Ethical Benefits and Drawbacks of Digitally Informed Consent [BOOK CHAPTER]

Ethical Benefits and Drawbacks of Digitally Informed Consent [BOOK CHAPTER]
Wendy Charles, Ruth Magtanong
Applied Ethics in a Digital World, 2022 [IGI Global]
Abstract
As organizations steadily adopt remote and virtual capabilities, informed consent processes are increasingly managed by digital technologies. These digital methods are generating novel opportunities to collect individuals’ permissions for use of private information but are blurring traditional boundaries of consent communication and documentation. Therefore, the rapid growth of digital technologies used for informed consent as well as the sheer volume of data resulting from electronic data capture are generating complex questions about individual engagement and data practices. This chapter presents emerging risks, benefits, and ethical principles about digital informed consent methods and technologies. For the areas where digital informed consent creates ethical uncertainties, ethical guidelines and user-design recommendations are provided.