectively, proactive crime prevention, and
objective decision-making.
✓ Although, there are concerns about the misuse of predictive
policing when used unethically.
o Governance and early warning systems: AI can be used to develop
early warning systems for natural disasters and humanitarian crises.
Way ahead
• Defend information integrity in the age of AI: Regulations covering AI should embed human rights principles of
legality, necessity, and
proportionality.
• Assessing societal impact: Ethical
and societal impacts of AI should
be actively considered
throughout the development
process.
o A framework for Social
Impact Assessment (SIA) can
be developed (similar to what
is done for the development
projects).
• Public and Stakeholder
Involvement: Engage in open and
inclusive dialogue with the public,
stakeholders, and experts to
ensure that AI technologies
respect and incorporate human
rights.
• Global Collaboration: Encourage international collaboration and agreements to establish common standards and best
practices for AI ethics and human rights.
• Ethical Guidelines and Regulations: Develop and adhere to ethical guidelines for AI development and deployment on
the lines of Asilomar principles.
Balancing the interests of stakeholders can be challenging, but it's essential to create a framework that ensures AI
technologies are developed and deployed in ways that protect and promote human rights.

Self-driving cars have the potential to revolutionize transportation by reducing accidents, traffic congestion, and fuel consumption.
These vehicles use artificial intelligence and sensors to navigate without human intervention, making real-time decisions based on
their programming and data from their surroundings. Imagine a scenario where an autonomous vehicle is driving down a busy
urban street. Suddenly, a child runs out onto the road, and the vehicle's sensors detect this. The AI in the car has to make a split-
second decision:
Option 1: The car can swerve to avoid the child but risk colliding with a group of pedestrians on the sidewalk, potentially causing
harm or death to multiple people.
Option 2: The car can continue on its path and hit the child, minimizing the risk to pedestrians on the sidewalk.
• What are the ethical considerations?
• What will be the possible option here and provide reasons for that?

9. ETHICS
9.1. KNOWLEDGE WITHOUT CHARACTER
Introduction
‘Dark web used for activities like illegal drug trafficking’, ‘Deadly weapons are being used in Ukraine-Russia and Israel-
Palestine conflict’, these instances alongside countless others highlight how Knowledge without Character (moral values)
can be detrimental.
Only intellectual development without simultaneous internal character development rarely contributes to the welfare
of society. A Person is said to have character if he/she has moral values such as integrity, altruism, generosity, compassion
etc.
Stakeholders and their Interest

Stakeholders Interest
Citizen/Individuals/ Society • They always want that knowledge should be used for the welfare of all. Every action should
be toward ‘Sarve jana sukhino bhavantu (Let everyone be happy)’.
State/Governments • If knowledge will be used with character then everyone will prosper and it will promote
peace and stability in the society.
Institutions • Institutions aim to promote intellectual development along with imparting good
characteristics in students/participants so that they could be good citizens.
Ethical Issues /Concerns arising when Knowledge is used without Character

• Unjust Decision-Making: Lack of a sense of equality and empathy in character can lead to biased decision-making,
where personal prejudices or self-interest influence choices rather than fair assessments.
o For instance, rising radicalism and discrimination in the society.
• Promotes Unethical Activities: If knowledge is used with ulterior motives, then
it may give rise to tendencies of intolerance, racism, xenophobia, stereotyping,
and non-objective and partial treatment of fellow beings.
• Blurredness between right Means and End: If knowledge is only used for self-
interest, then a person focuses only on achieving the end (objective) and does
not pay much attention towards the means (way).
o E.g., the Expansionist policy of Adolf Hitler, the use of artificial intelligence
and machine learning to create deepfakes (images and videos) to spread
misinformation etc.
• Lack of Accountability: An authorised/leading person in an organisation or government will not be accountable to
the people for their actions if they lack key building blocks of a character such as respect for coworkers etc.
Way Forward
• Intertwining knowledge with character: Focus of the national curriculum, and pedagogical processes should be on
the overall personality development of individuals (including both intellectual and Knowledge).
o The New Education Policy (NEP), 2020 can play a key role in this sphere.
• Developing critical thinking and wisdom: Family members and peer
groups have to play a constructive role in it. It can be done by critically
evaluating information and encouraging questioning.
• Promote Emotional Intelligence: It will help in enhancing self-awareness
and empathy.
o For instance, schools and parents can plan social awareness drives
such as visiting slums, orphanages, old-age homes etc.
• Transforming self-interest-oriented and narrow mindset: E.g. how India
is promoting the idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam implying ‘the world is
one family’.
Conclusion
Character without knowledge is weak and feeble, but knowledge without character is dangerous and a potential menace
to society. Character and knowledge together should be the true goal of education.
Rahul works in Research and Development of a reputed pharma company. He is leading a project for which clinical trials need to
be conducted. Director of the company asked Rahul to conduct trials on people living in a nearby slum without informing them
about the risks associated with it. Rahul denied doing it as it is against the law and his morals. But, the director instructs him to go
through with the same, stating that he need not worry about it.
On the basis of the case above, answer the following questions?
• Identify the ethical issues involved in the case?
• What options are available to Rahul?
• Which option should Rahul follow? Also discuss its merits and demerits.
9.2. ETHICS OF WAR

