Integriteten

Integriteten, or integrity, refers to the state of being whole and undivided, and to the alignment of actions with stated beliefs and values. In everyday use it commonly denotes personal character and honesty; in technical and professional contexts it also describes the reliability and wholeness of information, systems, and processes.

Etymology and scope: The term comes from Latin integer, meaning whole. Across languages such as Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish, integritet or integriteten is used to describe both moral steadiness and the reliability of data, documents, and infrastructures.

Moral integrity: This is a personal virtue characterized by honesty, accountability, and consistency between words and deeds. It fosters trust in interpersonal and professional relationships and underpins ethical decision-making. Breaches—deception, hypocrisy, or concealment—tend to erode credibility and may trigger consequences in careers and reputations.

Data and system integrity: In information technology and data management, integrity means data is accurate, complete, and protected from unauthorized modification. Techniques include access controls, validation rules, and integrity constraints in databases, as well as checksums, cryptographic hashes, and digital signatures. Regular audits and backups help detect and correct integrity violations.

Governance and society: Integrity is a central value in governance, medicine, journalism, research, and public administration. It informs policies on transparency, anti-corruption, privacy, consent, and ethical oversight. The precise standards for integrity vary by domain, but the overarching aim is to sustain trust and accountability.

Note: In Danish usage, integriteten commonly appears in discussions of personal integrity, professional ethics, and institutional trust; in technical contexts, integritet relates to data and system integrity.