As the first entry in this discussion about ethical issues associated with information management and use, I invite your answers to the question posed in the title of this post. Webster’s dictionary defines conundrum as “1 : a riddle whose answer is or involves a pun 2 a : a question or problem having only a conjectural answer b : an intricate and difficult problem.”
If you feel that the pairing of these two concepts is a conundrum, then elaborate a bit on that.
However, if you feel (as I do) that although there is mismanagement and misuse of information, there can and should be an ethical position that we must take in our professional practice and in our organizational policies.
Briefly share with us an issue and/or experience in the use of software, Web sites, and other information technology (kept confidential to protect proprietary sources) that you feel explains how/why we should join these two concepts in a practical way. Thanks for sharing with us, Doc
I’ve already posted this in our class conference, but I that it’s an important issue.
The ethical questions of the use of technology, to me, are clear cut. As long as you are not harming others, then go to town. However, I think that the abuse of this technology especially by our government is scary as hell. The use of the Patriot Act as a tool to gather information on U.S. citizens without benefit of a warrant is a blatant abuse of technology and violation of our rights as guaranteed by the 4th Amendment. Check this link for the full text – http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html
Thank you, the soap-box is now closed.
Thanks Jesse, for sharing your appropriate example (involving information and technology) of how our ethical and legal framework can often collide – and even our ethical perspectives, such as those based on duty or rights. Trying to resolve those perspectives can be a conundrum (problem) for many people. Thanks also for posting the link to the Bill of Rights Web site.
A disturbing trend is going on in the retail industry. I have gone to two different stores in the last two weeks to return items and to my surprise, they’ve asked me for my driver’s license. When I went to the first store and asked why they needed my driver’s license when I have a receipt, their response was “it’s company policy.” My response was that I would not give them my driver’s license when I don’t know what you are going to do with my information. We went back and forth for twenty minutes and I asked to speak to the manager. I repeated my arguments to the manager and she agreed that they did not need my driver’s license, just my name. And then I complied.
Yesterday, I bought my daughter some boots. We were in the store and tried them on and bought the boots. While still in the store, my daughter decided to get a larger size. We proceeded to check-out and the cashier asked for my driver’s license. I asked why? She said my name would go into a database that would monitor my return activity. I read the back of the receipt and there was no privacy agreement that my information would not be sold to third parties and I refused to give up my driver’s license and we walked out of the store with the original boots.
Their logic for this practice is to monitor how many times a person returns items to stores and upon their discretion refuse to give you a refund for items that YOU paid for. I am so upset and just wanted everyone to know “Let the buyer beware!”
Also, there is no privacy agreement that states that your information will remain private, so in other words my information is available to everyone. I feel that if they have my name, address, and driver’s license number they maybe able to get financial information on me or whatever else they want and there is no accountability.
Since taking this class I have learned a lot about my rights to privacy and I would not have been able to challenge the policy because I would not have known my rights and just would have complied with their wishes. I have learned that my information has “value” and I don’t feel that I should arbitrarily give up my information without some reward or benefit to me. As far as I can tell, the reward and benefit is all theirs.
1. Is this business practice legal?
2. Does this policy violate my rights to privacy?
3. Does this policy violate unreasonable search and seizure of property?
4. Can I challenge this policy in a court of law?
Thanks for sharing your experience with that retail practice. Although I can’t comment on the legal aspects of this practice, it certainly raises ethical issues. My sense is that because they make this demand upon returning items, this practice will come under pressure by more customers who do not want to make an ordinary consumer action subject to this scrutiny. If nothing else, it will cause many customers to shop elsewhere.
Jesse – I could not agree with you more!
Especially when you find out how much information is not accurate. Your private information is being given away or sold for $14.95 and it may all be false and cause you much harm.