Introduction
Recent conflicts between Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas and the continuous
circulation of images and stories in social media about the atrocities of war
raise various ethical questions.
What are the Ethical concerns that arise in war?
• Reduction to Right side vs. wrong side: The attempt to make sense of war
and violence is often reduced to a judgement that one side is right and the
other wrong.
o However, providing a justification to oneself and others does not
make it ethically correct.
• Punishment and revenge: In war, rationales based on punishment and revenge are often seen as a moral path to
correct a wrong.
o Deaths and capital punishment as a result of wars raise many ethical questions.
• Degradation of Human beings: Humans are often treated as tools to achieve the objectives of war.
• Individual vs. collective identity: Recent conflicts such as the Israel-Palestine war show a trend where people don’t
see individuals as they are and see them only in terms of a collective identity.
In a war, thousands of innocent people are sentenced to death as collateral damage, not through judicial deliberation but
as a consequence of war. Here, the question arises:
Is there an ethical framework to resolve these concerns?
The most famous way of ethically assessing war is to use ‘Just War Theory’. Just war theory establishes several conditions
that determine whether a war can be regarded as just, ethical or legitimate.
Are these ethical ideals being followed?
Some states and military organizations explicitly try to adhere to just war principles and incorporate them into their
military doctrines, rules of engagement, and training programs.
However, in most of the cases, adherence to these principles is found wanting. The following can be cited as key reasons
for this scenario:
• Involvement of Non-State Actors: such as insurgent groups or terrorist organizations, are often not bound by the
same legal and ethical constraints as state actors, and their actions may frequently violate just war principles.
• Ignorance of Distinction principle: The principle of discrimination requires a clear distinction between combatants
and non-combatants, but in practice, civilians often become unintended victims of armed conflicts.
o For instance, use of weapons of mass destruction, cluster bombs, and those which affect large areas violate such
principles.
• Technological Advancements and the principle of proportionality: The use of advanced military technologies, such
as drones and precision-guided munitions, raises questions about proportionality and discrimination.
o While these technologies can be employed to minimize civilian harm, there are concerns about their potential
misuse.
• Limited Global Governance: The enforcement of just war principles often relies on international institutions, treaties,
and agreements. The effectiveness of these mechanisms is often questionable.
What can be done to ensure that these ideas are followed?
• Strengthening International Cooperation and Institutions: Strengthen and
enforce international agreements that govern the conduct of war, such as the
Geneva Conventions.
o There is also a need to enhance the role of institutions such as the
International Criminal Court (ICC) or the UN Security Council in holding
individuals or states accountable.
• Advocacy for stricter Arms control and disarmament: to limit the use of
weapons that can cause disproportionate harm to civilians.
• Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution: Investing in diplomatic and peacebuilding efforts such as addressing the root
causes of conflicts, promoting dialogue, and facilitating negotiations can contribute to the prevention of violence.
• Code of Conduct: There can be an enforceable code of conduct for state militaries based on consensus regarding war
ethics.
• Human rights monitoring: Strengthen human rights monitoring mechanisms to document and report on violations
during armed conflicts.
Conclusion
As the nature of warfare continues to evolve, ethical considerations must adapt to address new challenges and uphold
the fundamental values that prioritize human dignity, justice, and peace.
Recently, a conflict broke out between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East. Continuous bombardments, airstrikes and ground
offensives have resulted in significant civilian casualties on both sides. The war has divided the world with no end to hostilities in
sight but with the increased challenges of food insecurity, homelessness and poverty.
On the basis of the case, answer the following questions:
• Should morality be a concern in war?
• Who are the stakeholders and what are the ethical considerations associated with war?
• What principles should the parties involved follow to respect human life?
9.3. ETHICS IN SPORTS

