Professional Ethics in Online Mediation

This article examines ethical issues that arise in connection with conducting mediations in an online environment. It proposes that while online mediations might not disrupt existing ethical regimes, it is nevertheless important to give sustained attention to the distinctive issues that online mediation poses, including the evolving technologies adopted. While mediation ethics, codes of conduct, and regulatory mechanisms have been established with traditional in-person mediation in mind, it is important to consider how such principles as self-determination, confidentiality, and impartiality apply in an online environment and what adaptations might be necessary to ensure ethical integrity. The article assesses how to close gaps that have arisen between existing codes of conduct and new realities shaped by changing technology and mediation practices.