Global Ethical Guidelines: A Detailed Review

Ethical guidelines provide a framework for responsible behavior in various fields, ensuring moral integrity, fairness, and human dignity. An in-depth analysis of the major global ethical guidelines across multiple domains is presented below.

Table of Contents

Global Ethical Guidelines: A Detailed Review.. 1

1. Universal Moral Principles. 2

2. Global Ethical Guidelines in Specific Domains. 2

2.1 Human Rights and Law.. 2

2.2 Medical and health ethics. 2

2.3 Business and corporate ethics. 3

2.4 AI Technology and Ethics. 3

2.5 Environmental ethics. 4

2.6 Journalism and media ethics. 4

3. Challenges in global ethical standards. 5

4. The future of global ethics guidelines. 5

10 Key Points from Global Ethics Guidelines. 5

1. Human Rights and Dignity. 5

2. Justice and Equity. 5

3. Autonomy and Informed Consent. 5

4. Beneficial and Harmless. 5

5. Transparency and Accountability. 5

6. Privacy and data protection. 6

7. Sustainability and environmental responsibility. 6

8. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) 6

9. Cultural sensitivity and global cooperation. 6

10. Ethics in emerging technologies. 6

Summary of global ethical guidelines for AI 6

1. Key principles of AI ethics. 6

2. Ethical guidelines for big AI 7

 

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1. Universal Moral Principles

These fundamental ethical principles underpin many international guidelines:

• Autonomy: Respect for individual choice and self-determination.
• Profit: Promoting good and ensuring well-being.
• No fault: Avoiding harm.
• Justice: The fair distribution of resources, opportunities, and burdens.
• Accountability and Transparency: Responsibility for actions and openness in decision-making.
• Sustainability: Ethical considerations for future generations.

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2. Global Ethical Guidelines in Specific Domains

2.1 Human Rights and Law

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) - 1948

• Established by the United Nations (UN).

Fundamental principles: freedom, equality, dignity and security.

• Prohibits slavery, torture and discrimination.

Nuremberg Code (1947)

• Developed after World War II to organize medical experiments.
• Key principles: informed consent, voluntary participation and risk-benefit balance.

Geneva Conventions (1949)

• Guiding principles of human conduct in war.
• Protects civilians, prisoners of war and the wounded.

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2.2 Medical and health ethics

Declaration of Helsinki (1964, updated in 2013)

• Issued by the World Medical Association (WMA).
• Defines ethics in medical research involving humans.
• Informed consent and risk assessment are required.

Belmont Report (1979)

• Based in the US but with global influence.
• Principles: Respect for persons, kindness and justice.

Ethics in biomedical and behavioural research.

• WHO Ethical Guidelines

• Focuses on equal access to healthcare.
• Promotes transparency in pharmaceutical trials.

Supports patient privacy and data protection.

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2.3 Business and corporate ethics

United Nations Global Compact (2000)

• Covers ten principles:
  • Human rights
  • Labor laws.
  • Environmental protection.
  • Anti-corruption policies.

OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises

• Fair trade, anti-corruption, and corporate responsibility.
  • Protects workers' rights and environmental sustainability.

ISO 26000 (Social Responsibility Standards)

• International ethical standards for business.
• Covers human rights, labor practices, and community development.

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2.4 AI Technology and Ethics

Asilomar AI Principles (2017)

• Developed by AI researchers and ethicists.

Ensures transparency, fairness, and human safety in AI development.

EU AI Act (ongoing)

• The purpose of implementing ethical AI.
• Risk categories: unacceptable, high, and minimal risk AI.

IEEE AI Ethics Guidelines

• Emphasizes fairness, accountability, and transparency.
• Supports human-centered AI systems.

GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) : 2018

• Data privacy and security law in the EU.
• Ensures informed consent, right of access, and data protection.

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2.5 Environmental ethics

Rio Declaration on Environment and Development (1992)

• Sets out the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Key principles:
  • Precautionary principle: act before harm is done.
  • Polluter pays principle: those responsible for pollution should bear the cost.

Paris Agreement (2015)

• Commitment to reduce global carbon emissions.
• Promotes ethical climate policies and corporate responsibility.