Introduction
A controversy erupted during the Cricket World Cup match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka regarding the call for a
timed-out decision against Sri Lankan cricketer Angelo Mathews. Although, it was as per the rules, but his conduct was
debated in the context of poor sportsmanship.
Who are different stakeholders and what is the responsibility of different stakeholders in ensuring sports ethics?
Stakeholders Responsibility
Government • Promoting and monitoring implementation of code of sports ethics.
• Inclusion of sports ethics in school curricula.
• Encourage research to improve understanding of complex issues in sports.
Sports • Publish clear guidelines on ethical and unethical behaviour.
institutions/ • Establish systems which reward sports ethics and penalize unethical behaviour.
organizations • Encourage modification of rules to meet special needs of vulnerable sportspersons.
Sportspersons • Setting a good example through personal behaviour.
• Refrain from rewarding unfair play.
• Awareness regarding physical and psychological changes throughout sporting performance.
Sport fans • Express support for their team without resorting to disrespectful or offensive language.
• Rejecting and condemning any form of discrimination.
• Responsible online behaviour and respecting privacy of sportspersons.
What constitutes Sports Ethics?
Sports ethics signifies not just a certain form of behaviour but also a particular way of thinking. It involves the elimination
of all types of negative behaviour on and off the field. More importantly, it promotes equity and sporting excellence.
Ethics in sports requires four key virtues: fairness, integrity, responsibility, and respect.
Ethical virtues Elements
Fairness • Follow established rules and guidelines of respective sports.
• No discrimination against participants in a sport based on their race, gender, or sexual orientation.
• Referees should not show bias or personal interest in the outcome.
Integrity • Not to engage in or tolerate dishonesty, cheating or dishonourable conduct.
• Any athlete who seeks to gain an advantage over his/her opponent by means of a skill that the game itself
was not designed to test demonstrates a lack of personal integrity and violates the integrity of the game.
o For example, when a player fake being injured or fouled in soccer, he or she is not acting in a
sportsmanlike manner.
Responsibility • Take responsibility for their performance, as well as their actions on the field.
• Players and coaches be up to date on the rules and regulations governing their sport.
• Players and coaches conduct themselves in an honourable way off the field, as well as on it.
Respect • Treat the traditions of the sports and other participants with respect.
• Not to engage in or tolerate disrespectful conduct, including verbal abuse of opponents and officials.
• All fans should show respect for other fans, as well as both teams and officials.
What are the ethical issues that arise in sports?
• The idea - winning is everything: Athletes and coaches are often
encouraged to bend the rules wherever possible to gain a competitive
advantage over an opponent, and to pay less attention to the safety and
welfare of the competition.
o It places greater emphasis on the outcome of the game than on the
way it is played.
• Pressure of excessive competition: Modern sports are extremely
competitive due to the professionalization of sports, involvement of
global viewership, feeling of national pride, increased financial stakes
and increased participation etc.
o This creates pressure on athletes to conduct themselves unethically
to gain a competitive advantage. E.g., the issue of doping among
athletes to improve performance.
• Law-Morality conundrum: While there are established rules and regulations within the legal framework of sports,
the interpretation and application of these rules sometimes lead to moral ambiguity.
• Bracketed morality: This approach holds that sport and competition are set apart from real life and occupy a realm
where ethics and moral codes do not apply.
o Instead, some argue, sports serve as an outlet for our primal aggression and a selfish need for recognition and
respect gained through the conquering of an opponent. In this view, aggression and victory are the only virtues.
E.g., sledging during cricket matches between cricketers.
How can sports ethics be promoted?
• Education and awareness: Implementing educational programs emphasizing the
importance of sports ethics, fair play and sportsmanship.
• Role modelling: Promote positive role models in sports who exemplify the
highest standards of ethical behaviour.
• Code of Conduct: Develop and enforce a clear code of conduct for athletes,
coaches, officials, and spectators.
• Anti-doping initiatives: Implement robust anti-doping programs to ensure fair competition and protect the health of
athletes.
• Media responsibility: Promote responsible and ethical sports journalism that focuses on fair reporting and avoids
sensationalism.
• Sponsor responsibility: Encourage responsible sponsorship and corporate practices that align with ethical standards.
Conclusion
The goal in sportsmanship is not simply to win but to pursue victory with honour by giving one's best effort. Sport
demonstrates and encourages character development of the individual, which then influences the moral character of
the broader community.
A match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka was ongoing during the cricket world cup match. During Sri Lanka’s innings, Angelo
Mathews walked up to the crease but realized something wrong with his helmet. He asked for a replacement and as a man ran
towards him with his helmet, Bangladesh bowler Shakib appealed for a timed-out decision against Mathews. Shakib’s appeal was
accepted and Mathews was asked to go back to the pavilion.
• What are the ethical issues involved in the case?
• In reference to this case, is law and morality on the same ground?
• What factors determine the sportsmanship and sports ethics?

