Archivist Professional Ethics in Maintaining the Confidentiality and Security of Archival Information

Abstract

Archives are information assets containing strategic information, official secrets, and personal data, so their management requires legal compliance as well as the moral integrity of those who manage them. The growth of electronic records increases the risk of information leakage, alteration, and misuse, while operational ethical guidance for archivists is rarely discussed together with archival security regulations. This study aims to analyze the role of archivists' professional ethics in maintaining the confidentiality and security of archival information. The study uses a qualitative literature review with content analysis of legislation, textbooks, and journal articles in the archival field. The findings show that (1) the regulatory framework on archives, public information disclosure, and personal data protection sets legal limits on access to and confidentiality of archives; (2) professional ethics fills the space for judgment that regulations cannot regulate in detail, particularly integrity, confidentiality, neutrality, and accountability; (3) the security classification and access system for active records translates ethics into practice; and (4) electronic records and artificial intelligence add ethical challenges that require digital and ethical literacy among archivists. The study concludes that the protection of archival information is effective only when regulations, technical systems, and professional ethics are applied in an integrated manner.