Ethical aspects of e-commerce: Data subjects and content

Abstract

This paper reflects on ethical challenges posed by internet commerce with special emphasis on those involving the content and information users. The paper discusses the main ethical issues in e-commerce such as security, privacy, identity and nonrefutability of transactions. It proposes measures which both the government and the private sector can adopt to address those issues on different levels. Finally, the paper reflects on the creation of value by leveraging trust and proposes two universal principles to be upheld in internet commerce: online-offline consistency and technological neutrality. Copyright © 2006 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.