9. ETHICS
9.1. LABOUR ETHICS AND LONG WORK HOURS
Introduction
Recently, an ILO report highlighted that among various work related risks,
long working hours is leading cause of death among employees. This has
raised debate surrounding labour ethics.
Labour Ethics
• Includes consideration of right and wrong on a wide range of
questions having to do with the treatment of labour.
o It entails that employers are ethically required to provide a safe
and healthy workplace for their employees.
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms that people have a right to rest and leisure, including reasonable
limitations of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.
Stakeholders Interests
Employee • Gainful employment, good working conditions and work-life balance.
Employers/Industrialists • Promote Organizational efficiency, profits and sustained human resource development.
Management • Views long working hours as a matter of professional responsibility, especially in fields such as
health care and law enforcement.
Investors • Maximize returns on their investments in short period of time.
• Undertake investments in ethically and socially responsible businesses.
Labour Unions • Negotiate for better workers’ rights, including safer working conditions and reasonable work
hours.
Labour regulatory bodies • Enforcement of labour laws, rules, regulations and standards and promote welfare of workers.
Government • Promote economic growth along with all round human Capital development.
Ethical concerns against overtime and long work hours:
Ethical arguments for long work hours
• Violation of Ethical principle of nonmaleficence: The principle • For maintenance of essential services, during
dictates that care should be taken not to harm others. emergency situations like pandemic, wartime
o Long working hours causes exhaustion leading to medical etc. (Situational Ethics).
negligence, disasters e.g. Chernobyl, Space Shuttle • Often result of shortage of staff and paucity of
Challenger accident etc. skilled workers. (Situational Ethics)
• To improve work productivity, efficiency and
• Wealth over health: Choosing extra overtime income
competitiveness of industries and countries.
compromises physical and mental health of the employee. E.g.
(Utilitarian Ethics).
job burnout in investment banking.
• Profit over principles: Mandating long work hours is against sustainable work culture where businesses are mindful
of worker’s health.
• Erosion of family and societal values: By eroding time for personal relationships, and ties to the broader community.
• Against socialistic and gender ethics: Long work hours concentrate job opportunities for limited set of labour force
resulting in inequitable distribution of employment.
o It limits gainful employment opportunities for women who prefer shorter-hour shifts due to dual burden.
ILO’s Global Strategy on Occupational Safety and Health 2023
Guiding principles:
• International labour standards: To promote, respect and realize the right to a safe and healthy working environment and build
a culture of prevention.
• Social dialogue and participation: Recognition of the right to collective as an enabler for right to a safe and healthy working
environment.
• Human-centred, inclusive and gender-transformative approach: To reduce inequalities based on gender, disability and age,
in OSH policies and programmes.
• Focus on prevention of OSH risks throughout the life cycle.
Way forward
• Governments: Proper enforcement of labour laws regulating work hours, e.g. Factories Act, Motor Transport
Workers Act, 1961.
o Legal framework for sectors where laws to limit work hours don’t exist.
• Businesses: Invest in health and wellbeing of employees to promote better job satisfaction. E.g. Healthcare
insurance, paid leaves, maternity/paternity leaves etc.
• Employees: Better time management to foster a balance between professional and personal goals.
• Upskilling: To address shortage of skilled workforce and promote better
division of labour.
• Collaboration between multiple stakeholders, like, Government,
business, labour unions etc. to create an ethical framework for
Sustainable work culture.
Conclusion
It is an ethical imperative for a just and fair society to ensure that, jobs are
safe, properly compensated, with beneficial work life, and also a life that has
time for rest, health, family, leisure and attainment of one’s personal values.
70 hours work discussion
Recently, an IT firm founder suggested 70 hours a week as a work ethic for young Indians.
History of workweek
• 1817: “8 hours work, 8 hours recreation, 8 hours sleep” slogan formulated by Robert Owen.
• 1926: 40-hour work week popularized by Henry Ford.
Why is 70 hours workweek required in India?
• To reap benefits of favorable demographic dividend.
• Nation Building: E.g. Citizens of Japan and Germany worked for longer hours to rebuild their nations in the aftermath of the
2nd World War.
• Significant for acquiring new skills and learning, particularly at start of carrier.
• Conveys the value of hard work, particularly among young professionals.
How shorter work can be productive?
• Better work-life balance: More time to employees to decompress from work.
• Focus on Quality hours over Quantity of hours: There is Inverted U-shaped relationship between productivity and work-
hours.
• Focus on capital investment and skilling to enhance work efficiency.
You are CEO of a Fintech startup. Of late, there has been funding crunch in your industry which limits your organization’s ability to
hire more employees. However, organizational workload continues to expand and existing workforce is already stretched, working
for 10-11 hours, 6 days a week.
You explain this to the higher management, however, they highlight company’s inability to hire more and indicate you to further
distribute the surplus work burden on existing employees.
• What are the ethical dilemmas before you and who are the associated stakeholders?
• Evaluate the possible options before you.
• What would be your ideal course of action?
9.2. ETHICS OF NUDGE

