When storing electronic information about individuals there are a number of ethical issues that may arise. Organizations should make sure that there are strong protocols in place to address ethical issues that may arise when storing information about individuals.  One example of an ethical issue that comes up when storing personal information about individuals has to do with the issue of confidentiality.  In other words, how will the individual know that when others see their person information that it will be treated with the highest degree of confidentiality.  This can be especially important for example, in the case of health care data.  If a patient doesn’t believe that their information will be treated confidentially they may not fully share key information that is needed for their health plan.  Hospitals and other organizations that have access to key electronic information about people generally have policies surrounding how to handle confidential information.

Another ethical example has to do with the ability to track the whereabouts of individuals through real time electronic data and the storage of that data.  If the data were used in the way that it was not intended or if it were used to manipulate a person or a group of people that would be unethical. If the data were used as a form of bribery, to achieve a desired outcome – it would be considered unethical.

Another example of an ethical issue with the electronic storage of information about individuals has to do with the ability to manipulate the information.  If an individual that had access to the information, went in and changed it in any shape or form that would be a serious ethical issue.  Hospital staff that change the results of medical tests or college staff that change the results of student grades are two examples that would be unethical.

A final example of an ethical issue that could arise regarding the storage of electronic information about individuals has to do the ability of people to access key information that they are authorized to access.  An example of this is when a law enforcement officer looks at the law data base to look up the record of a neighbor.  He or she has no authorized reason or rationale to look up this information and therefore are accessing it without proper reason or need to know about the data that is stored in the system.