Introduction: Restorative justice, grounded in moral values such as forgiveness, accountability, and empathy, as well as clearly defined legal norms, seeks to establish a balance among the interests of victims, offenders, and society. This approach not only helps reduce recidivism by strengthening offenders’ sense of responsibility, but also enhances public trust in the judicial system by reinforcing social bonds and encouraging active community participation in dispute resolution processes. In this article, the researchers examine how indigenous and traditional approaches to dispute resolution - by emphasizing mediation, reconciliation, and social support - have led to the integration of moral norms with social reconstruction, thereby creating a form of restorative justice embodied within a specific cultural and social context. Material and Method: The present study is a review study that examined the research objectives using published studies in the fields of restorative justice and the social structure of Iranian Arabs. Conclusion: Practices such as the Fasl ritual, expulsion from the tribe, and mediation in thefts arising from poverty, with an emphasis on restitution, reconciliation, and the reconstruction of relationships, reflect the principles of restorative justice. While these practices help maintain social order and prevent crime, they function as an indigenous restorative justice system. The Fasl ritual and traditional dispute resolution methods among the Arab tribes of Khuzestan largely correspond to restorative justice and demonstrate how adherence to moral norms in traditional communities has led to social reconstruction and the expansion of restorative justice.
Introduction: Unethical financial behaviors and financial statement fraud are among the fundamental challenges of accounting and auditing systems, leading to the misallocation of resources, reduced investor confidence, and financial crises. The purpose of this study is to compare the performance of the Water Cycle Algorithm with six other methods, including the Genetic Algorithm, Firefly Algorithm, Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm, Logistic Regression, Support Vector Machine, and Decision Tree, in predicting fraudulent financial statements and unethical financial behaviors. Material and Methods: The statistical population consisted of all companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange during the period 2016–2023. The final sample included 30 companies and 218 firm-year observations, of which 28 observations (12.83%) were classified as fraudulent firms and 190 observations (87.17%) as non-fraudulent firms. Using the Shannon entropy method, 15 significant variables were selected from an initial set of 42 variables. Subsequently, seven algorithms with optimized parameter settings were independently executed 30 times each. The performance of the algorithms was evaluated using Accuracy, Precision, Recall, F1-score, and the Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (AUC-ROC). The nonparametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test was employed to examine the statistical significance of the differences among the algorithms. Results: The Water Cycle Algorithm achieved the best performance among all methods, with an F1-score of 0.869 and an AUC of 0.923. It was followed by the Genetic Algorithm (F1 = 0.825, AUC = 0.887), Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm (F1 = 0.818, AUC = 0.879), Firefly Algorithm (F1 = 0.808, AUC = 0.871), Support Vector Machine (F1 = 0.799, AUC = 0.862), Logistic Regression (F1 = 0.782, AUC = 0.846), and Decision Tree (F1 = 0.770, AUC = 0.831). The results of the Wilcoxon test indicated that the differences between the Water Cycle Algorithm and all other methods were statistically significant (p-value < 0.05 for all comparisons). Furthermore, the Water Cycle Algorithm, with a standard deviation of 0.025, demonstrated the highest stability among the algorithms examined. Conclusion: The Water Cycle Algorithm significantly outperforms other metaheuristic and machine learning methods in predicting unethical financial behaviors and fraudulent financial statements. Therefore, it can serve as an effective tool for auditors, financial analysts, and regulatory authorities.
Introduction: In psychological research, one of the main challenges is the formation of incorrect judgments about gender differences; judgments that are sometimes not a reflection of the psychological reality of individuals, but are the result of conceptual biases and measurement inequities. Comparing psychological constructs without ensuring measurement equivalence can lead to unfair interpretations about women and men. Therefore, the aim of the current study is ethical justice in psychological modelling. Material & Methods: A sequential exploratory mixed-method design was employed. In the qualitative phase, 20 in-depth interviews were analyzed using constructivist grounded theory to extract the components of linguistic capacities and anxiety. In the quantitative phase, a total of 712 individuals (373 women, 339 men) who had experienced emotional relationship breakdown within the past two years completed the Linguistic Capacity Scale, the Post-Separation Anxiety Inventory, and the Defensive Style Questionnaire (DSQ). Structural equation modeling (SEM), path analysis, bootstrapping, and multigroup SEM (MGSEM) were used to test the models. Results: Model fit indices indicated that Model 1, in which linguistic capacities affect denial and sublimation through reduced anxiety, demonstrated the best fit (RMSEA = 0.028, CFI = 0.976). Linguistic capacities directly reduced anxiety (β = –0.46), anxiety increased denial (β = 0.44) and decreased sublimation (β = –0.34). The indirect effects of linguistic capacities on denial (β = –0.21) and sublimation (β = 0.16) were significant. Gender invariance analysis showed that the model was stable across women and men at the configural, metric, and scalar levels. Conclusion: The findings indicate that linguistic capacities reduce anxiety, thereby strengthening the use of more mature defensive mechanisms such as sublimation and weakening the tendency toward denial. Gender invariance supports the conceptual fairness of the model and its generalizability across sexes.