Introduction
The Haryana government launched the Pran Vayu Devta Pension
Scheme, offering pension to trees aged 75 years or older located on
the property of the state’s residents. The scheme aims at nudging
the residents towards conserving and protecting aging trees and the
environment.

What is a Nudge?
• A nudge is simply an intervention that gently steers individuals towards a desired action. It is an aspect of the choice
architecture that alters people’s behaviour without forbidding any options or significantly changing their economic
incentives.
• Nudges are rooted in behavioural sciences, acknowledging that individuals may not always make rational decisions.
o Instead, people's choices are influenced by cognitive biases, heuristics, and emotions. Nudges leverage this
understanding to guide people toward better decisions without limiting their choices. E.g., nudge to keep your
surroundings clean via Swacch Bharat Mission (SBM).
Significance of Nudges
• Promote law and order: “Nudge Units” within government agencies have proven that simple nudges can reduce law
violations without using heavy-handed penalties.
• More effective: When applied thoughtfully, nudges can be more effective than mandates, financial incentives, or
awareness campaigns alone.
• Freedom of choice: Unlike traditional interventions that impose restrictions or regulations, nudges maintain
individuals' freedom of choice.
• Cost-effective: Implementing nudges can be relatively simple, and low-cost interventions compared to more
traditional approaches.
• Evidence-based: Nudges are often arrived at after empirical research and evidence, lending them significant
credibility and legitimacy.
• Diversity: Nudges can be tailored to accommodate diverse preferences, values, and cultural contexts, allowing for the
customization of interventions.
Key ethical concerns with nudge
Key ethical concerns with nudges are often seen with respect to the ‘goals of the nudger’, ‘autonomy of the nudged’,
and ‘effects of nudges’.
• Goals of the nudger: Nudges can be used by many different actors such as individuals, governments, supermarkets
or other corporations. The potential impact of nudges depends upon the nudgers’ motives and who benefits from the
nudge.
• Autonomy of the
nudged: Ethical
concerns
concerning
autonomy largely
deals with:
o Behavioural
exploitation:
Nudges work
with human
shortcomings, especially uncertainty, inaction, and impatience; thus, nudging may exploit people’s irrationality.
For instance, auto-enrolment in savings schemes takes advantage of an individual’s inaction.
o Lack of transparency: Concerns of manipulation and lack of transparency are raised with nudges operating on a
subconscious level.
• Effects of nudges: Effects of nudges may relate to two aspects: Nudge effectiveness (the strength of their impact) and
unintended effects.
o Effectiveness: A nudge does not stimulate reflection and so is less unlikely to create the knowledge, dissonance,
or evaluation required to change people’s beliefs, attitudes and behaviour in the long term.
o Unintended effects: In some cases, a nudge may produce reactance (negative reaction due to perception of
choice restriction) or boomerang effect (reversal from follow-up of intended outcome).
What should be the nature of ethical nudging?
• Transparency: Nudges should be transparent, not covert or hidden and in the interests of the people who are being
nudged and consistent with their values.
• Autonomy: The formation and expression of preferences is an important aspect of individual autonomy and the
nudger should consider preferences when setting the goals of a nudging campaign.
o For example, economically underprivileged groups may benefit from nudges that help them avoid unnecessary
bank fees or high-interest loans more than those designed to increase savings.
• Beneficence: Goal should be to have a positive impact on individuals and society and promote better decision making.
o Nudging should not exploit individuals' vulnerabilities, such as cognitive limitations, emotional states, or
socioeconomic factors.
• Sensitivity and consent: Nudges should be culturally sensitive and
consider the diversity of values, norms, and beliefs within a population.
o Individuals should have the option to opt out of nudges.
Conclusion
The ethics of nudging demands a delicate balance between influencing
behaviour for the greater good and respecting individual autonomy. Effective
and ethical nudging should prioritize transparency, beneficence, and fairness
while avoiding exploitation and safeguarding privacy.
A school in New Delhi implements an incentive program for promoting the value of education in the students. Such incentive
program awards the students achieving top ranks in specially designed tests of all the subjects, which are conducted on monthly
basis. Some students who are very good in some subjects find it disincentivising as they cannot perform very good in overall
subjects. This resulted in them losing interest in studies.
On the basis of case, answer the following questions:
