Ethical accountability in the cyberspace

Conformance with ethical behavior consists of adherence to the standards of conduct for any given group. When standards are not formalized, there can exist ethical disparity from which many diverse problems can result. These problems are especially evident in the cyberspace. Within the cyberspace, the “given group” is culturally and ethnically diverse. As such, it is difficult to hold the individuals to a nonformalized set of standards. Several important issues need to be addressed in order to balance each individual's dual needs for freedom of expression and protection in the cyberspace. These issues include development of formalized standards, a general protocol for cross-cultural interaction, and ethical accountability.