Digital Ethics - Orientation, Values and Attitudes for a Digital World

PwC study 2020: Our position on opportunities and challenges for responsible companies in the digital world. According to a forecast by PwC, Germany's gross domestic product will increase by more than 11 percent by 2030 as a result of AI applications. However, the rapid dynamics of digitization and the associated changes also raise concerns. There is a lack of recognized ethical rules aimed at strengthening society's trust in the digital economy. Based on a company survey, we found that only 24 percent of the companies surveyed have formulated standards on digital ethics issues. Broad social acceptance of new technologies and business models can only be achieved if companies shape their digital transformation in a value-oriented way according to principles of digital ethics. Digital ethics asks what is the right thing to do and what is the good life under the conditions of digitization. The study provides an overview of opportunities and challenges for responsible companies committed to digital ethics. In addition, it sheds light on the importance and potential of digital ethics – because 6 out of 10 companies are convinced that digital ethics influences their corporate culture. In the study, we also present the areas of tension between different values and present the voices of experts from the business world. As a result, we recommend three pillars for successfully embedding digital ethics in companies.