An Ethical Internet: Vision and Principles

by Padi Falas-Maifala

An ethical internet, in my opinion, is based on a number of fundamental ideas that strike a balance between human dignity and well-being and technical growth. This is for sure a complex subject that requires careful thought, particularly as my viewpoint as a web designer and developer evolves.

Core Principles of an Ethical Internet

1. Data Ownership and Privacy

Respect for privacy is important to an ethical internet. Users need to understand how their personal information is utilized and have meaningful control over it. Instead of viewing personal information as an extension of an insectionidual's personality, the modern data economy frequently views it as a commodity to be mined (Zuboff, 2019). "Privacy by design" principles, which include privacy safeguards into systems from the beginning rather than as an afterthought, would be upheld by an ethical internet. Although many contend it hasn't fully met its objectives, the European GDPR framework is a step in that regard (Hoofnagle et al., 2019).

2. Accessibility and Inclusion

Everyone should be able to use the internet, regardless of socioeconomic background, geography, or aptitude. The digital sectionide still prevents billions of people from fully participating in online activities, and many websites and services are still inaccessible to those with impairments. True accessibility incorporates universal design principles that make digital spaces inclusive of a wide range of users, going beyond technical compliance with standards such as HTML (Goggin, 2017). You play a crucial part in putting these ideas into practice as a web designer.

3. Transparency and Accountability

Users have a right to know how the systems they use work, particularly when algorithms are used to make decisions that have an impact on their daily life. Algorithmic systems ought to be accountable for their results, auditable, and explicable.

Black-box algorithms that make critical decisions about credit, employment, or healthcare without transparent processes raise significant ethical concerns (O'Neil, 2016). Organizations should be held accountable for the systems they deploy and their impacts.

4. Digital Well-being

The internet should enhance human flourishing rather than exploit psychological vulnerabilities. Many current business models rely on maximizing "engagement" through techniques that can foster addiction and diminish well-being (Harris, 2016).

An ethical internet would prioritize helpful, meaningful interactions over extractive attention harvesting. Design patterns would respect users' cognitive autonomy and time rather than manipulating them to maximize profit.

5. Environmental Sustainability

The digital infrastructure that powers the internet has a significant environmental footprint. Data centers, network equipment, and billions of devices consume substantial energy and resources (Greenpeace, 2017).

An ethical internet would minimize unnecessary resource consumption, extend device lifespans, optimize code efficiency, and transition to renewable energy sources. As developers, considering the efficiency of our code is an environmental as well as a performance concern.

Practical Implementation for Web Designers and Developers

As a web designer and developer, you can contribute to a more ethical internet through:

  • Implementing robust privacy measures that collect only necessary data
  • Creating fully accessible designs that work for all users
  • Using transparent design patterns that avoid dark patterns
  • Optimizing for performance to reduce energy usage
  • Questioning business models that exploit users rather than serving them

Challenges and Tensions

Building an ethical internet involves navigating complex trade-offs. Free services funded by advertising have democratized access but often come at the cost of privacy. Content moderation is necessary to prevent harm but raises concerns about censorship and power concentration.

These tensions require thoughtful engagement and recognition that there are rarely perfect solutions; only better approaches that balance competing values.

Conclusion

An ethical internet would place human dignity and well-being at its center, rather than treating users as resources to be exploited. The business models, governance structures, and design patterns would all align to support these values.

As web designers, we have both the responsibility and opportunity to shape the future through the choices we make when designing and developing our work. While insectionidual actions matter, systemic change will require collective action, thoughtful regulation, and reimagined business models.