ZAMBIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF

TECHNOLOGY

IN CONJUCTION WITH

THE UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA

BICTE - ODL

STUDENT NAME: CHOLA CHELLAH

STUDENT ID: 2410828

PROGRAMME: BICTE

COURSE: INTRODUCTION TO IT

COURSE CODE: ICT 1100

TASK: THEORY ASSIGNMENT 1

YEAR: 2024
Introduction

Emerging technologies have transformed industries to be more effective and collaborative, and
increased dependencies on such platforms. The downside is that, if these technologies are
exploited/hacked, they can cause extensive harm to both organizations and people whose data
has been compromised, and this is where the ethical concerns (i.e., social contract) fits in. A
social contract breach means that an organization’s product or service directly affects the public
interest (privacy, safety, and security) [1].

Ethical considerations/thinking is based on theories following principles associated to autonomy,

justice, beneficence, nonmaleficence and fidelity [2]. This paper reflects on the ethical dilemmas
and challenges arising from the use of ICT in various domains, including privacy, surveillance,
data mining, and artificial intelligence.

AI Ethics and ethical dilemmas

AI Ethics refers to the study of the moral principles, regulations, standards, and laws that apply
to AI, following the fundamental principles related to: transparency, respect for human values,
fairness, safety, accountability, and privacy [ [3], [4]].

Transparency means that AI-based algorithms and techniques must be transparently designed,
with a thorough description as well as a valid justification for being developed. An example of
ethical dilemmas involving transparency is the Amazon's recruitment tool, which was designed
to assess resumes, was found to exhibit gender bias. The algorithm, trained on historical hiring
data, reflected the biases inherent in that data [5]. This case highlights the ethical challenges
associated with using AI in contexts where historical data may perpetuate or amplify existing
inequalities. The lack of transparency in cases like the Amazon hiring tool underscores the
importance of understanding how algorithms operate. Future AI deployments must prioritize
transparency to ensure accountability and build trust among users

There are various dilemmas when it comes to the applicability of AI. One of the prominent
ethical dilemmas in AI involves the use of facial recognition technology. Public concerns about
AI are multifaceted, encompassing issues related to privacy, bias, accountability, and the
potential for job displacement. High-profile incidents involving AI systems, such as data
breaches or biased algorithms, contribute to a sense of apprehension [ [6], [7]]. Protecting user
privacy while using AI techniques must be kept as the highest priority. The user’s permission
must be obtained to utilize and preserve their information. The strictest security measures must
be followed to prevent the disclosure of sensitive data. Lessons must be learnt from Google’s
project Nightingale and Ascension [8] lawsuits which were an outcome of gathering personal
data and raised privacy concerns in terms of data sharing and the use of AI.

Regarding Data Mining, three key ethical concerns are bias, fairness, and accountability. Bias in
data mining occurs when the data used to train models or the algorithms themselves exhibit
systematic prejudices. This bias can be based on race, gender, age, or other protected attributes
and can result in unjust discrimination and perpetuate existing inequalities. For instance,
predictive policing models that use biased historical crime data may lead to over-policing in
certain communities, exacerbating societal disparities [9]. Fairness considerations are essential
for applications like lending, hiring, and automated decision-making systems. Ensure that the
training data accurately represents all groups and demographics.

In summary, integrating ethical considerations throughout the AI development lifecycle is

essential for promoting the responsible and ethical deployment of AI technologies within IT
systems [10]. By incorporating multidisciplinary perspectives and addressing ethical concerns at
every stage of development, implementing a framework that aims to guide developers,
policymakers, and organizations in navigating the complex ethical landscape of AI development
and ensuring that AI technologies contribute positively to society while upholding fundamental
ethical principles and values. During the design phase, ethical considerations are integrated into
the architecture and specifications of AI systems to ensure that ethical principles are embedded
from the outset [11], Design principles for ethical AI development are established to guide
designers in making ethical decisions throughout the design process [12]. These principles may
include requirements for transparency, accountability, fairness, privacy, and security. By
establishing clear design principles, designers can ensure that ethical considerations are
prioritized and integrated into the development of AI systems, leading to the creation of more
responsible and ethical AI technologies.
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