Ethics Of Information Technology In Islamic Theories

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

Abstract: Information Technology (IT) is penetrating every walk of life now and this has raised many ethical issues for today's IT professional. The aim of this paper is to raise and examine moral issues as they emerge particularly in the context of the new communications and computer technology, understand various professional relationships and associated key ethical issues, discuss how codes of ethics, professional organizations, certifications and licensing affect the ethical behavior of IT professionals, identify the key tenets of different codes of ethics that provide guidance for IT professionals and the common ethical issues that face IT users, and discuss approaches for supporting the ethical practices of IT users. The title of this paper includes several words that it would be a good to start by defining them before going into the details.

Keywords: Ethics, Information technology, Islam

1.0 Introduction

Everyday, our life spectrum is broadening, and new technologies are created. Many different types of technologies are available and are used through our computers. It is quite difficult for some people to realize that how much these technologies change our lives and society. They perform many ordinary, everyday functions and also perform many life critical tasks. We bank by computer, we shop by computer, and we even use the computers for medical treatments. Computer programmers and computer scientists make all of this possible. This affected the society with known problems related to privacy, security, transferring and distributing obscene materials like pornography, piracy, and intellectual properties.

The first need for ethics in IT users is to handle information. Information can be gathered in unethical ways. It can be processed in the wrong way and false or inappropriate information can be retained. Misleading information can be spread and important information can be withheld. By using information wrongly people and organizations can be hurt. The importance and amounts of information processed by computers necessitates the construction of adaptive ethical rules. Other related ethical issues are software piracy, inappropriate use computing resources, and inappropriate sharing of information.

One of the main problems within the Western civilization nowadays is what approach we should follow as basis for the codes of ethics, and the stress now is on what is called 'Universal values" which in itself is not clear because what was used to be universal is not now and the "universality" implies the consensus of all humans on it which is a difficult thing to claim. For IT communities there are some successful codes, we are going discuss in brief the construction and benefits of such codes.

2.0 Methodology

In completing this term paper, the major instrument that has been used is literature review. By reviewing the literature review, all the information will be cultivate back based on the understanding. The literature review that had been used is journal about information ethic. Another method applied for this term paper is review the information in web page. Approach that had been used in completing this term paper is understands from the reviewing and cultivation from the understanding.

3.0 Definitions and concept of Ethics

Ethics is principles or standards of human conduct, sometimes call morals philosophy. It is that discipline of Philosophy that closely and solely concerned with what is morally good and bad, right and wrong. This terminology is equally applicable to any system or theory of moral values or principles.

Islam sees ethics as Islamic concept of ethics is based upon a very simple but concrete philosophy. Islam clearly mentions that ALLAH is the sole creator of Universe and everything in it. HE is one of unity of command, omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. HE is clean from all defects and free from any weaknesses, HE is holy in all due respects, HE himself narrated in Holy Quran about HIS greatness

Islam is considered to be a comprehensive religion and its ethical system is considered to be one of the major ethical systems. Owing to the importance of establishing an ethical system in the field of IT, especially at our present time which is witnessing an ever increasing ethical problems, several specialist organizations have prepared codes of ethics to be complied with by members of those organizations.

Islamic moral standards teach universal justice and human equality. First of all, ethical propositions do reflect universal moral truths regardless of culture, race, religion, nationality, or any other distinguishing feature. Thus moral relativism has no place in Islam. Second, human beings are equal and there is no favouritism of any ethnic groups over another. It mean no individual is closer or nearer to Allah (s.w.t) except through good deeds. As such, discrimination and division of mankind into good or bad, intelligent and less intelligent, privileged or otherwise, based on ethnicity and kinship, have no place in the Islamic ethical system.

Besides that, in Islam, human conducts are judged to be ethical or otherwise, depending on the intention of the individual and in accordance with the divine texts (nusus al-shari‟ah). Human conduct is considered morally good (amal salih) by fulfilling two conditions. First, the conduct must be done with good motives (niyyyah hasanah). Second, must be in accordance with the norms of the shari‟ah. In this case, both the motive and way of conduct must be good. Good intentions cannot turn immoral actions into good, while good outcomes cannot justify the morality of immoral means such as, Islamic ethical system is neither consequential nor utilitarian. Thus, a person‟s behavior can be wrong even if it results in the best possible outcomes. For instant, stilling or roping the wealthy of others to feed needy people is immoral. The reason is because, though feeding needy people is good, however, stilling is immoral in itself and nothing can justify it. Similarly, an act can be righteous even if it results in a negative outcome. For instant, to defend your wealth and family is morally good even if that results your death.

