Technology Ethicists

Ethics in business practices started to become more important to society in the 1960s and 1970s. During this time awareness was raised regarding the impacts of manufacturing as well as corporate and government practices on the environment, human rights, and communities and societies. Since then, many environmental, human rights, and privacy laws have been passed. Corporations, governments, and businesses of all kinds have since become increasingly aware of the importance of adopting ethical standards of business practices.

Since the late 1990s, the growth of computers and mobile devices have enabled companies to reach customers and market to prospects in broader geographic areas. The Internet and social media have become important tools for many different types of businesses, whether for profit or nonprofit, to gather information about customers and potential customers. As a result, more companies are now paying attention to how they use technologies and their applications, which has increased the need for technology ethicists. The public demands transparency in business operations and technology ethicists aim to ensure organizations are accountable in how they develop and use technologies.