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• 17 global goals focused on:
  • Poverty eradication.
    • Environmental sustainability.
    • Global equality and justice.

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2.6 Journalism and media ethics

UNESCO Guidelines on media ethics

• Ensure press freedom, truthfulness and responsible reporting.
  • Prevent hate speech and disinformation.

SPJ (Society of Professional Journalists) Code of Ethics

• Key principles:
  • Find the truth and report it.
  • Minimize harm.
  • Work independently.
  • Be accountable and transparent.
• World Ethics Charter
• from IFJ for Journalists

Focuses on reporting truthfully and avoiding conflicts of interest.

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3. Challenges in global ethical standards

• Cultural differences: morals vary by region (e.g. freedom of speech in the US vs. censorship in China).

• Enforcement issues: lack of global regulatory bodies for enforcement.
• Emerging technologies: AI, biotechnology and surveillance ethics continue to evolve.

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4. The future of global ethics guidelines

• Stricter AI regulations: increased oversight on bias, impartiality and accountability.

• Climate ethics: strong global commitments to sustainability
• Ethical globalization: balancing corporate profits with social responsibility.

 

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10 Key Points from Global Ethics Guidelines

1. Human Rights and Dignity

• Everyone has the right to life, liberty and equality.
• Based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

2. Justice and Equity

• Ethical systems should promote equity in opportunity and treatment.
• Consists of legal justice, social justice and economic justice.

3. Autonomy and Informed Consent.

• People should have control over decisions that affect them.
• Keys to medical ethics (Declaration of Helsinki, Belmont Report).

4. Beneficial and Harmless

• Actions should benefit individuals and society, avoiding causing harm.
• Health care, the development of artificial intelligence and business ethics are based on this principle.

5. Transparency and Accountability

• Decisions and policies should be open and accountable to stakeholders.
• Applies to governments, corporations and research ethics.

6. Privacy and data protection

• Personal data must be protected (e.g. GDPR in the EU).
• Ethical AI and digital security prioritise data rights.

7. Sustainability and environmental responsibility

• Ethical actions must protect future generations.
• This includes environmental agreements such as the Paris Agreement and the SDGs.

8. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

• Companies must operate ethically on labour, environmental and human rights issues.
• Guidelines: UN Global Compact, ISO 26000, OECD standards.

9. Cultural sensitivity and global cooperation

• Ethics must respect diverse cultural values ​​and promote universal rights.
• Applies to journalism, artificial intelligence and international law.

10. Ethics in emerging technologies

• AI, biotechnology and digital systems must be designed ethically.
• The IEEE AI Ethics, Asilomar Principles and the EU AI Law address these issues.

 

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Summary of global ethical guidelines for AI

As artificial intelligence (AI) evolves, global ethical guidelines ensure that its development and use are consistent with human rights, fairness, and accountability. Several organizations and governments have proposed frameworks to ethically regulate AI.

1. Key principles of AI ethics

• Transparency: AI systems should be explainable and open about how decisions are made.
• Fair and non-discriminatory: AI should not reinforce biases or discriminate against individuals or groups.
• Accountability: Developers and organizations should take responsibility for the impacts of AI.
• Privacy and data protection: AI should respect user privacy and comply with regulations such as the GDPR.
• Safety and security: AI systems should be designed to mitigate risks and prevent harm.
• Human oversight: AI should augment human decision-making, not replace it entirely.
• Sustainability: AI should support environmental and social well-being.
• Ethical AI use in warfare: Autonomous weapons should be regulated to prevent misuse.

2. Ethical guidelines for big AI

• Asilomar AI Principles (2017): focuses on safety, fairness, and human control.
• EU AI Law (forthcoming): classifies AI risk levels and regulates high-risk AI systems.
• OECD AI Principles (2019): promotes responsible AI that benefits society.
• IEEE AI Ethics Guidelines: advocates for fairness, accountability, and transparency in AI.
• UNESCO AI Ethics Framework: fosters global collaboration for the development of ethical AI.

These guidelines aim to balance innovation with ethical responsibility, ensuring the benefits of AI.