Course:

Professional Ethics
Course Instructor:
Dr. Farah Kanwal
Submitted by:
Name: Bilal Ahmad
Class: 6A
Registeration no: Meen211101031
Assignment: 3nd

Institute of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

Khwaja Fareed university of engineering and IT Rahim Yar Khan
Title: The Impact of Technology on Professional Ethics:
Challenges and Solutions.

Abstract:
• Brief overview of the topic and its significance.
• Summary of key challenges and proposed solutions.

Introduction:
• Definition of professional ethics and its importance in various industries.
• Overview of the increasing integration of technology into professional environments.
• Thesis statement outlining the main challenges posed by technology to professional
ethics and proposed solutions.
Challenges:
1. Privacy Concerns:
• Explanation of privacy concerns in the digital age, including data collection, storage,
and usage.
• Examples of privacy breaches and their impact on professional ethics.
• Discussion of the need for robust privacy regulations and ethical frameworks to address
these concerns.
• Solutions such as privacy-enhancing technologies and data protection measures.
2. Cybersecurity Risks:
• Exploration of cybersecurity threats, including hacking, data breaches, and identity
theft.
• Analysis of the ethical implications of cybersecurity vulnerabilities in professional
settings.
• Examination of strategies for enhancing cybersecurity ethics, such as encryption,
network security protocols, and ethical hacking.
• Discussion on the role of professionals in maintaining cybersecurity standards and
ethical practices.
3. Automation and Job Displacement :
• Overview of the impact of automation and AI on employment opportunities and job
displacement.
• Ethical considerations surrounding technological unemployment and its societal
implications.
• Examination of ethical frameworks for managing job displacement, including retraining
programs, universal basic income, and labor market policies.
• Discussion on the ethical responsibilities of organizations and policymakers in
addressing the challenges of automation.
4. Biased Algorithms :

• Explanation of algorithmic bias and its manifestation in various applications, such as

hiring, lending, and criminal justice.
• Analysis of the ethical dilemmas arising from biased algorithms and their impact on
fairness and equity.
• Exploration of methods for detecting and mitigating algorithmic bias, including
algorithmic auditing, fairness-aware algorithms, and diverse dataset curation.
• Discussion on the role of professionals in promoting algorithmic fairness and ethical AI
practices.
5. Digital Divide :
• Definition of the digital divide and its implications for access to technology and
opportunities.
• Examination of the ethical concerns related to the widening digital divide and its impact
on social justice.
• Analysis of strategies for addressing the digital divide, including digital inclusion
initiatives, infrastructure development, and digital literacy programs.
• Discussion on the ethical imperative of ensuring equitable access to technology and
opportunities for all.
Solutions:
1. Ethical Guidelines and Standards:
Developing and adhering to clear ethical guidelines and standards specific to each profession
can help mitigate ethical dilemmas arising from technology use.
Transparency and Accountability: Implementing transparent practices in technology
development and usage, coupled with mechanisms for accountability, can enhance trust and
uphold ethical standards.
2. Ethics Training and Education:
Providing ongoing ethics training and education for professionals can raise awareness of ethical
issues related to technology and equip them with the skills to navigate these challenges.
3. Algorithmic Fairness and Bias Mitigation:
Actively addressing bias in algorithms and AI systems through techniques like algorithmic
auditing, diverse dataset curation, and fairness-aware algorithms can promote more equitable
outcomes.
4. Digital Inclusion Initiatives:
Investing in digital inclusion initiatives, such as providing access to technology and digital
literacy programs, can help bridge the digital divide and ensure equitable participation in the
benefits of technology.
Most Important Ethical Issues:
Businesses today are faced with several ethical challenges. Critical decisions have to be made to
ensure we are protecting personal freedoms and using data appropriately.
Misuse of Personal Information:
Personal information is the new gold, as the saying goes. We have commoditized data because
of the value it provides to businesses attempting to reach their consumer base. But when does
it go too far? For businesses, it’s extremely valuable to know what kind of products are being
searched for and what type of content people are consuming the most. For political figures, it’s
important to know what kind of social or legal issues are getting the most attention. These
valuable data points are often exploited so that businesses or entities can make money or
advance their goals. Facebook in particular has come under fire several times over the years
for selling personal data it gathers on its platform.
Misinformation and Deep Fakes:
One thing that became evident during the 2016 and 2020 U.S. presidential elections was the
potential of misinformation to gain a wider support base. The effect created polarization that
has had wide-reaching effects on global economic and political environments.
In contrast to how information was accessed prior to the internet, we are constantly flooded
with real-time events and news as it breaks. Celebrities and political figures can disseminate
opinions on social media without fact checking, which is then aggregated and further spread
despite its accuracy—or inaccuracy. Information no longer undergoes the strenuous validation
process that we formerly used to publish newspapers and books.
Lack of Oversight and Acceptance of Responsibility:
Most companies operate with a hybrid stack, comprised of a blend of third-party and owned
technology. As a result, there is often some confusion about where responsibility lies when it
comes to governance, use of big data, cybersecurity concerns and managing personally
identifiable information or PII. Whose responsibility is it really to ensure data is protected? If
you engage a third party for software that processes payments, do you bear any responsibility if
credit card details are breached? The fact is that it’s everyone’s job. Businesses need to adopt a
perspective where all collective parties share responsibility.
Similarly, many experts lobby for a global approach to governance, arguing that local policing
is resulting in fractured policy making and a widespread mismanagement of data. Similar to
climate change, we need to band together if we truly want to see improvement.

Autonomous Technology:
Self-driving cars, robotic weapons and drones for service are no longer a thing of the future—
they’re a thing of the present and they come with ethical dilemmas. Robotic machines in place
of human soldiers is a very real possibility, along with self-driving cars and package delivery
via unmanned drone.
Autonomous technology packs a punch when it comes to business potential, but there is
significant concern that comes with allowing programmed technology to operate seemingly
without needed oversight. It’s a frequently mentioned ethical concern that we trust our
technology too much without fully understanding it.
Conclusion:
• Recap of the main challenges posed by technology to professional ethics.
• Summary of the proposed solutions and their potential impact on mitigating ethical
dilemmas.
• Call to action for professionals, organizations, and policymakers to prioritize ethical
considerations in the use of technology and uphold ethical standards in their respective
fields.