You may have heard it in the press, or during your research for a website designer/developer, but what does the term mean – what exactly is an ethical website?Â
Much like an ethical business, an ethical website is one that operates with integrity and fairness, adhering to principles and standards that protect the rights and interests of all stakeholders, including users, customers, and the community at large. In today’s digital landscape, where information and personal data are highly valued, it is more important than ever to ensure that websites are ethical and trustworthy.
Keeping website users data safe
One key aspect of an ethical website is privacy protection, which is also part of GDPR legislation. This includes clear and transparent policies for collecting, storing, and using personal data, as well as secure systems for protecting this data from unauthorised access or misuse. Websites should also seek the informed consent of users before collecting any personal information and allow them to control the use of their data.
If you haven’t already implemented these things, you’ll need a privacy policy, an SSL certificate and a cookies banner as a minimum.
Ethical business practices
Another important aspect of an ethical website is fair and transparent business practices. This includes providing accurate and up-to-date information about products, services, and prices, as well as clear and easily accessible terms and conditions. Websites should also ensure that their business practices are in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, and that they do not engage in any deceptive or misleading practices that could harm consumers.
A good place to start with this is looking at The Ethical Move which maps out some manipulative tactics to avoid here. They also have some resources, should you want to learn more.
Accessibility and diversity on your website
In addition, an ethical website should promote and respect diversity, equality, and human rights. This includes ensuring that the website’s content, products, and services are accessible to all users, regardless of ability or background, and that the website does not engage in discriminatory or harassing behavior.
You may wish to start your accessible website journey by adding a plugin that does some of the work for you – but this is just the first step, there is much more work you can, including changing your theme for one that is designed for accessibility and ensuring you have image descriptions on all of your website imagery.
For diversity, take an honest look at the images on your website – are they diverse? Or do they all look very similar?
Corporate social responsibility
Finally, an ethical website should be a responsible and active member of the online community. CSR is usually broken down into four areas: environmental impacts, ethical responsibility, philanthropic endeavors, and financial responsibilities. This includes participating in online discussions and forums, contributing to open-source projects, and engaging in responsible advertising practices. Websites should also strive to minimize their environmental impact and reduce their carbon footprint, using energy-efficient servers and technologies and reducing waste wherever possible.
If you’re just starting out on a CSR journey, consider making your website use less resources by improving performance and speed, and swapping to green hosting and/or offsetting the carbon. This is an easy first step route which can be built on over time when you have a CSR strategy in place.
In conclusion, an ethical website is one that operates with integrity and fairness, respects the rights and interests of all stakeholders, and contributes positively to the online community. By embracing these principles, websites can build trust and credibility with users and create a more responsible and sustainable digital landscape.
Check to see if your website platform is ethical on our previous blog