Abstract
The article presents a study of the digital ethics code phenomenon in the context of university online community functioning. The analysis of international regulatory documents governing ethical principles in the digital environment was carried out, with emphasis on «Ethically Aligned Design», «Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI», and corporate artificial intelligence principles of leading technology companies. The digital ethics evolution was conceptualized through the lens of fundamental works by N. Wiener, J. Weizenbaum, and L. Floridi, who laid the theoretical and methodological basis of modern digital ethics. Based on a comparative analysis of the regulatory experience in digital ethics in Russia and Kazakhstan, the necessity of implementing a digital ethics code in the university environment is argued. A three-component methodological model of the code has been developed, integrating axiological, deontological, and praxeological aspects, aimed at forming a sustainable network communication culture of the academic community. The research contributes greatly to the development of theoretical foundations of digital ethics and offers practical recommendations for implementing ethical norms in the digital educational environment. The research results may be used in developing local regulations of higher educational institutions and improving the mechanisms for regulating online communication in the academic environment.