In one of the most shocking cases of technology-led injustice, hundreds of sub-postmasters in the United Kingdom were wrongly accused of fraud because of errors in an accounting system called Horizon. For years, the Post Office relied on the system’s data to prosecute branch operators, claiming financial shortfalls were caused by theft or dishonesty. In reality, many of these discrepancies were generated by faults in the software. The consequences were devastating: some individuals lost their businesses and homes, many suffered severe emotional trauma, and others were imprisoned for crimes they never committed.

At its core, the scandal is not just a technology failure. It is a failure of governance, business accountability, and digital ethics. The Post Office trusted data output more than the people operating the system, and it refused to listen to concerns from those affected. Instead of questioning whether the system might be flawed, it assumed the software was always correct. Decisions were driven by technology without proper oversight, transparency, or verification.

This case highlights why future professionals in digital business must understand not only how to use technology, but also how to evaluate its risks. Digital Business graduates are trained to view technology as a tool that supports decision-making, not as an unquestionable authority. They learn how to read data critically, design business processes responsibly, and question whether digital systems serve both organizational goals and ethical standards.

As companies today adopt automation, artificial intelligence, and data-driven operations, the Horizon scandal serves as a powerful reminder: technology is not neutral, and its impact depends on how organizations govern it. The future demands business leaders who can combine digital literacy with human judgment, safeguarding both innovation and fairness. That is why Digital Business education matters, not only to build a digital economy, but to ensure we build it responsibly.