The proposed amendments aim to improve the robustness of the Code and to expand its relevance in an environment being reshaped by rapid technological advancements. The proposals are designed to guide the ethical mindset and behaviour of public accountants when they deal with the changes in their work processes and the content of the services they provide that have been brought about by technology.

Among other matters, the proposals:

• Draw special attention to the professional competence and confidentiality imperatives of the digital age,
• Address the ethical dimension of professional accountants’ reliance on the output of technology or its use,
• Further enhance considerations relating to threats from the use of technology as well as considerations relating to complex circumstances in applying the Code’s conceptual framework,
• Strengthen and clarify the International Independence Standards (IIS) with respect to technology-related non-assurance services (NAS) firms may provide to their audit clients or technology-related business relationships they may enter into with their audit clients,
• Explicitly acknowledge that the IIS that apply to assurance engagements are applicable to assurance engagements on non-financial information, for example, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosures.