Ethics and human rights in the digital society

authors: Olena Chykalo, Inna Simashko

 Relevance of the research.  In today’s world, digital technologies have become an integral part of societal development, permeating virtually all spheres of life—from education and the economy to healthcare and public administration. Ethics delineates the moral boundaries of their use, while human rights provide legal safeguards. Studying this topic is essential for understanding contemporary transformations and for developing effective public policy and societal self-regulation.

Problem statement. Rapid digitalization is radically transforming data collection and use, public communications, and decision-making, while simultaneously heightening the risks of privacy violations, illicit circulation of personal data, media manipulation, corporate–state control, and digital inequality. Today, amid the formation of new values, ethical issues are particularly relevant and necessary, which is why this problem has come to the fore for study.

Analysis of recent research and publications. Issues of ethics, universal moral norms, freedom, equality, responsibility, and dignity have been examined by scholars such as Zh. Andriichenko, N. Baadzhy, L. Verbivska, M. Dmytrenko, T. Zabashchynska, O. Kotenko, and T. Chubina, among others. They view digital ethics as a refinement of traditional ethical knowledge, taking into account the development of computer technologies and tools of intercultural communication.

Research task. In the context of the rapid development of digital technologies, “digital survival” has become an integral part of modern life, bringing new challenges to the forefront in the field of human rights protection. Given the increasing level of professional and stringent control in the digital sphere, it is essential that all participants in the digital environment uphold ethical standards in the use of these technologies. The purpose of the article is to explore the ethical challenges associated with the use of digital technologies and identify ways to effectively protect human rights in the digital environment.

Main material presentation. The study focuses on the key ethical issues of the digital age—from the protection of personal data and privacy to the impact of social networks, fake news, cyber warfare, and artificial intelligence. Data ethics requires a responsible, comprehensive approach that combines technological solutions, ethical principles, and effective information-management practices.

Conclusions. Digital technologies encompass both the private and public spheres, so ethics and human rights (dignity, freedom, equality, non-discrimination) remain fundamental benchmarks. A human-centered approach must ensure data sovereignty and be embedded in policies and standards at every stage of the technology lifecycle—this is the basis for trust and the protection of rights.

Key words: human rights, digital technologies, digital ethics, information ethics, artificial intelligence, data analytics, digitalization, social networks, digital environment.

References:

  1. Bochkovoi, VA & Baadzhy, NA 2024, ‘Obmezhennia tsyfrovykh prav liudyny v umovakh suchasnykh pravovykh vyklykiv (Restrictions of digital human rights under contemporary legal challenges)’, Naukovyi visnyk UzhNU. Seriia: Pravo. Uzhhorod, № 84, Ch. 4 s. 228-233.
  2. Burykin, OM 2024. ‘Analiz form i vydiv tsyfrovykh tekhnolohii ta yikh vplyv na suchasne suspilstvo u dynamichnomu rynkovomu seredovyshchi (Analysis of the forms and types of digital technologies and their impact on modern society in a dynamic market environment)’, Ekonomichnyi visnyk Dniprovskoi politekhniky, Dnipro, № 1, s. 54-64.
  3. Verbivska, L & Burynska, O 2024, ‘Vykorystannia tsyfrovykh tekhnolohii u pidpryiemnytskii diialnosti (The use of digital technologies in entrepreneurial activity)’, Ekonomika ta suspilstvo, № 61, s. 1-6. Dostupno: <https://economyandsociety.in.ua/index.php/journal/article/view/3814/3734> [12 Serpen 2025].
  4. Voronkova, V, Kyvliuk, O & Andriukaitene, R 2023, ‘Evoliutsiia vid aktyvnoho vidpovidalnoho hromadianstva do tsyfrovoho v konteksti krytychnoho myslennia: dosvid krain YeS (Evolution from active responsible citizenship to digital in the context of critical thinking: The EU countries’ experience)’, Humanities studies: Collection of Scientific Papers, V. Voronkova, Zaporizhzhia: Publishinghouse “Helvetica”, № 14 (91), s. 23-34. Dostupno: <http://humstudies.com.ua/article/view/277846/272597> [12 Serpen 2025].
  5. Kyvliuk, OP, Voronkova, VH & Nikitenko, VO 2023, ‘Tsyfrovi prava liudyny yak vyrazhennia tsyfrovykh atrybutiv: sotsialno-filosofske obgruntuvannia (Digital human rights as an expression of digital attributes: A socio-philosophical justification)’, Osvitnii dyskurs: zbirnyk naukovykh prats. Vyd-vo: Nauk.-informatsiine ahentstvo “Nauka-tekhnolohii-informatsiia”, Kyiv, Vyp. 44 (4–6), s. 7-22.
  6. Kyrychenko, M 2019, ‘Vplyv tsyfrovykh tekhnolohii na rozvytok liudskoho i sotsialnoho kapitalu v umovakh didzhytalizovanoho suspilstva (The impact of digital technologies on the development of human and social capital in a digitalized society)’, Humanities Studies: Collection of Scientific Papers, № 1 (78), s. 108-129. Dostupno: <https://humstudies.com.ua/article/view/192020/192580> [10 Serpen 2025].
  7. Kravchenko, AA, Kyzymenko, IO, Krasilnikova, OV & Husieva, NIu 2025, ‘Etyka v tsyfrovomu suspilstvi: vyklyky ta perspektyvy (Ethics in the digital society: Challenges and prospects)’, Kulturolohichnyi almanakh, Kyiv, № 1, s. 215-232.
  8. Kryvonos, OM & Kotenko, OD 2023, ‘Vykorystannia tsyfrovykh tekhnolohii v osvitnomu protsesi (The use of digital technologies in the educational process)’, Nauka i Tekhnika Sohodni, № 15, s. 161-175. Dostupno: <https://eprints.zu.edu.ua/35920/1/1%2815%29%20%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%20%D0%9D%D0%B0%D1%83%D0%BA%D0%B0%20%D1%96%20%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%85%D0%BD%D1%96%D0%BA%D0%B0-162-177.pdf> [13 Serpen 2025].
  9. Kuznetsov, V & Kuznetsova, K 2025, ‘Tsyfrova etyka vidpovidalnosti u pratsiakh L. Floridi (The digital ethics of responsibility in the works of L. Floridi)’, Visnyk Kharkivskoho natsionalnoho universytetu imeni V.N. Karazina. Seriia “Filosofiia. Filosofski perypetii”, Kharkiv, № 72, s. 117-127.
  10. Kuchmiiova, TS 2023, ‘Vplyv tsyfrovykh tekhnolohii na suchasne suspilstvo: transformatsiini aspekty (The impact of digital technologies on modern society: Transformational aspects)’, Modern Economics, № 41, s. 67-72. Dostupno: <https://modecon.mnau.edu.ua/issue/41-2023/kuchmiiova.pdf> [12 Serpen 2025].
  11. Pikulia, T 2025, ‘Mekhanizm pravovoho rehuliuvannia tsyfrovoho seredovyshcha: filosofsko-pravovyi aspekt (The mechanism of legal regulation of the digital environment: A philosophical and legal aspect)’, Naukovi zapysky NaUKMA. Yurydychni nauky, Kyiv, T. 15, s. 1-10.
  12. Semaniuk, V & Melnyk, N 2022, ‘Vplyv tsyfrovykh tekhnolohii na informatsiine seredovyshche biznesu v umovakh piatoi promyslovoi revoliutsii (The impact of digital technologies on the business information environment under the fifth industrial revolution)’, Ternopilskyi natsionalnyi ekonomichnyi universytet. Naukovyi zhurnal “Visnyk ekonomiky”, Ternopil, № 3, s. 203-212.
  13. Stoika, O & Mateichuk, D 2023, ‘Suchasni pidkhody do vprovadzhennia tsyfrovykh tekhnolohii v osvitnii protses ZVO (Modern approaches to implementing digital technologies in the HEI educational process)’, Aktualni pytannia humanitarnykh nauk, № 62, T. 2, s. 297-301. Dostupno: <https://www.aphn-journal.in.ua/archive/62_2023/part_2/48.pdf> [12 Serpen 2025].
  14. Khaustova, MH 2023, ‘Vyhody, ryzyky ta problemy tsyfrovizatsii suspilstva: zahalnoteoretychnyi aspekt (Benefits, risks and problems of the digitalization of society: A general theoretical aspect)’, Elektronne naukove vydannia “Analitychno-porivnialne pravoznavstvo”. Filosofiia prava. Kyiv, s. 753-759.
  15. Coeckelbergh, М 2020, AI Ethics. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA: The MIT Press.

 P1