The moral, ethical and legal issues affecting modern e-business Essay

The moral, ethical and legal issues affecting modern e-business organisations - Essay Example In 2009 UK recorded 18.3 million internet users, accounting for the 70% of country’s total population, which â€Å"is an increase of just under 2 million households (11 per cent) over the last year and 4 million households (28 per cent) since 2006† (National Statistics, Internet Access, 2009). This scenario comprise of a number of different players that range from technological innovations, multinational companies, public policies, legal issues, and ethical values, present a number of challenging constraints and opportunities. Maintaining certain ethical and moral values within any form of commercial enterprise (including modern e-business organisations) are important for attaining sustainable success for that firm. Recently it has become especially important for the business firms, especially those involved in e-commerce, to maintain correct ethical and moral behavioural attitudes to avoid legal problems. In this era of economic globalization and technological convergence there is an emergence of a new form of internet-based society often referred to as the knowledge society, and has raised questions on issues related to various ethical, moral and legal matters. The modern computer based technologies, used for collecting, amassing, managing, and communicating data, though managed to bring in new reforms in the dispersion and application of information, also brought in various ethical and legal dilemmas. The various business firms that operate within this arena face difficulties in the context of right to information, right to privacy, right to the freedom of expression, and intellectual property rights, which vary from country to country. The immense importance and efficiency of internet based systems that include worldwide and local system networks, databases, and the various programs for data processing make it compulsory that policymakers make a review of the existing rights and r esponsibilities, in relation to conducting e-businesses in a legal and ethical manner. (Lynch, Ethical Issues in Electronic Information Systems, 1994). Discussion What is e-business and e-commerce? In the recent times it has been observed that â€Å"The capabilities and opportunities provided by the Internet have transformed many legitimate business activities, augmenting the speed, ease, and range with which transactions can be conducted while also lowering many of the costs†( Williams, 2002, 1). The increase in e-business transactions is evident in the figures presented in the UK National Statistics survey report, â€Å"The value of Internet sales by businesses rose to ?71.1 billion in 2004, an increase of 81 per cent [from] 2003... The results of the 2004 survey show growth in the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and large increases in the value of trade over the Internet. The results also highlight significantly greater use of ICTs by the largest businesses (those with 1000 or more employees)... Internet purchases by businesses rose 64.6 per cent from ?37.9 billion in 2003 to ?62.4 billion in 2004† (National Statistics, News Release, 2005). Though computer and data processing systems were present during the 70s and 80s, it was primarily the late nineties that saw a rise in e-trade, where the Internet changed the way many business activities were conducted through speed augmentation, â€Å"ease, and range with which transactions can be conducted while also lowering many of the costs†(Williams, 2002, 1). Thus, the changing perspectives of trading community from that of an actual ‘