Kant on moral autonomy - Ethics and Privacy

Extract

[...] For example, mobile subscribers occasionally get text alerts that may be categorized as advertisements despite not subscribing for them. The implication is that mobile networking companies share phone numbers with other companies and thus invade the privacy of the subscribers. However, there are few concerns about these kinds of disclosures because they do not involve such things as people's names, gender and location. A case can be made for the purchase of information for purposes of advertisement as not infringing on the privacy of the users in the event that the companies purchasing this information keep it private. [...]

[...] Kant on moral autonomy - Ethics and Privacy Ethics are concerned with right and wrong in a particular society (Reamer, 2013). The definition literally means there are different definitions of ethics depending on the society. For example, there are assessments based on the intention of actions as well as on the outcomes of the actions. For example, in the case of YourFace, different approaches can be taken. One of the approaches would be to evaluate the action of selling private information for profits while the other approach would consider the effects of selling the information. [...]

[...] However, their existence safeguards the interests of members of the public. Therefore, the arguments proposed merely serve the interest of stakeholders in YourFace. The implication of this proposal is that it is possible to make a case against sharing information because it reduces utility. Therefore, the utilitarian ethics are open to different interpretation. They can therefore be used in whichever way suits the proponent. Implications of Kant's duty Ethics Kant's duty Ethics condemns the use of people as a means to an end (Sensen, 2013). [...]

[...] An act utilitarian would advise the director of customer services to make a case to the customers that validates selling information and reduces their concerns because the decision has already been taken. In this event the best action, in the view of act utility is the one that reduces anxiety and increases acceptance from the customers. For example, if the director decides to send mass notification to the customers, this decision must have the best result. If not, then the best action would be to ignore the whole issue and try to reassure the concerned customers. [...]

[...] A case for selling the information violating no utilitarian ethics Making profits if the primary objective in businesses. Therefore, according to the normative ethics, failure of the management to capitalize on opportunities to increase profitability is unethical on the part of the management (Reamer, 2013). In this regard, failure of the social networking sites to capitalize on the demand for private information is unethical. The issue is less straightforward in utilitarian perspective. For example, the deduction is dependent on numbers and the results of the shared information. [...]