Introduction: Understanding value co-creation in sports clubs is essential for developing effective strategies that address the needs and expectations of fans and stakeholders. The present study aimed to analyze the relationship between shared leadership and value co-creation through resource integration and learning agility, while considering the moderating role of ethical behavior. Material and Methods: This research employed a descriptive–correlational design. The statistical population consisted of managers and staff members of sports clubs in Iraq, from which 419 individuals were selected as a sample using stratified sampling. A standardized questionnaire was used as the research instrument. Structural equation modeling was applied for data analysis, utilizing SPSS18 and Mplus7. Results: The results indicated that shared leadership had a significant effect on resource integration and learning agility. The study further demonstrated that resource integration and learning agility significantly influenced value co-creation. Additionally, resource integration and learning agility mediated the relationship between shared leadership and value co-creation. Finally, the study highlighted that ethical behavior moderated the relationship between resource integration and value co-creation. Conclusion: The findings revealed that shared leadership plays a pivotal role in enhancing value co-creation among stakeholders by influencing resource integration and learning agility—an effect that is particularly pronounced among individuals exhibiting higher levels of ethical behavior.
Introduction: This study focuses on examining ethical commitment to financial reporting transparency and its role in the process determining the type of audit opinion. In this regard, the effect of the CEO’s succession origin (internal vs. external) on the type of audit opinion is investigated, and it is explained how ethical commitment to reporting transparency can mediate this relationship. The importance of the topic lies in the fact that the origin of a CEO’s appointment can influence their ethical attitudes toward financial reporting and, consequently, affect auditors’ perceptions of the risk of material misstatement. Material and Methods: This is an applied study conducted using a descriptive–correlational approach. The statistical population includes all companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange. After applying screening criteria, 138 companies were selected as the sample over the period 2010–2023 (1389–1402). Raw data were collected through data extraction from the Tehran Stock Exchange Organization database, Rahavard Novin software, companies’ financial statements, accompanying notes, the board of directors’ activity reports, and independent auditors’ reports. Data analysis was performed using multivariate regressions (logistic and ordinary least squares), while controlling for year and industry fixed effects. Results: The results indicate that an internally appointed CEO increases the likelihood of receiving an unmodified audit opinion. In addition, internally sourced CEOs exhibit a higher ethical commitment to financial reporting transparency than externally sourced CEOs. Mediation analysis further shows that ethical commitment to financial reporting transparency mediates the relationship between CEO origin and the type of audit opinion; that is, an internal origin, by strengthening ethical reporting behaviors, reduces the auditor’s perceived risk and lowers the probability of issuing a modified audit opinion. Conclusion: For the first time in the Iranian institutional context, this study examines the effect of CEO origin on the type of audit opinion through the lens of ethical reporting behaviors. The findings demonstrate that the ethical dimensions of CEO performance play a fundamental role in shaping auditors’ judgments and financial reporting outcomes.
Introduction: Ethical competencies of managers represent a fundamental element in enhancing the quality of governance, transparency, accountability, and administrative integrity in public organizations. Given the extensive and sensitive responsibilities of managers within the Ministry of Health, prioritizing the components of ethical competency can improve managerial processes and enhance the quality of healthcare services. The objective of the present study is to propose an ethical competency model for managers within various competency frameworks. Material and Methods: This applied research employed a mixed-methods design. In the qualitative phase, the study population consisted of managers, faculty members, and senior experts in the field of health management, among whom 15 experts were selected through purposive sampling. The data collection tool was Delphi questionnaire, and data were analyzed using the Delphi technique. In the quantitative phase, the study population comprised senior managers, middle managers, experts, and employees of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education. Using cluster sampling, 265 individuals were selected as the sample. A researcher-made questionnaire was used for data collection. In data analysis, the Friedman test was applied for prioritization, and structural equation modeling (AMOS) was used for model assessment. Results: The results indicated that ethical competencies can be explained across three categories: behavioral, structural, and contextual. The mean rank scores showed that components such as job responsibility, ethical capability, managerial discipline, and rule adherence hold the highest priority. Structural equation modeling further demonstrated that all three categories of competencies have a direct and significant effect on managers’ ethical competency. The findings revealed that strengthening ethical competency requires simultaneous attention to individual skills, organizational infrastructures, and cultural contexts within the Ministry of Health. Conclusion: The final model provides a comprehensive depiction of prioritized competencies essential for achieving ethics-oriented management in the healthcare system.
