Ethik und Digitalisierung

Digitization has enriched our lives in many ways, but it also has its downsides, often in the form of unintended consequences. This contribution looks from an ethical point of view at the question of how the leeway enlarged by digitization can be used in a responsible way. For this purpose, this paper will (1) investigate the no harm principle as a central maxim, (2) discuss possible causes for harmful and unintended negative consequences of the use of digital technology, and (3) introduce the Ethical Compass as a useful instrument for dealing with such problems.