Chapter 10 - Current Ethical Scruples Concerning Information Engineering

Abstract

This chapter discusses the theoretical and practical pros and cons of the electronic identity. It reviews the harmonization and contradictions of the privacy and security interests, and their relationship to the principles of liberty and solidarity, individual and society. The issues of democratic control and influence to further developments of democracy are also discussed, focusing on the ethical duties and possible actions of the engineering community. The extension of the privacy concept toward a community cultural identity is older than the privacy idea itself. The synchronization of privacy and security is given in exchange of information by the asymmetric coding idea of the public key, by the random number generating methods for codes and the various legal-procedural ways of security system control. This security system can be a safety measure against terrorism and is an efficient way of security control for private business and for sensitive information about planned malevolent actions. The system can also work in defense of group privacy if it is agreed within the group and among the groups concerned.