Business ethics for digital transformation

Digital transformation describes the process of profound and fundamental change that has taken place as the result of digital technology. The ethical implications of digital transformation can be categorised into three broad categories: concerns about the technology itself, concerns based on the perceptions of those who engage with digital technology, and concerns about the actual outcomes of technological changes. Based on a literature review, three thematic codes are identified: design principles and considerations for digital transformation, the impact of digital transformation, and governance and regulation of digital transformation. With reference to design principles, three ethical design tensions are identified and discussed: the right to privacy versus transparency, freedom of speech versus dignity, and freedom of choice versus autonomy.