Ethical Implications of the Techno-Social Dilemma in Contemporary Cyber-Security Phenomenon in Africa: Experience From Nigeria

Introduction

The emergence of the internet as an international technological communication tool is one of the most significant developments in the 21st century cyberspace landscape (Wada & Odulaja, 2012). But behind this achievement is the question of ethics, values, and norms that transcends borders, creating a variety of challenges in today’s interconnected society which have to be addressed (DeJoode, 2011). There are no mincing words that the rise of the Internet and new media in particular and the digital economy in general has brought to the fore the fact that Africa is the most marginalized and excluded region of the world and she is facing a number of threats as her own share of the global insecurity problem. Apparently, as part of the evolving trend, Africa’s territorial sovereignty and integrity is no longer limited to its sea and land borders but its cyberspace (John, 2013). This explains why today’s threats to security have been globalised while their impact has been localized. Nevertheless, the world’s growing dependence on the internet has revealed that the cyber space is now as important as the physical space and its vulnerability to disruption and attack, has highlighted the importance and the necessity for a coordinated response for security at all sphere, be it national, regional or global levels (Kumar, 2010).

Additionally, these threats concern the well-being of an individual whose identity is rooted in different socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. The security concern includes the rapidly evolving threat landscape of the cyberspace which has heightened the extent to which cyberspace vulnerabilities and limited capacities prevent Africa from maximising the benefits of the digital economy (Cassim, 2011). Besides, the people are facing a growing number of uncertainties related to the use of the digital environment such as the digital security threats and incidents that have increased the financial, privacy, and reputational consequences, and in some cases, produce physical damage. Although stakeholders are increasingly aware of these challenges raised by digital security risk, they often approach the problem only from the technical perspective, and in a manner that tends to play down on the ethical implications of the social cleavages in digital use and applications that accompany information poverty and insecurity challenges (Cassim, 2011).

Even though recent scholarship has endeavored to articulate a more nuanced conceptualization of the nature of global cyber security today which has changed and require different thinking and responses. It lends credence to the fact that most of the global threats we face today are rooted in the deeper issues of ethics and values in international relation, politics and interaction (Alexander, 2008). A good example is the cyber security with a techno-social fissure that has splintered into a multitude of cracks with a phenomenal impact on the nature and future of Africa’s growth, development and existence. This polysemic socio-ethical condition no doubt has a profoundly contentious security implication for Africa that are most dramatic and urgent (Atta-Asamoah, 2010). It threatens not only the security of the region but the security of communities and/or the entire portions of the region's population. It is therefore a risk to both regional/national as well as the human security.