Database
Social, ethical and legal issues
Whilst many people are concerned about the issues raised previously, other viewpoints regarding the growth of computer use in general on moral and ethical grounds exist:
- are computers eroding the quality of life?
- are many of the personal details stored in databases unnecessary?
- are computers widening the gap between rich and poor nations?
- How relevant are computers in homes when millions of people are starving and live in extremely poor conditions?
- What benefit can there be in advanced telecommunications systems and Electronic Funds Transfer when millions of people do not even have bank accounts?
- Will modern communications systems mean that less human contact is experienced?
- Whilst we are dealing with large powerful databases, half of the world will not know how to use a telephone.
- Unknown to us, decisions are being made because vast amounts of information are being dispersed electronically,
- iIs demographic software (identification by postcodes) placing people in social classes?
- How are professionals such as teachers, lawyers, doctors and police dealing with the information they have stored on large databases?
