The IFIP International Professional Practice Partnership (IP3) – the body focused on professional standards for the global ICT industry – has launched iDOCED, the IFIP Duty of Care for Everything Digital Initiative. iDOCED is designed to remind and support both providers and consumers of digital products and services that they have a duty of care in ensuring that they act responsibly in relation to the digital world.

IFIP IP3 Chair, Brenda Aynsley, said iDOCED was developed in response to numerous instances of poor ethical behaviour by companies, low quality or underperforming products, or a lack of care by digital consumers in how they use social media or access the Internet – all of which create negative impacts for the community.

“We’ve recently seen high profile failures with the Australian Census website, and major system implementations at NSW TAFE and QLD Health systems, and last year, VW was caught using technology to cheat fuel emissions testing, which has cost them nearly US$15 billion in the US market alone,” said Aynsley. “On top of that, we’ve seen users compromised by the way they accessed the Internet or used software or various online tools, such as people whose webcams were hacked and used to invade their privacy or even film them without their knowledge.

“The iDOCED seeks to raise awareness of what users can and should do to protect themselves in today’s digitally-connected world, and to highlight the need for companies to act responsibly and ethically in the development and implementation of commercial products and services.”

Ms Aynsley said IP3 wants companies to ensure their products and services HIT the mark for their clients, customers and the broader community, where HIT stands for Honour, Integrity and Trust, all of which are part of the Duty of Care for ICT professionals in the execution of their work.

“We want to encourage a situation where individuals and companies buying digital products and services are applying due diligence and demanding that suppliers demonstrate Honour, Integrity and Trust in all their dealings with them,” Aynsley said. “As a global body with members all over the world, IP3 will work proactively with professional bodies and other stakeholders in industry and government to raise awareness of iDOCED and encourage its wide adoption. As this happens more widely, consumers will be able to rely on the AI of Everything and the Internet of Everything as being trustworthy and safe for them and their families to engage with and rely upon for communication, transactions and more.”

The decision was made at IP3’s annual planning meeting in Sydney at the end of November.

ENDS

 

About IP3
The International Professional Practice Partnership (IP3), a project of the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP), and is leading the development of the global IT profession by providing a platform that will help shape and implement relevant policies to foster professionalism in IT worldwide. Our mission is to establish a global partnership that will strengthen the IT profession and contribute to the development of strong international economies by: defining international standards of professionalism in IT; creating an infrastructure that will encourage and support the development of both IT practitioners and employer organizations, and give recognition to those who meet and maintain the required standards for knowledge, experience, competence and integrity. To carry out this mission, IP3 works closely with member bodies and partners who share our commitment to creating a sound global IT profession. www.ipthree.org