Which ethical principle is primarily addressed by the need to avoid data breaches?

The need to avoid data breaches is primarily connected to the ethical principle of respect for persons. This principle emphasizes the importance of valuing individuals' autonomy, privacy, and the need for informed consent. When data breaches occur, individuals' personal information may be exposed without their knowledge or consent, violating their privacy and trust. Upholding respect for persons means protecting sensitive data and ensuring that individuals are treated with dignity, which is critical in research and other contexts where personal information is handled.

In contrast, the principles of beneficence, justice, and integrity focus on different aspects of ethical conduct. Beneficence relates to doing good and maximizing benefits while minimizing harm, justice pertains to fairness and equitable treatment, and integrity emphasizes honesty and adherence to moral principles. While these principles are also important in the context of data management and research ethics, they do not directly address the core issue of individual privacy and the ethical obligation to protect personal data as clearly as respect for persons does.