Information ethics

Every individual has the right to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media, regardless of frontiers.However, no right or, freedom can be absolute, and reasonable restrictions need to be placed on it.Application of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) include tailored activities that are context-sensitive with the capacity to have profound effect on a society- its culture, and on the individuals exposed to it. Content provided to the public through the application of ICTs is always closely bound and tied with the material and spiritual development of the entire society. It has the power to stimulate the ‘want’ in a society, belittling the true meaning of ‘need’. It is therefore, paramount, that ICT is applied judiciously to provide truthful and objective information to the people and thereby enable them to form rational opinions, which is sine qua non in a democracy.Mere advocacy of right to information and expression without seriously applying information ethics can dilute our principles of a healthy democracy, affecting the process of building peaceful, just and inclusive societies.