INTRODUCTION An ICT policy is in the final stages of being adopted; Provisions in the policy and related strategies which are meant to facilitate policy implementation address most ethical concerns arising from exploitation of ICTS; and Absence of access to information legislation is a major “ethical” obstacle to efficient exploitation of ICTs

AIM To review some provisions in the National ICT Policy in order to assess whether the policy takes into consideration ethical challenges that arise from use of ICTs.

ETHICAL AND SOCIAL CHALLENGES RELATED TO ICT USE recognition for personal and corporate ethics associated with ICT; striking a balance between ethical, economic and technological as well as political considerations; intellectual property rights issue (trademarks, patents, copyright and trade secrets);

Ethical and social challenges (Cont’d) non violation of privacy and associated rights amidst electronic information data mining the opportunity to commit crime with ICT (computer crime); legal issues and limitations; consequence of using ICT; professional responsibilities; freedom of expression; freedom of speech.

ETHICAL RELATED PROVISIONS IN THE NATIONAL ICT POLICY Responsive ICT legal and regulatory Environment Strategies foreseen under this provision include: Ensuring that the development, deployment and exploitation of ICTs within the economy and society and related legal provisions balances as well as protects community and individual interests, including privacy and data protection issues.

Responsive ICT legal and regulatory Environment (Cont’d) addressing ethical issues in the use of ICT to protect the rights of children and the under-privileged. protecting the Malawian public from undesirable impacts of ICTs including the spread of pornographic materials, theft of postal materials, cyber-crimes and digital frauds.

Universal access and universal service Initiatives foreseen under this provision include ensuring that there is access to ICT services by all people regardless of location, gender, age, literacy levels or educational levels, language or dialect, physical or mental ability; and ensuring that special efforts are made to extend services and access to all sections of the society including rural, underserved and disadvantaged communities in order to reach out to, and benefit, the majority of the Malawian population.

HOW DOES THE NATIONAL ICT POLICY MEASURE UP TO ETHICAL CONCERNS? Responsive ICT legal and regulatory environment If strategies under this provision are implemented as planned then most of the ethical issues listed earlier (slides 3 and 4 above) will be addressed.

Universal access and universal service Access has very important implications on ethical issues especially in relation to access to information because access to information is a constitutional right so government has both a moral and constitutional obligation to ensure that the structures and services needed for the exercise of the right are in place.

The presence of the policy That there is a policy is itself an ethical issue: Demonstrates acknowledgement that Government has a moral obligation to create an environment conducive to the exploitation of ICTs Fulfills a public expectation that for the existence of such a policy

Current negatives Absence of access to information legislation; Inefficient Internet services; High cost of Internet services; High cost of hardware; and Presence of pieces of legislation that make it difficult to access information.

CURRENT ICT INITIATIVES Re-designation of the Department of Information Systems and Technology Management Services into an e-Government Directorate; E-Legislation project: aimed at setting up an ICT legal framework that will facilitate competition, development and participation related to ICTs. It is also meant to address ethical issues in the use of ICTs.

CONCLUSION The policy, once implemented, will address most of the ethical concerns relating to the exploitation of ICTs There are some important issues that need to be resolved parallel to the adoption of the policy.