Making the global information society good: A social justice perspective on the ethical dimensions of the global information society1

Abstract

This article discusses social justice as a moral norm that can be used to address the ethical challenges facing us in the global Information Society. The global Information Society is seen as a continuation of relationships which have been altered by the use of modern information and communication technologies (ICTs). Four interrelated characteristics of the global Information Society also are identified. After a brief overview of the main socioethical issues facing the global Information Society, the article discusses the application of social justice as a moral tool that has universal moral validity and which can be used to address these ethical challenges. It is illustrated that the scope of justice is no longer limited to domestic issues. Three core principles of justice are furthermore distinguished, and based on these three principles, seven categories of justice are introduced. It is illustrated how these categories of justice can be applied to address the main ethical challenges of the Information Society.

Affordable Broadband: Bridging the Global Digital Divide, a Social Justice Approach

“…While elements of Rawls' and Sen's theories have been combined to study contemporary issues in communities, societies, and internationally [5,12], such a perspective has not to our knowledge been used to empirically examine the relationship between the digital broadband affordability divide and the role of social justice, which this paper examines. Section 2 presents related concepts that 'translate' Rawls' and Sen's theories to information inequality and in contemporary informational ecosystems.…”

“…We argue with other scholars [5,6,56] that affordable access to broadband Internet information and resources to obtain such services as health, education, employment, and political participation) is essential for living a full human life.…”

Informational cities: Analysis and construction of cities in the knowledge society

“…Under what conditions are informational cities places worth living in? Closing the digital divide in the sense of social justice is a big challenge-not only in informational cities but in knowledge societies in general (Britz, 2004(Britz, , 2008Duff, 2011).…”

Social Justice Research in Library and Information Sciences: A Case for Discourse Analysis

“…Sergio Chaparro-Univazo (2007) writes that "the fight for social justice is a task related to most disciplines of knowledge," including LIS (p. 33). A growing number of members in the LIS community have responded to the call for engagement with social justice in professional practice, research, education, and theory development in addition to actively promoting diversity, inclusiveness, community building, communityled librarianship, and greater representation for under-represented communities and groups (Britz, 2008;Durrance & Fisher, 2005;Pyati, 2009;Samek, 2007;Warner, 2005). Other scholars such as Johannes Britz (2004) frame important issues pertinent to LIS such as information poverty as a serious moral concern and "a matter of social justice" related to social responsibility (p. 192).…”