Justifying Unethical Conduct
Justifying Unethical Conduct
Unethical conduct is not necessarily illegal conduct; however, the difference between ethical and unethical conduct can be difficult to spot. Using the Internet, identify an example of when a company engaged in legal, but arguably unethical, conduct. Next, determine two (2) reasons why this conduct could be deemed unethical and why you believe the company failed to make the right decision. Lastly, speculate on the ramifications of the company’s arguably unethical conduct on its customer base. Justify your response.
Paper For Above instruction
One notable example of a company engaging in legal but arguably unethical conduct is Facebook's handling of user data, particularly in relation to the Cambridge Analytica scandal. In this case, Facebook did not violate any laws by allowing third-party apps to access user information, but the company's failure to adequately protect user privacy and the opacity surrounding data sharing practices raised significant ethical concerns (Isaac & Frenkel, 2018). This conduct can be deemed unethical for two primary reasons: first, it breaches the ethical obligation of respecting user privacy and autonomy; second, it reflects a failure to ensure transparency and honesty about how user data is collected and used. The company appeared to prioritize profit and user engagement over ethical responsibility, neglecting the potential harm caused by data misuse. This oversight exemplifies a failure to uphold ethical standards, even though the actions were legally permissible.
The ramifications of Facebook’s arguably unethical conduct on its customer base are substantial. Users may feel betrayed and lose trust in the platform, leading to decreased user engagement and potential migration to alternative social media platforms that are perceived as more ethically sound (Tucker, 2019). Furthermore, there is a broader societal impact, including increased suspicion about data privacy and the potential for misuse of personal information on a large scale. This erosion of trust can weaken the reputation of the company and diminish customer loyalty, ultimately impacting its profitability and long-term sustainability. The Facebook case highlights the importance of ethical considerations alongside legal compliance to maintain user trust and social responsibility.
References
Isaac, M., & Frenkel, S. (2018). Facebook and Cambridge Analytica: What you need to know. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/19/technology/facebook-cambridge-analytica-explained.html
Tucker, C. (2019). Social networks, trust, and access to information: The impact of Facebook's privacy practices. Journal of Business Ethics, 157(2), 347-365.