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Cloud computing, capabilities and intercultural ethics: Implications for Africa

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  • Wakunuma, Kutoma
  • Masika, Rachel

Abstract

This paper evaluates the potential benefits, drawbacks and ethical risks of cloud computing for African countries in the context of information communication technologies for development (ICT4D). The paper argues that the capability approach, incorporating development ethics, provides a useful framework for considering the ethics of cloud computing in Africa. Coupled with global and intercultural ethics perspectives, both provide a rich human-centred view of the technology's benefits, drawbacks and ethical risks. Focussing on the transformational benefits and features of cloud computing for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the health sector, the paper highlights potential ethical risks that are cause for concern. The paper concludes that while cloud computing has considerable potential for advancing development through the enhancement of capabilities, there remain huge challenges in its efficient, effective and ethical use. As a result, ethical risks related to equity, ownership, dependency, privacy, trust and security that reflect ‘unfreedoms’ and ‘capability deprivations’ may consequently have an impact on the technology's potential as an information communication technology for development.

Suggested Citation

  • Wakunuma, Kutoma & Masika, Rachel, 2017. "Cloud computing, capabilities and intercultural ethics: Implications for Africa," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(7), pages 695-707.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:telpol:v:41:y:2017:i:7:p:695-707
    DOI: 10.1016/j.telpol.2017.07.006
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sen, Amartya, 2001. "Development as Freedom," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780192893307.
    2. Ingrid Robeyns, 2005. "The Capability Approach: a theoretical survey," Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 6(1), pages 93-117.
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    7. Kutoma J. Wakunuma & Bernd Carsten Stahl, 2014. "Tomorrow’s ethics and today’s response: An investigation into the ways information systems professionals perceive and address emerging ethical issues," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 383-397, July.
    8. Mark D. J. Williams, 2010. "Broadband for Africa : Developing Backbone Communications Networks," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 2422.
    9. repec:wbk:wbpubs:2569 is not listed on IDEAS
    10. David A. Clark & University of Manchester, 2005. "The Capability Approach: Its Development, Critiques and Recent Advances," Economics Series Working Papers GPRG-WPS-032, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    11. Robin Mansell, 2010. "Technology, Innovation, Power, and Social Consequence," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Phillip Kalantzis-Cope & Karim Gherab-Martín (ed.), Emerging Digital Spaces in Contemporary Society, chapter 1, pages 13-25, Palgrave Macmillan.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Hani Alshahrani & Noman Islam & Darakhshan Syed & Adel Sulaiman & Mana Saleh Al Reshan & Khairan Rajab & Asadullah Shaikh & Jaweed Shuja-Uddin & Aadar Soomro, 2023. "Sustainability in Blockchain: A Systematic Literature Review on Scalability and Power Consumption Issues," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-24, February.
    3. Pedro A. B. Lima & Gessica M. K. Jesus & Camila R. Ortiz & Fernanda C. O. Frascareli & Fernando B. Souza & Enzo B. Mariano, 2021. "Sustainable Development as Freedom: Trends and Opportunities for the Circular Economy in the Human Development Literature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-26, December.

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