• What are the ethical concerns associated with such incentive mechanisms?
• What factors determine that a program designed to bring behavioural changes produce intended outcomes?
• What can be a more effective intervention for promotion of education in schools?
9.3. INDIVIDUAL SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (ISR)
Introduction
According to the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2023, 119
Indian business tycoons donated Rs 5 crore or more in FY23, together
contributing Rs 8,445 crore for philanthropic activities. This
highlights the role Social Responsibility can play in society.
What is Individual Social Responsibility?
• Social responsibility is a moral framework where organizations
and individuals strive to act for the greater good and avoid
causing harm to society and the environment.
• Triple bottom line: This tenet of social responsibility
encompasses “people, planet, and profit”. This is the belief that
achieving profit does not require harm to the planet or the
exploitation of people.
• Individual Social Responsibility (ISR) refers to the ethical
obligations and actions that individuals have towards their
community and society as a whole.
o ISR involves an individual being aware of how personal actions influence the community.
How ISR is different from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)?
Nature of Individual Social Responsibility (ISR) Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Difference
Scale and Scope Individual decisions and voluntary contributions. Corporate entities, Businesses and Large firms. E.g.,
E.g., Philanthropic contributions. Bottles for change campaign of Bisleri.
Nature of Often small and more personal such as Typically, larger in scale and include philanthropy,
Contributions volunteering, charitable giving, advocacy for social environmental sustainability programs, ethical business
justice etc. practices, community development etc.
Drivers Typically, voluntary and driven by personal values Often due to legal requirements, but also driven by
and a sense of moral obligation. ethical considerations and public relations.
Public Not always be publicly communicated and are often Companies often communicate their CSR initiative
Knowledge a private and personal commitment. through various media and annual reports.
Need for ISR in India
• Predominance of Public Sector: The public sector has been carrying
the weight of social sector spending in India, accounting for 95% of
total spending.
• Funding gap in Sustainable Development: India remains well short of
NITI Aayog’s estimate (13% of GDP) of total annual funding required
to achieve United Nations SDGs by 2030.
• Resource redistribution: Despite strong economic growth, multi-
dimensional inequalities persist in India which require a considerable
amount of investment and efforts for resource redistribution.
• Environmental sustainability: ISR practices, such as sustainable
living, waste reduction, and conservation efforts, can contribute to
environmental sustainability and mitigate the impact of climate
change.
• Technology development: ISR can be tapped for enhancing the role
of technology, bridging the digital divide and promoting financial
inclusion.
Ethical Considerations when engaging in ISR
• Freedom of Choice: ISR activities should be designed with the choice autonomy of beneficiaries in mind.
• Cultural Sensitivity: ISR activities should understand the cultural context and collaborate with local communities for
respectful engagement.
• Social interest vs personal interest: Individuals are guided by their personal choices and values which may not always
be aligned with every group of people.
o Individuals in their ISR activities should understand the group composition and interests for whom the activity is
designed.
• Outcome-oriented: Individuals should strive to assess the impact of
their contributions, adapting and refining their approaches to
maximize positive outcomes.
• Empowerment: Ethical ISR involves empowering communities to be
self-reliant and fostering sustainable solutions rather than
perpetuating a cycle of dependency.
Conclusion
ISR represents a powerful force for positive change in the communities and
society at large. Embracing ethical ISR involves a conscientious
commitment to making choices that contribute to the well-being of society, the environment, and future generations.
Prerna, an entrepreneur, supports a local NGO that provides education and healthcare services to underprivileged children. The
support by the NGO is vital for survival and development of the underprivileged community. However, the NGO is facing allegations
of mismanagement and misuse of funds. News articles and reports suggest that only a small portion of the donations is reaching
the intended beneficiaries, while a significant amount is being spent on administrative expenses and lavish events.
On the basis of case, answer the following questions:
• What are the ethical dilemmas that Prerna faces?
• What can be the course of action for Prerna in this situation?
9.4. ETHICS OF ONLINE GAMING

