PROJECT

Program: Information Systems Business Analysis

Course Name: Information System Ethics

Course Code: W24 BU1173-G2

Name: Navleen Kour

Student Id: 202303161

In this time of rapid change and innovations, ethics are what guide the decisions and activities of

information systems professionals. This project is set out as a guide for those who are in

information systems and unfamiliar with the ethics involved. The principles of ethics and how to

apply ethics frameworks will be introduced in detail and interpreted by the case studies that will

be provided for a better understanding. Case B is one of the ethical dilemmas in all, and in this

instance, it is advised to implement a tracking feature without user consent. The case clearly

illustrates the complexity of moral principles, duties the professional must perform, and the

effects such actions could have on the key players. Using this particular case application of virtue

ethics, justice theory, and privacy rules, we will look deeper into the resulting ethical

ramifications and we are giving the recommendation that incorporates both its ethics level higher

and the problems on its many-sided side that are related to it.

Summary of Case B

In Case B, a software developer is confronted with the manager asking for the implementation of

a new feature that would be tracking user activity without the prior consent of users. Based on

the rule of ethical behaviour, however, such a step is regarded as a violation of users' privacy and

personal autonomy. They are concerned with action taken by their manager if they do not
comply with the request. The case showcases the dilemma of choosing between professional

duties and personal values, which underlines that the principle of professional ethics is essential

for software engineering practice.

Key Ethical Issues

 Respect for user privacy and autonomy: Implementing the tracking feature without user

consent infringes upon their privacy rights and autonomy. People have legitimate

expectations regarding their involvement in a specific software platform that this will not

be monitored or tracked without user agreement. Not respecting this expectation gives

rise to a perception of not being trusted and puts aside the ethical principle of respecting

an individual’s right to decide on their personal information and online activities.

 Integrity and honesty in professional conduct: The developer faces a conflict between

their ethical principles and pressure from their manager to compromise those principles.

We cannot tailor the tracking function without the permission of the users as the tactic is

the basis of the principles of deception and non-disclosure of tracking personal

information for spying purposes. At the same time, this is a moral dilemma between their

ethical standards and the pressure of the working environment as the manager requires

them to follow.

 Balancing personal values with professional obligations: The developers would have to

balance their ethical standpoint and professional duty to the employer. This conflict

shows how difficult is to balance personal ethics and the institution’s codes with the
 requirements there. The developers will need to take into account this conflict and

determine the most ethical decision that conforms to their moral beliefs and professional

commitments.

 Impact on Stakeholders: The implementation of this feature without the user's

involvement might have dramatic implications to a considerable extent for different

parties. Users may feel they were lied to or betrayed, and worry about the quality of their

personal information and security, which can cause reputational issues for the company

as well.

 Long-Term Ethical Implications: Applying this specific feature without the permission of

the user potentially will have long-term ethical consequences for both the company and

the whole industry. It thus creates a precedent for unethical procedures, corporations start

prioritizing their interests instead of users’ rights, and may potentially bring an

atmosphere of surveillance and distrust to the digital community.

Apply Ethical Frameworks

 Utilitarianism
The establishment of the tracking feature could be beneficial in the company’s eyes

because it empowers them to collect user data for analysis and marketing purposes.

Although the effort being made towards protecting user privacy and freedom is

commendable, it has failed to mention the potential negative repercussions on their

privacy and freedom. From a utilitarian point of view, the overall well-being of the users

should be emphasized in which case privacy should be among the most essential

priorities. Therefore, the drawbacks of implementing the tracking feature without consent

prevail over the potential advantages that may be gained.

Given that privacy defence and preservation of freedom are well-noticed, it is crucial to

acknowledge the possible negative effects of implementing the tracking feature without

disclosing its purpose to the user. Through this measure, users' privacy and autonomy

are compromised, correspondingly with a rise in their lack of trust and unease.

Furthermore, information theft can be the consequence of unauthorized tracking that, in

turn, makes it possible to violate user privacy and handle sensitive data incorrectly,

which might result in data breaches and security risks.

