CS Notes

Personal Information Ethics

3 min read

Personal Information Ethics

How is personal information analysed using computers?

  • Computers play a critical role in analysing personal information, particularly in areas such as healthcare, where medical records are involved
  • The process involves data gathering, storage, and analysis, where various technologies and techniques are implemented

Data mining

  • This involves extracting patterns from large data sets
  • In the healthcare context, it can help in predicting disease trends and identifying at-risk demographics

Machine learning

  • Machine learning algorithms can predict patient outcomes, assess risks, and personalize patient treatment plans based on past data

Artificial intelligence

  • AI is used to process large amounts of data and make predictions or recommendations
  • E.g. AI can analyse medical images to detect diseases or anomalies

Impact of analysing personal information

  • As computers become increasingly pivotal in managing and analysing personal information, such as medical records, there arise consequential moral, social, ethical, and cultural implications
  • These implications call for careful consideration and the establishment of comprehensive frameworks and guidelines to safeguard individuals’ rights and privacy

Moral implications

Consent & autonomy

  • From a moral standpoint, obtaining informed consent from individuals before gathering, storing, and analysing their personal information is crucial
  • Consent respects the autonomy of individuals to control information about themselves

Equity

  • There is a moral obligation to ensure that the benefits derived from analysing personal information, such as improved healthcare outcomes, are distributed equitably and do not disproportionately favour specific groups

Social implications

Privacy

  • Personal information, particularly health data, is sensitive
  • The use of computers to manage this data increases the risk of privacy breaches with significant social implications

Digital divide

  • The digital divide refers to the disparity between individuals who have access to technology and those who do not
  • The use of computers in managing health data may inadvertently exclude those who lack access to digital technology, leading to social inequity

Ethical implications

Data security

  • Given the sensitive nature of personal information, there is an ethical obligation to protect this data from breaches, theft, or misuse

Transparency & accountability

  • Organisations must be transparent about how personal information is used and be held accountable for any misuse of the data
  • This necessitates robust auditing mechanisms

Cultural implications

Cultural sensitivity

  • The use of personal information should respect cultural norms and practices
  • E.g. some cultures have specific beliefs about health and privacy that must be respected when gathering and analysing their health data

Representation

  • There is a risk that certain cultural groups may be underrepresented in data sets, leading to biased outcomes
  • Efforts must be made to ensure fair representation of all cultural groups in the data-gathering process

Case Study

AI screening breast cancer images

  • A Swedish study suggests that artificial intelligence (AI) can effectively read breast cancer screening images
  • The research, led by Lund University, found that AI could detect cancer at a rate similar to two radiologists
  • The study involved over 80,000 women, with AI-supported screening identifying cancer in 244 women, compared to 203 identified through standard screening
  • Significantly, AI did not increase the rate of “false positives”
  • Experts believe AI could help address radiologist shortages and improve efficiency in breast cancer screening
  • However, more research is needed to understand its potential and cost-effectiveness fully

External link to BBC News article (opens in a new tab)

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