Abstract:
Information policy formulation is not only a matter of politics and policies. In this article
it is argued that national information policies are also about ethics and that the moral
complexities and challenges associated with the development of national information
policies should be taken into consideration. As such it is a matter of social justice. A brief
overview of the scope and nature of national information policies is provided. It is also
argued that ethical reasoning should not be confused with laws or customs and that sound
ethical reasoning is needed to address the ethical complexities associated with the design
of national information policies. A set of ethical principles is proposed that can be used as
guidelines for the development of national information policies.