Introduction: Recent advances in epigenetic technologies have introduced new ethical challenges to our understanding of human adaptation and the biological transmission of traits. The level of acceptance of these technologies is not uniform across different cultures and generations; rather, it depends on factors such as social trust, educational attainment, and moral values. This study aims to examine the process of ethical acceptance of epigenetic technologies across diverse cultural contexts. Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicate that societies characterized by institutional transparency and equal educational opportunities experience a faster and more coherent process of ethical acceptance. In contrast, in low-trust environments or settings marked by educational inequality, the acceptance of these technologies is accompanied by delays or discontinuities. These findings underscore the importance of educational policymaking and transparent governance in addressing the ethical challenges posed by emerging technologies.
Introduction: Machiavellian beliefs emphasize that individuals should achieve their goals and desires by any means, even unethical ones, without considering other factors. The principles of Machiavellianism have long been discussed in psychology, politics, organizations, and other fields. The purpose of this study is to explain the relationships between Machiavellianism, moral indifference, moral accountability, and corporate sustainability reporting. Material and Methods: The present study is descriptive–correlational in nature. The statistical population consisted of managers and deputy managers of public and private companies. Using Cochran’s formula, 170 individuals were selected as the statistical sample. Data were collected through standardized questionnaires and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Results: The results indicated that Machiavellianism has a positive and significant effect on moral indifference and sustainability reporting, and a negative effect on moral accountability. Moreover, moral indifference had a significant negative effect on moral accountability and corporate sustainability reporting. However, the relationship between moral accountability and corporate sustainability reporting was not supported in this study. Conclusion: The findings suggest that paying attention to ethical dimensions in organizational management can play a crucial role in improving sustainability reporting and enhancing organizational responsibility. The study recommends that organizations move toward reducing Machiavellianism and moral indifference by promoting ethics education and developing incentive-based ethical policies.
Introduction: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a pivotal document in the history of global ethics and the evolution of human rights, enumerates the fundamental rights of all human beings. Several of its articles directly address labor rights, among which is the right to employment and decent work, also reflected as the seventeenth provision of Iran’s Charter of Citizens’ Rights. This study examines the comparative legal, executive, and supportive frameworks of Iran and Iraq regarding the right to employment and decent work for persons with disabilities. Material and Methods: This research is a descriptive review study. By consulting published sources related to the study’s keywords, the concept of the worker and employee with disabilities in Iranian and Iraqi law is first defined, and their legal and social classification is analyzed. Subsequently, international foundations of the right to work are examined as core normative bases. Conclusion: Comparative findings indicate that although both Iran and Iraq recognize the right to work for all, including persons with disabilities, in their constitutions, significant shortcomings exist in practical implementation. Iraq’s 2013 Law on the Care of Persons with Disabilities and Iran’s 2004 Law on the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities provide quota systems for employing persons with disabilities as well as financial and educational facilities. Nevertheless, challenges such as weak oversight, lack of financial incentives for employers, insufficient physical and educational infrastructures, and limited public awareness hinder the effective realization of these rights. The study emphasizes that the employment of persons with disabilities is not only an economic issue, but also an ethical, human, and social matter whose realization requires reform of legal, cultural, and institutional structures in accordance with human rights ethics.