Privacy protection and encouraging the well-being of the users are among the top social

values. Preservation of personal data security is not only important in the user's trustful

relationship with the company but also it increases the satisfaction of users and their
 loyalty (Capital, 2024). Besides, the value of privacy for users might also be

compromised for business reasons causing distrust in a company since it may bring

about brand damage and legal issues.

 Deontology

From a deontological standpoint, the developer must adhere to ethical principles,

including respect for user privacy and autonomy. Even if pressured by their manager, the

developer is obligated to act by these principles. Implementation of the tracking system

without approval would break the moral duties despite the potential effects.

 Virtue Ethics

Virtue ethics starts from the fundamentals of virtue development and virtue cultivation

for moralities, such as honesty, integrity, and compassion. Concerning the case study, the

programmer can base the decision-making on a virtue ethics approach by demonstrating

how strongly their well-being affects their personality.

Among the core traits that such developer’s integrity embodies are honesty and openness

in the refusal to promote the tracking feature without user consent even if they face a

manager’s pressure. Developing an application that is geared towards user privacy and

autonomy reveals the fact that the developer has a commitment to ethical principles and

thus acts in line with his/her moral virtues.

 Justice Theory
 Justice theory, just as fairness or distributive justice, deals with the equal distribution of

burdens and advantages within society (Kaufman, 2012). Justice theory will act as a

compass for developers who must acquaint product users with fairness, and look into the

ethical issues concerned with other stakeholder group options.

Access to the monitoring option without the prior consent of the user would finally make

the disproportionate seizing of power and control possible as it goes beyond the limits of

the user's privacy rights. It undermines the cherished principles of fairness and equality

by reducing the users into objects whose freedoms and rights are limited as a result of

these surveillance practices.

 Privacy Principles

Privacy principles constitute the basis for protecting individual data and for assuring their

legal protection at the same time (Policy, 2022). In regards to Case B, privacy principles

can be applied to make sure that no user’s privacy is broken and it stays protected and

respected during all stages of software development.

The developer should apply fundamental privacy ideals like transparency, consent, and

data minimization while creating and implementing the tracking option. One of the

principles is to give clear data collection information and request users’ explicit consent

for tracking activities, together with limiting the collection and use of personal data to

what is needed for serious purposes only.

o Communicate Ethical Concerns: The developer should initiate a conversation with their

manager to express their ethical concerns regarding the implementation of the tracking

feature without user consent. Precisely indicate the possible consequences for

stakeholders, highlighting the encroachment of user privacy rights and the degradation of

user belief and satisfaction.

o Refer to Professional Codes of Conduct: Appeal to professional codes of conduct, such as

the ACM Code of Ethics (ACM, 2024) and Professional Conduct or IEEE Code of Ethics

(IEEE, 2024), which emphasize the importance of respecting user privacy, autonomy,

and informed consent in software development practices. Illustrate the fact that the

proposed action goes against these ethical principles and weakens the authority of the

profession.

o Consider Legal and Regulatory Requirements: Assess relevant legal and regulatory

requirements, such as data protection laws (e.g., GDPR, CCPA) and industry standards,

to ensure compliance with legal obligations. Highlight the possible legal consequences of
 inserting the tracking element either without user approval. These include fines, penalties,

and loss of the reputation of the company.

o Propose Ethical Alternatives: Offer alternative solutions that align with ethical principles

and legal requirements, such as obtaining explicit user consent for tracking activities or

implementing privacy-preserving measures to anonymize user data. Consider proposals

for easily understandable consent mechanisms and fully comprehendible accounts of data

collection procedures to encourage the trust of users.

o Long-Term Impact on Society: The long-term societal impact of the proposed solution

needs to be taken into account, and accordingly promote ethical practice and innovation

to ensure the industry remains accountable. Highlight how providing user privacy and

autonomy that support an ecosystem that is more ethical and sustainable will in the long

run build trust and transparency and protect human rights.

Privacy and Security

 The issue of privacy and security must be dealt with as a matter of being the number one

priority for any software project where the coming software is involved (A3Logics,

2023). Enabling a tracking mechanism without the consent of the user not only

contravenes the privacy of users but also exposes the data to potential vulnerable security

risks.

