1.5. Impact on Society#
Developing and implementing secure software isn’t only a matter of technical design. It also has social, ethical, and legal impacts that can shape how individuals, organisations, and entire industries function.
1.5.2. Ethical Issues#
Data Security#
Moral Responsibility: Developers and organisations hold a duty to protect user data from breaches or misuse. Poorly secured systems can harm individuals through identity theft or financial loss.
Accountability: If a breach occurs, ethical questions arise about who is responsible. Is it managers who set deadlines, developers who implemented features without robust security, or the organisation as a whole?
Transparency: Secure software should not only protect data but also transparently communicate potential risks. Hiding breaches or security flaws can erode public trust and raise ethical concerns about honesty.
Privacy#
Consent and Control: Implementing strong privacy settings and giving users control over their data collection and sharing is a sign of ethical software design.
Surveillance Concerns: While security features aim to protect data, overreaching monitoring or data logging can infringe on user privacy if not done transparently and with consent.
Data Minimisation: Collecting only the data necessary for a feature or service is an ethical best practice. Storing or processing unnecessary personal information raises the risk of misuse or accidental exposure.
1.5.3. Legal Issues#
Copyright#
Protecting Original Works: Secure software can help enforce licensing terms, prevent unauthorised copying of code, and protect digital products e.g. media content, software libraries.
Liability for Infringement: Developers must ensure the code they integrate doesn’t violate third-party copyrights. Failure to verify licenses can lead to costly legal disputes.
Piracy Prevention: Security measures may include anti-tampering or digital rights management (DRM) systems to curb software piracy, though these measures can also raise debate about user freedoms and fair use.
Intellectual Property#
Trade Secrets: Companies rely on secure software to safeguard proprietary algorithms or processes. Breaches in these areas can severely erode competitive advantage.
Patent Clashes: Some security or encryption algorithms may be patented. Organisations must navigate licensing complexities when incorporating certain security solutions into their software.
Open-Source vs. Proprietary: Balancing collaboration (through open-source) with protecting unique innovations can be legally complex. While open-source encourages transparency and community-driven improvements, it also requires adherence to specific license terms.
1.5.1. Social Issues#
Employment#
Emerging Opportunities: As cybersecurity grows more central, the demand for skilled professionals like security analysts, penetration testers, and compliance officers continues to rise. This can create new job roles, specialised training programs, and career pathways.
Reskilling and Upskilling: Employees in traditional IT roles may need to learn secure coding, threat modelling, or risk assessment. This evolution can be positive (broadening skill sets) or challenging if organisations don’t invest in training.
Automation and Tooling: Greater reliance on automated security scanning tools or AI-based threat detection might reduce some manual tasks. While this streamlines processes, it can also lead to fears about job displacement if workers aren’t retrained.
Digital Disruption#
Transforming Industries: Secure software often powers new business models, such as entirely digital banking or remote healthcare services. This can significantly disrupt traditional sectors unprepared for secure digital transformation.
Access and Inclusion: Enhanced security measures (e.g., multifactor authentication) can sometimes create barriers for those with limited digital literacy or older technology. Balancing robust security with user-friendly access is a social challenge.
Changing Community Interactions: As more services move online communities shift how they communicate, shop, and work, potentially affecting social norms and local economies.