GS4 · 10 marks · 150 words

"With great power comes great responsibility." In the present context, 'Big Tech' headquartered in developed countries wield disproportionate influence over digital infrastructure, personal data, and global narratives—often prioritising profit over ethical considerations. What ethical principles should guide such corporations in building a fair, inclusive, and just global digital framework?

Answered by 7 toppers · CSE 2025

Corporate GovernanceTechnology and EthicsDimensions of EthicsEthical TheoriesAccountability and Ethical GovernanceEthics in International Relations

Syllabus: Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.

How toppers approached it

From all 7 answers · about 160 words · 43% drew a diagram.

Opening

  • No separate opening100%

Body

  • Points57%
  • Points and prose43%

Close

  • No separate close43%
  • A summary43%
  • A way forward14%

The toppers’ answers

A R RajahAIR 7 · CSE 2025 · 121 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

"Data is the new oil"

The big tech corporations have significantly used the data of people for their profits, which needs to be checked upon.

Body · points and prose

Diagram
- Central Node: Big Tech Companies - Branch 1: Curating content - Branch 2: Marketing based on data - Branch 3: Using people as 'means to an end' - Branch 4: Influencing news media

Ethical Principles

  1. Values to be Followed

1.1 Compassion - for the people, whose data is used.

1.2 Empathy for the consumer of big tech products. 1.3 Accountability to the public. 1.4 Responsibility in actions.

(2) Ethical Frameworks 2.1 Gandhi's trusteeship principle. 2.2 Kant's Humanitarianism of seeing people as ends in themselves.

(3) Outcomes : 3.1 People-welfare should be the endproduct. Eg: Google → Data encryption. 3.2 Ensuring anthropocentric approach to tech.

Close

Eg: #AI for All given by NITI Aayog.

Thus, the Gandhian sin of "commerce without morality" should never be committed by the Big Tech.

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