4.0 Work Ethics in Islamic Theories

Figure 1: Work ethics in Islamic theories

Distributive Justice

concerns the nature of a socially just allocation of goods in a society

Procedural Justice

 the idea of fairness in the processes that resolves disputes and allocates resources

Islamic Work Ethics

Interactional Justice

degree to which the people affected by decision are treated by dignity and respect

5.0 Challenges in Encouraging Islamic Ethical Behaviors among Information / Information Technology Personnel

There are several common challenges in developing Islamic ethical society identified :

5.1 Diversity of People in the Organization

There are many varieties of races and religions in the information technology organization. Some of them do not believe with Islam ethical concept. They were taught and familiar with the western ethics that was practice in their organization. They were think that the Islamic ethics are hard to follow and too stifling their behavior. Some of them are doing not want to try the Islamic ethical in their work or their daily life.

5.2 Resistance to change

Some of the information technology personnel are do not want to change their bad attitudes. They are has an egoistic attitude. Some of them are feel they are doing a right even their attitudes are bad and harm other people. They are taught and familiar with the bad attitudes since start move into work nature. They feel the Islamic ethics are not suitable to follow and practice in their daily job and life.

5.3 Bound with organization procedure

Some of the organization are guide and push their worker to follow western ethics in their daily work. A manager of the organization is only give a priority to organization profit. They are pushing their worker to do the wrong job and ignore a sin and reward that are given by Allah. They also proud with their bad ethics practiced in their organization.

5.4 Not Has Self-Confident Among Information Personnel

Many information personnel not have self-confident to practice islamic ethics in their work. That is because they feel other people will lay with their work. Other than that, they also not confident that they can be the best worker among many varieties and race worker in the organization by practice good attitudes that was teach by Islam and al-Quran.

6.0 Recommendations to Address the Challenges in Encouraging Ethical Behaviors among Information / Information Technology Personnel

In response to these challenges, several recommendations are proposed as follows:

6.1 Apply Islamic ethics in an information technology organization

An Islamic ethics must be apply in an information technology organization so that information personnel that were came from many varieties of races and religions will interested with ethics that brought by Islam. By applying that, the work that are doing by them are will be respect by other people in and organization and also from outside organization. Besides that, people from outside of organization will be interested with the information technology organization and respect with all of an information technology personnel.

6.2 Motivate and teach the information technology personnel with Islamic ethics

Manager in an information technology organization need to motivate and teach their worker with Islamic ethics. They should explain the advantages of using Islamic ethics than using the western ethics that was applying bad attitudes and harm others. Reward from Allah also must be explain to the information technology personnel, so that they will know benefits by applying good ethics that was carried by al-Quran and Prophet Muhammad SAW.

6.3 Enforce act or Rule of Organization

Information technology organizations need to enforce the organization rule that all of information personnel must apply the Islamic ethics in their daily work. A worker that not want to follow the organization rule need to give warning and if they are still refuse, they are must be punish. The rule enforcement is allowing information organization to apply the good attitudes and behavior between organization personnel.

6.4 Organization gives a reward

The manager also must play their role in practice Islamic ethics in their organization among their staff by give a reward to those people that practice Islamic ethics in their daily work. By giving reward, worker will be motivated and feel their work are appreciated.

7.0 Conclusion

Islam offers an ethical system which is unique. In Islam, ethics and religion are rooted to primordial human nature which is innocent and good unless is corrupted. Similarly, ethics, religion and law (fiqh) are complementary and do not contradict to each other. In this case, what is morally wrong is also illegal, and the law permits only what is moral. Similarly, in Islam both morality and law are derived from religious sources and religious teachings are practiced through morality and law. Second, Islamic ethical system is unique, because its value-judgements transcend all worldly gains and relativism interpretations. Transcendentalism, universalism and normative character are among building blocks of Islamic ethics, so that, information organization must practice Islamic ethics in their organization and also among information personnel.