Introduction: Unethical behavior is one of the prevalent phenomena in workplace environments and may arise from employees’ perceptions of job insecurity. Job insecurity is defined as the perceived inability to maintain one’s employment position and job-related capabilities under uncertain or threatening conditions, and it can have significant consequences for employees’ performance and psychological well-being. This study aimed to examine the effect of unethical behavior on job insecurity by considering the mediating roles of moral identity and personality. Material and Methods: This applied study employed a descriptive-survey research design. The statistical population consisted of 200 employees of Brussel Based on Morgan’s table, a sample of 132 participants was selected using a convenience sampling method. Data were collected using a standardized 40-item questionnaire. The face validity of the instrument was confirmed, and its reliability was established using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Data were analyzed through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using SmartPLS software. Results: The findings indicated that unethical behavior had a significant effect on job insecurity, moral identity, and personality. Furthermore, both moral identity and personality exerted significant direct effects on job insecurity and served as mediating variables in the relationship between unethical behavior and job insecurity. Conclusion: The findings suggest that unethical behavior increases employees’ perceptions of job insecurity by undermining their moral identity and personality characteristics. Therefore, strengthening employees’ moral identity and positive personality attributes may contribute to reducing job insecurity and enhancing their psychological well-being.
Introduction: Moral judgment refers to evaluating the rightness or wrongness of an action. Individuals’ moral judgments are influenced by various variables, including psychological characteristics. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to examine the relationships among sense of power, psychopathic personality, and moral judgment. Material and Methods: This study is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive and based on path analysis in terms of data collection. The statistical population consisted of employees of Karafarin Bank in 2024, from which a sample of 486 individuals was selected using random sampling. A questionnaire was used to measure the variables. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling. Results: The results show that psychopathic personality has a significant positive relationship with sense of power and a significant negative relationship with employees’ moral judgment. Moreover, sense of power has a significant negative relationship with employees’ moral judgment. Conclusion: Individuals with psychopathic personality tend to have higher levels of perceived power. Furthermore, individuals with psychopathic traits and high sense of power demonstrate lower levels of moral judgment compared to others. Therefore, it can be concluded that moral judgment and ethical decision-making are influenced by psychological characteristics such as psychopathic personality and heightened sense of power.
Introduction: The rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has significantly transformed the landscape of judicial decision-making, raising crucial questions concerning justice, ethics, and the role of human oversight. This comparative study examines AI as both a tool for enhancing justice and a potential threat to judicial ethics within the legal systems of Iran, the United States, and the European :union:. By analyzing the theoretical foundations of justice, the opportunities created by AI, the emerging ethical challenges, and the corresponding policy responses in each system, the present research explores both the benefits and the inherent risks of incorporating AI into judicial processes. It seeks to answer whether artificial intelligence serves as a technology that advances justice or as one that undermines judicial ethics. Conclusion: The findings indicate that while AI can improve efficiency, consistency, and access to justice, it also poses challenges such as algorithmic bias, lack of transparency, gaps in legal accountability, and the erosion of human moral judgment. The study identifies three distinct models of “technological justice”: The ethical–judicial model of Iran, emphasizing human and moral oversight; The functional–procedural model of the United States, focusing on efficiency and case-based adaptability; and the fundamental rights–based model of the European :union:, centering on fundamental rights and risk management in policy-making. Ultimately, the research concludes that the effective integration of artificial intelligence into judicial processes requires a careful balance between technological innovation, ethical assurance, human presence, and culturally grounded legal frameworks.
Introduction: Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing agriculture by enhancing precision farming, resource management, and productivity. However, the extensive use of AI raises significant ethical challenges related to privacy protection, data security, fairness, transparency, accountability, and environmental sustainability. These issues are critical given agriculture’s direct impact on human health, food security, and natural resource conservation. This article explores the ethical considerations in developing and applying AI in agriculture. Materials and Methods: This study employs a critical literature review and conceptual analysis approach to examine current ethical challenges and proposed solutions in agricultural AI. Key topics covered include privacy risks due to data collection and storage, inequities in access to AI technologies, algorithmic transparency problems, and accountability mechanisms. Conclusion: AI has great potential to advance sustainable agriculture, but ethical use demands strong privacy protections, transparent algorithms, and fairness to prevent discrimination. Legal and ethical frameworks must guarantee accountability and protect social and environmental values. Involving diverse stakeholders and providing tailored education fosters trust, inclusivity, and equal access. Although challenges like regulatory gaps and knowledge disparities exist, collaboration and mutual respect can enable sustainable and ethical AI use in agriculture. This approach aligns AI with food security, environmental protection, and social justice, maximizing benefits and minimizing harm.
