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Answer the following questions. All questions carry equal weight (5% of all assessments in this subject). 1. Consider the following scenario: Google Inc., perhaps the most well-known search engine company in the world, also owns and/or operates several subsidiary services and Web-based applications. These include, Gmail, Google Maps, Google+, Google Calendar, Google Chrome, Picasa, AdSense/Adwords, and so forth. In the past, each had its own privacy policy. In 2012, however, Google replaced the individual policies with one comprehensive privacy policy across all of its services. When it implemented this change, Google also announced that the company would share user account data across all its services. Critics note that a user's search engine history could be shared with YouTube, or vice versa, and that a user's Google+ account data might be shared with Adwords to generate more targeted advertising.

Source: Tavani, H. T. (2014). Ethics and Technology: Controversies, Questions, and Strategies for Ethical Computing (4th ed.). John Wiley & Sons Publishers., pp.166. Analyse the above case using the philosophical ethics perspective.

Paper For Above instruction

The Google privacy policy change in 2012 presents a compelling case for ethical analysis from a philosophical perspective, particularly through the lens of consequentialism, deontology, and virtue ethics. Each framework offers unique insights into the moral implications of data sharing across Google's integrated services.

From a consequentialist perspective, the primary concern revolves around the outcomes of Google's policy change. Consequentialism evaluates morality based on the results of actions, emphasizing overall benefits and harms. Google's data sharing could enhance user experience by enabling more personalized services and targeted advertising, which can be seen as beneficial both for consumers and the company. However, this increased data sharing also raises significant privacy risks, such as potential misuse of personal information, data breaches, and loss of user trust. Critics argue that the potential harms — including invasion of privacy and loss of autonomy — outweigh the benefits. The consequentialist evaluation thus hinges on whether the benefits of targeted advertising and improved services outweigh the possible harms and privacy infringements. Since privacy is a fundamental human right, its violation through such data sharing might be deemed ethically unacceptable if the harms are substantial and unmitigated.

Deontology, particularly Kantian ethics, assesses morality based on adherence to duty and the principle of treating individuals as ends rather than means. Kantian ethics emphasizes respect for persons and their autonomy. Google's decision to share user data without explicit informed consent could be viewed as a violation of Kantian principles, which require that individuals be treated as autonomous agents capable of making informed choices about their personal information. By consolidating user data across various services, Google arguably treated users merely as means to profit through targeted advertising, neglecting their right to control their personal data. Kantian critique would also question whether Google's actions could be universalized; if every company engaged in similar data sharing without explicit consent, it could erode trust and autonomy, leading to a world where privacy rights are fundamentally compromised.

Virtue ethics focuses on moral character and virtues such as honesty, integrity, and respect. From this perspective, Google's decision could be seen as lacking in virtues such as honesty and respect for user privacy. Transparent communication and respect for user autonomy are virtues that Google should embody. Instead, the opacity of the privacy policy change suggests a failure to demonstrate virtues like honesty, as users may not have been fully informed or understood how their data would be used. Virtue ethics also advocates for moral agency; companies should act as virtuous entities committed to respecting and protecting user rights. In this case, fostering trust and demonstrating integrity would be morally preferable and ethically responsible.

In conclusion, the case illustrates the complex moral landscape surrounding data privacy in the digital age. From a consequentialist standpoint, the benefits must outweigh harms; deontologically, respecting user autonomy and informed consent is paramount; and from a virtue ethics perspective, honesty and integrity are essential virtues. Ethical analysis suggests that Google's comprehensive privacy policy should balance functional benefits with a firm commitment to respecting user rights, emphasizing transparency and moral virtues to uphold ethical standards in information technology.

References

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