Technology: Ethics & Independence Considerations
Rapidly advancing new technologies significantly impact every aspect of the professional accountant’s (PA's) work. The PA’s skills and competencies, underpinned by ethics, trust, integrity and recognition of their public interest responsibility, are all critical in navigating the challenges and opportunities the advance of technology create. Irrespective of the technology used, professional accountants must comply with requirements in the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants, (including International Independence Standards).
This webpage compiles resources from across the world to assist both professional accountants in business (PAIBs) and in public practice (PAPPs), including auditors, navigate the ethical challenges and opportunities arising from evolving technologies. Regular visitors to this page will find updated guidance highlighting the relevance of IESBA’s Code of Ethics in developing, using and implementing evolving technologies.
For more on the IESBA's technical work progressing technology-related revisions to the Code click on the IESBA Technology Task Force Button.
IESBA Technology Working Group Phase 2 Report
Released on November 18, 2022, this report builds off of IESBA's February 2020 Phase 1 Report and documents the impacts of disruptive and transformative technologies on the work of professional accountants, and provides extensive analysis and insights into the ethical dimension of those developments. The report also discusses the relevance and importance of the overarching principles and specific provisions in the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards) (the Code) in laying out the ethical guardrails for professional accountants as they face opportunities and challenges in their work as a result of rapid digitalization.
The Report surveys the technology landscape and summarizes the outcomes of the Working Group’s fact-finding into the ethics implications of innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and cloud computing. It explores through the ethical lens various related issues, including data governance, cybersecurity, and reliance on, or use of, experts, and provides insights into those issues and the questions they raise. The Report includes ten recommendations which the IESBA will further consider, some of which it is already addressing in developing technology-related revisions to the Code.
For convenience, a dynamic webpage has been created for the Phase 2 Report. allowing users to easily navigate the sections and download relevant non-authoratative materials. Click here to visit.
Ethical Leadership In A Digital Era: Applying The IESBA Code To Selected Technology-Related Scenarios
This non-authoritative publication provides seven hypothetical scenarios to illustrate how accountants can navigate practical issues in ethical leadership when using or implementing technology.
Each scenario highlights the application of specific requirements and guidance in the IESBA Code, in particular those related to compliance with the fundamental principles of ethics, and auditor independence.
The publication was developed by the JICPA under the auspices of the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA)’s Technology Working Group.
IESBA Updates
Spotlight: Technology Issues and Thought Leadership
Stay up to date on IESBA's technology work
Technology Exposure Draft Resources
Resources Developed by Others:
ACCA Research from Professional Insights
