Question

Professional Practices and Ethics

Case study 1: Violation of privacy

Marcus is a computer engineer who has recently developed an application which helps users keep track of medical information, doctor’s appointments, and prescriptions. Information about the user is stored in this application, including what prescriptions they are taking and how frequently they schedule doctor’s appointments. As the developers of the application, Marcus and his company have access to this information. The marketing department requests Marcus to supply them with customer-specific information so they can better target advertisements and application suggestions to the users. Marcus understands that he is part of a company, but also feels that the privacy of the app users should be protected. Additionally, Marcus feels that as an engineer, he should be responsible to those who use his technology.

Source: Clare Bartlett was a 2014-2015 Hackworth Fellow in Engineering Ethics at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University

Question 1: Read case study 1[Violation of privacy] to answer the following questions.

1. How does Marcus determine how much of the user’s information should be shared with marketing? [Answer considering internal / external pathway of conflict resolution]
2. Is this an ethical use of information or a violation of the user’s privacy? [Answer considering moral principles of respect]

Answer 1

a) Marcus should look at the right of privacy of the individual and keep him at the position of the customer and determine the right thing by looking from their perspective-taking the privacy law into consideration. he should focus on an external and internal pathway to resolve conflict as he should take decision taking into consideration its internal voice that what should be right in the case how much of the information given to company should not affect the conscience also taking into consideration the external factor taking into consideration patients perspective to resolve the external conflict. He should take decisions such that he does not feel bad after taking the wrong decision of sharing sensitive information to the company which can lead problems in the future.

b) This is not ethical use of the information in the light of privacy as each person has its won private life simply giving information to the person without the consent of the concerned person will make its privacy in danger there may be information that the person doesn't want to share, sharing the information to another third party will not be ethical. Morally every person has self-dignity that must be respected by others also it is intrinsic to the person's identity. Marcus in the case should respect the personal dignity of the person by not sharing any sensitive information to the company as it is in his hands whether to give information or not.