 Finding the right balance between measures of security and with privacy of users is the

key for software development practices to be kept ethical and prominent in the society.

(Linkedin, 2023)
 Anonymity

 Guarding the anonymity of the whistleblower or individuals reporting ethical violations

amongst the employees in the company is necessary to instill ethical behaviour as well as

to prevent retaliation.

Conclusion

The end of Case B shows the ethical considerations in the information system field and the

importance of professionals in their reconciliation with moral rightness and responsibility. Virtue

ethics, justice theory, and the principle of privacy that we have deployed in this research help us

identify the ethical concerns and provide a solution which is privacy-centric, which is in line

with the requirements of the professional codes of conduct and which promotes the individual

well-being and social well-being in the long term. While the technology is presented

continuously advanced, Ethical awareness and ethical decision-making would remain vital for

technology to be used for the well-being of the people and overturn the fundamental values of

fairness, respect and justice. It is by the same ethical dedication and professional ethics that

professionals in the industry can obtain a more ethical and sustainable digital future.
 Presentation

Introduction:

 The information systems bring into force ethical concerns making it crucial to undergo

ethical analysis.

 Case B is the situation of a software engineer who is forced to install tracking software at

the end users' lack of consent.

 It points out the ethical conflict that revolves around personal morality and professional

impartiality.

Ethical Analysis:

 Major problems include the invasion of privacy of users and how the moral

responsibilities of the professional services can be engaged with the professional code of

conduct and when personal values clash with job tasks.

 Utilitarianism pursues the idea that the end should always justify the means and

companies by user well-being over corporate interests.

 Deontology imparts the importance of such ethical principles which will not change no

matter the external pressures.

 Virtue ethics, on the other hand, inspire morality of honesty, courage, and integrity in the

thought process.

 The idea of justice as a theory also supports fairness and impartiality treatment to all the

concerned parties.
  Privacy principles encourage voluntary and understated disclosure, and demand for the

least data possible to be processed and retained.

Professional Decision-Making:

 While thus the developer should address their manager with ethical concern.

 Concerning regulatory requirements to legal frameworks, professional conduct must form

guidance to the actions of individuals.

 Since the 21st century as digital technology advances, so do the ethical implications.

Undoubtedly, these implications are immense and urgent. Nonetheless, ethical societal

structuring, focusing on user privacy, and taking into consideration the long-term societal

effects are inevitable.

Conclusion:

 For Case B we see the ethical issues in the bearing on the information systems.

 Ethical frameworks aid in the modelling and exploration of problems.

 The first necessity is ahead of user privacy and the society’s fabric

 Ethical consciousness is inexorable for individuals to develop ethical practices helping to

formulate a moral digital future.

A3Logics. (2023, May 12). Why Security is The Top Priority in Software Development.

Retrieved from A3Logics: https://www.a3logics.com/blog/why-security-is-the-top-

priority-in-software-development

ACM. (2024). ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. Retrieved from ACM:

https://www.acm.org/code-of-ethics

Capital, F. (2024, March 23). How Data Privacy Startups Can Help Businesses Build Customer

Loyalty and Trust. Retrieved from Faster Capital: https://fastercapital.com/content/How-

Data-Privacy-Startups-Can-Help-Businesses-Build-Customer-Loyalty-and-Trust.html

IEEE. (2024). IEEE Code of Ethics. Retrieved from IEEE:

https://www.ieee.org/about/corporate/governance/p7-8.html
Kaufman, A. (2012). Distributive Justice. Retrieved from Science Direct:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/distributive-

justice#:~:text=Distributive%20Justice%2C%20Theories%20of&text=Distributive

%20justice%20is%20concerned%20with,with%20competing%20needs%20and

%20claims.

Linkedin. (2023, April 27). Balancing Data Security and User Privacy. Retrieved from

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/balancing-data-security-user-privacy-finding-

sweet-spot

Policy, F. P. (2022). The Six Privacy Principles of the GDPR. Retrieved from Free Privacy

Policy:

https://www.freeprivacypolicy.com/blog/gdpr-6-privacy-principles/#:~:text=According

%20to%20Article%205(1,Data%20Minimization