Distinguishing right from wrong : proposed ethical principles for the development of national information policies

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.