Introduction: Humanity has always aspired to eliminate conflict and hostility between nations and to replace them with peace, friendship, and peaceful coexistence. Unfortunately, however, war, violence, and the captivity of opposing forces have always existed as historical realities. What has consistently been emphasized is that even war has its own specific ethical considerations. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the ethical principles governing the treatment of enemy combatants on the battlefield. Material and Methods: The research was a review method. In order to achieve the goal of the research, information gathered from scientific journal and books for investigating ethical principles for the treatment of enemy combatants on the battlefield. Conclusion: The outcome of international efforts to establish protective laws for war prisoners culminated in the four Geneva Conventions, which affirmed the rights of war victims—including prisoners of war, the wounded, civilians, children, women, and the elderly. Among these four conventions, the Third Geneva Convention specifically addresses the rights of prisoners of war. The rights outlined in these conventions include the prohibition of torture and inhumane treatment to extract information, the prohibition of using prisoners as human shields, the obligation to release prisoners when their lives are no longer at risk, the prohibition of collective punishment and public display of prisoners, as well as the right to adequate food and medical care, and respect for the prisoners’ human dignity. If implemented, these provisions can eliminate or at least reduce many of the hardships and sufferings of prisoners of war.
Introduction One of the emerging branches of the tourism industry is sports tourism, which not only impacts the economy but also raises new challenges in designing personal narratives and engaging with tourists. Accordingly, the present study was conducted with the aim of analyzing the ethical dimensions influencing the personal narratives of sports tourists in Yazd Province. Material and Methods: This research was qualitative in nature and employed the grounded theory approach. The statistical population consisted of experts who had prior experience with personal narratives in sports tourism. Using purposive sampling based on theoretical saturation, 16 individuals were selected as the sample. The research instrument was in-depth and semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was carried out through open, axial, and selective coding. Results: The coding results included 117 codes grouped into 40 categories and 17 concepts, which, within six dimensions, formed the paradigm model of the research. Conclusion: Based on the findings, it was determined that the personal narratives of sports tourists are influenced by causal factors including the social and ethical characteristics of the host community and the characteristics of the tourists. In this regard, contextual factors include citizen-oriented behaviors and infrastructures, while intervening factors comprise methodological barriers and ethical barriers to hosting. Strategies for greater effectiveness on the tourist experience include implicit ethical and social norms, awareness-raising, facilities, operational measures, and services. The outcomes of these strategies encompass community-centered, cultural, economic, psychological, and distinctive capacity dimensions. Overall, it can be said that one of the most important resources for influencing and attracting tourists is the ethical culture and citizen-oriented behaviors, the social and ethical characteristics of the host community, and the implicit ethical and social norms, whose significance was illustrated in this research from the perspective of experts.
Introduction: Scholarly works framed AI guardrails as the ethical, technical, and pedagogical constraints and governance mechanisms embedded in or surrounding AI and machine learning systems to prevent harm, ensure responsible use, and align AI outputs and practices with institutional values, academic integrity, and societal norms. This study aims to explore panellists' insights into AI guardrails that provide ethical, technical, and procedural safeguards for upholding academic integrity at a higher education institution. Material and Methods: This exploratory qualitative study invited lecturers to participate in a panel for a critical conversation about their insights into AI guardrails that provide ethical, technical, and procedural safeguards for upholding academic integrity. An open-ended critical panel discussion was promoted to share views on the status of AI safety measures in their respective modules. A single case study was selected, and five panellists (PM1 to PM5) from higher education institutions participated in this critical conversation panel discussion session. After the session, the recorded version of the Microsoft Teams video and transcripts were downloaded and uploaded into NVivo, an AI-computerised qualitative software, to generate themes and subthemes. Results: Findings revealed that AI guardrails are widely perceived as essential safety mechanisms for protecting qualifications, data, and ethical standards. Furthermore, AI-detection tools, such as proctoring software and plagiarism checkers, are viewed as necessary deterrents, but persistent concerns exist about their accuracy, bias, transparency, and potential for false positives. Conclusion: Ultimately, an AI Guardrail Framework (AIGF) is proposed that underscores the need to move beyond purely ethical, procedural and technical solutions toward a more holistic, educationally grounded strategy to uphold academic integrity.
