Discussion On Ethical Issues In This Discussion

33 Discussion Ethical Issuesin This Discussion Address The Follow

In this discussion, address the following: Following the approach indicated in Figure 6-1 on page 150, identify a new issue category not listed in Figure 6-1. Identify several examples of “crises” that have occurred in recent years under each issue category. Carroll, A. & Buchholtz, A. (2012). Business and society: Ethics, sustainability, and stakeholder management (8th ed.). Florence, KY: South-Western College Publishing

Paper For Above instruction

In analyzing ethical issues within business contexts, Carroll and Buchholtz (2012) provide a comprehensive framework in their discussion of stakeholder management and corporate social responsibility. While their Figure 6-1 categorizes existing ethical issues such as environmental responsibility, human rights, and corporate governance, a notably emerging issue category that warrants inclusion is "Digital Ethics and Data Privacy." The digital revolution has ushered in unprecedented challenges pertaining to the management, protection, and ethical use of data, giving rise to numerous crises in recent years.

Digital ethics encompasses issues related to the responsible use of technology, data security, privacy, and the ethical implications of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. As organizations increasingly rely on digital platforms, crises resulting from mishandling data or unethical use of technology have become prominent. Examples of recent crises under this emerging category include multiple high-profile data breaches, practicing unauthorized data harvesting, and failures in safeguarding consumer privacy.

One notable crisis occurred with Facebook, now Meta, in 2019 when the Cambridge Analytica scandal broke. The misuse of millions of user profiles without proper consent for political advertising raised fundamental ethical concerns about user privacy, data ownership, and corporate responsibility. This event not only resulted in legal repercussions but also eroded public trust and prompted regulatory scrutiny worldwide (Isaak & Hanna, 2018). The incident exemplifies the importance of transparent data management practices and ethical standards for digital platforms.

Another significant crisis pertains to the Equifax data breach in 2017, where sensitive personal information of approximately 147 million Americans was compromised. The breach highlighted vulnerabilities in data security infrastructure and underscored the ethical responsibility of corporations to protect consumer data. The fallout included identity theft, financial fraud, and widespread public concern concerning data security and accountability (Krebs, 2017). Such crises illustrate the vital need for robust cybersecurity measures and ethical accountability in handling personal data.

Additionally, ethical issues surrounding artificial intelligence have surfaced through biases embedded within AI systems. For instance, in 2018, Amazon faced criticism for its AI recruiting tool, which was found to be biased against female applicants, reflecting existing societal biases encoded into algorithms. This incident raised questions about the ethical design and deployment of AI, emphasizing the importance of fairness, transparency, and accountability in AI development (Dastin, 2018). The crisis underscores the necessity for ethical standards in AI to prevent discrimination and unfair practices.

Furthermore, the rapid dissemination of misinformation via social media platforms during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic has presented significant ethical challenges related to digital responsibility. Platforms like Facebook and Twitter have been scrutinized for their roles in amplifying false information, which has had tangible public health consequences. This crisis calls for ethical strategies in content moderation, misinformation control, and accountability for digital platform operators (Poynter Institute, 2020).

In conclusion, the emerging issue category of Digital Ethics and Data Privacy reflects a significant addition to traditional ethical concern categories within business. Recent crises such as data breaches, AI biases, misinformation, and privacy scandals highlight the urgent need for organizations to adopt ethical frameworks that promote responsible digital behavior. Regulatory developments, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe, indicate a global shift towards greater accountability and ethical standards in digital data management. As technology continues to evolve rapidly, ongoing vigilance and ethical commitment are essential to mitigate crises and uphold stakeholder trust in the digital age.

References

  • Carroll, A. & Buchholtz, A. (2012). Business and society: Ethics, sustainability, and stakeholder management (8th ed.). Florence, KY: South-Western College Publishing.
  • Isaak, J., & Hanna, M. J. (2018). User Data Privacy. Computer, 51(8), 18-26. https://doi.org/10.1109/MC.2018.3291228
  • Krebs, B. (2017). Equifax Data Breach Exposes Personal Information of 147 Million Americans. Krebs on Security. https://krebsonsecurity.com/2017/09/equifax-data-breach-exposes-personal-information-of-147-million-americans/
  • Dastin, J. (2018). Amazon scraps secret AI recruiting tool that showed bias against women. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-amazon-ai-recruiting-idUSKCN1MK08G
  • Poynter Institute. (2020). How Facebook and Twitter are fighting misinformation during the pandemic. Poynter. https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/
  • Floridi, L. (2019). The ethics of artificial intelligence. The Cambridge Handbook of Artificial Intelligence. Cambridge University Press.
  • Taddeo, M. & Floridi, L. (2018). How to regulate AI ethically and effectively. Science and Engineering Ethics, 25(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-018-9993-0
  • Wang, F. & Kosinski, M. (2018). Deep neural networks are more accurate than humans at detecting sexual orientation from facial images. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 114(2), 246–257.
  • Gorwa, R., Borge-Holthoefer, J., & Moreno, Y. (2020). Who leads and who follows? How authority shapes online misinformation diffusion. Science Advances, 6(24), eabc0837.
  • European Parliament. (2016). General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Official Journal of the European Union.

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