The Ethics of Cloud Computing Christina McClenaghan National University May, 2013

Abstract Cloud computing is an emerging technology and we do not yet know which social, ethical and legal consequences there may be as a result. The Ethics of Cloud Computing: A Conceptual Review by J. Timmermans, et al. (2012), advises that we should not wait until negative or undesirable effects of cloud computing is a reality before trying to combat them. Timmermans, et al. provides a general insight into the ethical issues of cloud computing to provide a basis for ethical analysis and will be contrasted with general concepts surrounding Ethics in an Information Society that are directly related to cloud computing as discussed in the textbook, Management Information Systems: Managing the Digital Firm, by Kenneth C. Laudon and Jane P. Laudon (2012).

Cloud computing moves computing and data away from personal computers and desktop systems into large data centers. Applications are delivered over the internet and cloud infrastructure to allow the user to access his/her own files, programs, data and other resources from a web browser through the internet hosted by various service providers. Defining features of cloud computing identified by Timmermans, et al., are resources and storage, scalability and elasticity, efficiency of resource sharing, usage optimization, ease of use, fast information sharing, deliver and control, accessibility and anonymity (2012). These resources can be delivered to end users via the internet from resource clouds and almost all tools and information can be preserved indefinitely (Timmermans, et al., 2012). Ease of use is a defining feature of cloud computing, but the concepts of anonymity and accessibility as well as the fact that unlimited stores of information may be kept in perpetuity give rise to many questions about the ethics surrounding its use. K. Laudon and J. Laudon define ethics in Management Information Systems: Managing the Digital Firm, as, the principles of right and wrong that individuals acting as free moral agents, use to make choices and guide their behaviors, (2012). Emerging technology and the proliferation of the use of the internet for the distribution and collection of information means ethical issues in information systems have a greater sense of urgency now. The relationship between ethical issues in an information based society center around the current ease of assembly, integration and distribution of information including the use of cloud computing technologies (Laudon, K., & Laudon, L., 2012). Advancement of data storage techniques and declining costs of storage are trends that heighten ethical concerns. Organizations can now easily maintain detailed databases on individuals. As data analysis techniques advance, companies are able to analyze vast amounts of data gathered on individuals to develop detailed profiles of individual behavior and advances in networking makes copying data from one location to another and accessing personal data from remote locations much

easier (Laudon, K. & Laudon, L., 2012. The cloud computing model provides access to a shared pool of computing resources that can be accessed from any device connected to the internet on an as-needed basis from any location (Laudon, K. & Laudon, L., 2012). This specific advancement is subject to the same moral and ethical issues. Timmermans, et al., posits that there are three developments relevant to the ethical analysis of cloud computing. There is a shift in control from the users of cloud computing technology to the third party providers who service the cloud. This is due to the offshoring and outsourcing of ICT functionality of the cloud. The fact that data storage may be housed in multiple physical locations across multiple servers brings up ethical concerns related to the ownership of the information when the physical locations for storage may be administered and/or owned by many different organizations. The third development that Timmermans, et al., sees as being relevant to the ethical analysis of cloud computing is the interconnection of multiple services across the cloud. Different providers may have different levels of functionality in order to deliver a specific service to the end user (2012). Discussion of the basic concepts of responsibility, accountability and liability as related to cloud computing help to form a framework for development of standards and techniques to deal ethical issues as they arise. Timmermans, et al., presupposes two major principles for dealing with the ethical issues that surround cloud computing. The precautionary principle sets out to prevent harm from unknown consequences without hampering progress and innovation altogether (Timmermans, et al., 2012), stating that you should refrain from action in the face of scientific uncertainty or serious or irreparable harm. It urges parties involved to anticipate unforeseen consequences. Additionally, under the precautionary principle, the burden of proof falls to those who make the proposal (Timmermans, et al., 2012). ICT governance, including technical standardization, professional procedure, informal agreement and national and international law are another set of responses to ethics in technology. Under this

concept of governance ethics is integrated in to technology development and use from the outset (Timmermans, et al., 2012). High standards in ethics as related to cloud computing can only be achieved when the users involved in the different stages of technology development and deployment agree that ethics is an important area of consideration. Without the appropriate buy in and understanding of the implications of going without regulation, standards for dealing with the consequences of acting without ethics will not be addressed.

References Laudon, K., Laudon, J., (2012). Management Information Systems: Managing the Digital Firm (12th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ. Pearson Education, Inc. Timmermans, J., Carsen Stahl, B., Ikonen, V., & Bozdag, E. (2012).The Ethics of Cloud Computing: A Conceptual Review (1-7). Retrieved from https://www.dora.dmu.ac.uk/xmlui/bitstream/handle/2086/5131/2010%20ethics%20of%20clo ud%20computing%20IEEE.pdf?sequence=1