Introduction: Brand hatred, as an intense form of negative consumer emotion, poses serious ethical and managerial challenges for companies. Beyond economic consequences, brand hatred often arises from unmet ethical responsibilities, such as failure in fairness, transparency, social responsibility, and environmental considerations. Addressing these issues is crucial to fostering trust and sustaining long-term consumer-brand relationships. Material and Methods: This research employed a meta-synthesis of 91 relevant studies from the Scopus database and integrated expert insights from 23 industry leaders. Using the DEMATEL technique, the study developed a conceptual model to identify causal and dependent factors influencing the reduction of brand hatred in the Iranian home appliance sector. Results: Ten key factors were identified, clustered into three main dimensions: customer relationship management (e.g., communication quality, complaint handling, after-sales service), extra-organizational ethics (e.g., social responsibility, environmental approach), and internal process management (e.g., timely delivery, fair price-quality proportion, innovation). Among them, ethical considerations such as social responsibility, environmental accountability, and fairness in pricing were found to be highly influential drivers of reducing brand hatred. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that ethical responsibility is not peripheral but central to reducing brand hatred. Managers in the home appliance industry can mitigate negative consumer sentiments by prioritizing ethical principles alongside operational excellence. This ethical orientation fosters positive consumer experiences, strengthens brand trust, and enhances sustainable brand-consumer relationships.
Moral neutrality in great crises is not a neutral state but a normative choice. This choice can arise from epistemic humility or the product of conservative expediency. The difference between the two becomes apparent in the individual's relationship to truth and good. If neutrality leads to the suspension of responsibility, the fixation of inequality, and the continuation of harm, it is unjustified from the perspective of practical ethics. It can only be justified if it is based on honest epistemic doubt or a strategy to prevent a greater evil while maintaining a commitment to truth-seeking and the common good. In great crises, the main issue is not "which side" the individual takes; It is whether one takes a moral stand in the face of suffering and injustice. Silence in the face of oppression, if it is foreseeable that it will continue, is no longer neutrality; it is a covert form of participation. This conclusion is based not on emotions but on an analysis of the relationship between truth, goodness, and responsibility.
Introduction: The intensification of environmental crises in urban societies, particularly in the context of accelerating climate change, has turned environmental policy into one of the most important arenas of public decision-making. Cities are, on the one hand, major centers of pollution generation and resource consumption, and on the other hand, they concentrate the highest levels of social inequality and environmental vulnerability. Within this context, urban environmental policies face complex ethical challenges related to the distribution of responsibilities, costs, and benefits among citizens and institutions. Drawing on the literature of environmental ethics and climate justice, this article seeks to rethink the concept of individual responsibility, examine the tension between environmental efficiency and social justice, and analyze the role of urban institutions and structures in the redistribution of responsibilities. Material and Methods: This research was conducted as a narrative–analytical review article. To this end, reputable scientific sources published in international databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, IEEE, and Google Scholar were systematically searched. The information obtained from the studies was analyzed and conclusions were drawn based on the analyses. Conclusion: The analytical findings indicate that an exclusive focus on individual responsibility, without due attention to structural and institutional constraints, can lead to the reproduction of urban inequalities and undermine the legitimacy of environmental policies. Climate justice, as a normative framework, enables the integration of environmental efficiency, social justice, and institutional responsibility, and redefines the criteria for policy evaluation. The article concludes that the design of just urban environmental policies requires a multidimensional approach in which citizen empowerment, institutional accountability, and the reduction of social inequalities are pursued simultaneously. Such an approach constitutes a fundamental condition for achieving environmental sustainability and social justice in contemporary cities.
Introduction: The rapid expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) as one of the most transformative technologies of the digital age has led to the production and processing of vast volumes of personal and contextual data. While this transformation offers significant opportunities to improve quality of life, it also generates profound ethical challenges, particularly in the areas of privacy and data management. The invisible, automated, and pervasive nature of data collection within the IoT ecosystem calls into question traditional concepts of informed consent, individual control over data, and ethical accountability, and intensifies risks such as pervasive surveillance, data misuse, information insecurity, and the erosion of individual autonomy. Material and Methods: This article adopts a review–analytical approach to examine the scientific literature related to data ethics and privacy in the Internet of Things. Based on existing studies, it explores the foundational aspects of the topic and ultimately draws conclusions from the information reviewed. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that privacy in this context requires a contextual and relational redefinition. The findings indicate that ethical responsibility within the IoT data cycle is distributed in nature, and that multiple actors-from designers and companies to governments-play a fundamental role in upholding principles of data ethics. Ultimately, it can be argued that adherence to data ethics and privacy principles is a prerequisite for the formation of social trust and the sustainable acceptance of the Internet of Things. Without simultaneous attention to technical, ethical, and social dimensions, the development of this technology will face serious challenges.