Introduction
Recently, the online gaming industry signed a voluntary ‘Code of Ethics for Online Gaming Intermediaries’ at the Indian
Gaming Convention (IGC), organized by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI).
About Code of Ethics for Online Gaming Intermediaries (OGI)
• The document was signed by the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS), the E-Gaming Federation (EGF), and the
All-India Gaming Federation (AIGF), which together account for a majority of the gaming industry in India.
o Adherence to this Code is voluntary and does not override or intend to replace existing laws applicable to
Signatories.
• Objectives
o To protect the interests of consumers and enable them to make informed choices about the online games they
access.
o To create a healthy environment for online games in India and ingrain a culture of responsible gaming.
o To elevate the industry standard and bring uniformity in the business practices of signatories.
Online Gaming
• Online game means a game that is offered on the Internet and is accessible by a
user through a computer resource.
• Types of Online Games:
o Game of Skill: Games in which the outcome depends on the player’s expertise,
practice, and experience and not merely on chance.
o Game of Chance: Games in which the outcome is decided by randomized
events and treated similarly to betting, gambling, and horse racing.
• Online Gaming Intermediary (OGI) means any intermediary that enables the users
of its computer resource to access one or more online games.

To know more about the Online Gaming Sector and its Regulation, kindly refer to Article 1.7. Regulation of Online Gaming in April
2023 edition of VisionIAS Current Affairs Magazine.
Different Stakeholders in the Online Gaming Industry and their associated Ethical concerns
Stakeholders Interests Ethical Concerns
Game developers • Profitability • Exploitative monetization practices
• Increasing user base • Unfair terms of service
• Gaining popularity • Lack of representation of diverse population
• Building brand reputation • Perpetuation of stereotypes
• Age-inappropriate content
Gamers • Entertainment • Gaming addiction
• Fair play • Differentiated treatment for players
• Data privacy and security • Value depletion, toxicity, and harassment
• Positive gaming environment • Privacy issues
• Unfair play and cheating
Regulatory bodies • Consumer protection • Gambling related issues
• Promoting ethical gaming environment • Illegal activities and their funding
• Promote fair competition
Advertisers/Sponsors • Maximising revenue • Misleading advertisements
• Brand visibility • Surrogate advertising
• Promoting fair advertising standards • Unfair trade practices
Content • Monetization • Intellectual property concerns
creators/Streamers • Sponsorships • Transparency concerns
• Gaining influence • Toxicity, bullying and harassment
Key Principles Outlined in Code to overcome these concerns
• Responsible Gaming: Online gaming intermediaries (OGI) will advise their users to follow responsible gaming
practices and take necessary precautions while playing.
o OGI will allow users an option to set time or spend limits for themselves.
• Safeguards for Minors (Age Gating): All necessary safeguards to protect minors such as displaying the ‘18/18+ only’
signage will be instituted by OGI.
• Fair Gaming: OGI will publish on their website/platforms terms and conditions, privacy policy, nature of content in
the online game etc.
o Anti-deception Measures will ensure that games or contests are played only between real persons and against
automated systems such as bots.
• Financial Safeguards: OGI will adopt best practices to detect and prevent the use of its platform for money
laundering and other illegal activities.
• Safe, Secure and Reliable Gaming: OGI will ensure Safe, Secure and Reliable Gaming by adhering to existing
regulations for cyber security.
• Responsible Advertising: Signatories endeavour to employ responsible advertising and marketing campaigns in
conformity with existing laws, regulations, and guidelines for advertising.
Way Forward for an Ethical Online Gaming Sector
• Consumer protection: Applying standard consumer protection measures
to evaluate the fairness of online gaming platforms such as in-game
purchases.
o One method that can be employed is the test of acceptable quality
(i.e., meeting the reasonable expectation of utility and value).
• Innovative system: Gaming companies can introduce systems which
incentivize players to praise one another for teamwork, positivity, and
strategy. For instance, League of Legends’ “Honor” system was
introduced by Riot Games.

• Inclusiveness: Game developers should strive to create inclusive narratives and characters that resonate with a wide
range of players, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, or background.
• Policy measures: There is a need to implement policies that require companies to focus on age verification, cyber-
security measures, and responsible gaming tools to prevent addiction and exploitation, particularly among minors.
• Fostering Responsible Advertising and Marketing: Regulations should address predatory marketing practices and
ensure transparency in loot box mechanics and in-app purchases.
• Balance Growth & Innovation: Regulatory frameworks should be flexible enough to adapt to the evolving nature of
gaming technology and emerging game genres.
• Robust Data Protection: Stringent data privacy regulations should be applied to ensure player data is
collected, stored, and used ethically and responsibly.
In 2017, Electronic Arts released a highly anticipated multiplayer game "Star Wars: Battlefront II". The game allowed players to
purchase loot boxes with real money, which contained items that could significantly impact gameplay. The game's progression
system was tied to loot boxes, impacting the overall player experience. Also, these loot boxes were randomized, and players had
no guarantee of receiving desired items. This affected the gaming experience.
• What ethical concerns are evident in the above case study?
• Identify the elements of ethical design of such a game which enhances the overall user experience.
• How can it be ensured that online games focus on consumer protection?

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9.2. ETHICS OF ANIMAL RIGHTS

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Legal Framework for child artists

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Ethical concerns/issues in Science without Humanity

9.2. ETHICAL CONDUCT OF CONTROLLED HUMAN INFECTION STUDIES (CHIS)

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9.2. ETHICS OF MEDIA TRIAL

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Check your Ethical Aptitude

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9.2. AI AND HUMAN RIGHTS

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Stakeholders and their Interest

Ethical Issues /Concerns arising when Knowledge is used without Character

9.2. ETHICS OF WAR

9.3. ETHICS IN SPORTS

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9.2. ETHICS OF NUDGE

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9.4. ETHICS OF ONLINE GAMING

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