© 2005 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited. 1 Business Ethics and Technology Search the Web If you are interested in ethics conversations.

© 2005 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited. 1

Business Business Ethics and Ethics and TechnologTechnologyy

Search the WebIf you are interested in ethics conversations regarding technology, visit http://www.ethix.org

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Chapter Eight Objectives• Identify the role of technology in business• Understand the technological

environment and its relationship to ethics• Identify technological benefits and side

effects• Realize an appreciation of society’s

fascination with technology and its impact• Discuss information technology and

biotechnology and their ethical implications

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Characteristics of Technology

Benefits of Technology• Increased production of goods

and services• Reduced labour to produce

these goods and services• Reduced injuries in the

workplace• Increased standard of living

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Characteristics of Technology

Side Effects and Challenges of Technology

• Environmental pollution• The depletion of natural

resources • Technological unemployment• Diminished work satisfaction

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Ethics and Technology

Concern over the ethical use and implications of technology:–Avoid amoral applications of technology

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Ethics and TechnologySociety’s Obsession with

Technology• Favour the quick fix• The fear and worshiping technology• Blur the distinction between what is

real and fake• Accept violence as normal• Love technology as a toy• Live our lives distanced and distracted

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Ethics & Information Technology

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Information Technology

Two Key Impact Areas of Information

Technology• Electronic commerce• Computer technology

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Information Technology

Issues Concerning Electronic Commerce

• Scams • Invasion of privacy

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Top 10 Online Scams1. Internet Auction Fraud 2. Internet Service

Provider Scams 3. Internet Web Site

Design/Promotions - Web Cramming

4. Internet Information and Adult Services - Credit Card Cramming

5. Multi-level Marketing/Pyramid Scams

6. Business Opportunities and Work-At-Home Scams

7. Investment Schemes and Get-Rich-Quick Scams

8. Travel/Vacation Fraud 9. Telephone/Pay-Per-

Call Solicitation Frauds (including modem dialers and videotext)

10.Health Care Frauds

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E-CommercePrivacy Issues

• Identity theft• Revealing personal information• Dispersing personal information• Fraudulent websites• Government distribution of information• Spying – by employer or spouse or

stranger• Cyberstalkers

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E-Commerce and Government Protection

• The Financial Services Modernization Act

• FOIP http://foip.gov.ab.ca/

• Proposed legislation– Consumer Online Privacy and Disclosure Act– Online Consumer Protection Act– Unsolicited Commercial Electronic Mail Act

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E-Commerce and Business Initiatives

•Ethical leadership•Privacy policies•Chief privacy officers

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E-Commerce: Questionable Businesses and Practices• Pornography• Gambling• Downloading

– Napster.ca

– http://www.kent.edu/is/Security/Copyright.cfm

•Monitoring technology

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The Workplace and Computer Technology – The Good NewsThe Employee’s Impression of

Technology• Expands job-related knowledge• Increases productivity• Improves communications with

clients• Relieves job stress

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The Workplace, Computer Technology and Surveillance The

Not-so-good NewsTypes of Monitoring

- e-mail and Internet usage - fax usage - workers via video camera - cell phone usage - GPS equipped vehicles

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Unethical Workplace Employee Activities

• Engaging in dangerous activities (cell phones & vehicles don’t mix)

• Blaming errors on technology• Copying company software for

home use• Accessing corporate files without

permission

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More Unethical Workplace Employee

Activities• Computer shopping• Invading a co-worker’s privacy • Visiting porn sites and playing

games• Seeking employment on

company time

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Ethics & Biotechnology

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Biotechnology

•Bioethics deals with ethical issues embedded in the use of biotechnology.

•Proceduralism deals with elaborate protocols to ensure classical ethical dilemmas do not arise, such as informed consent.

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BiotechnologyGenetic Engineering

•Stem cell research•Cloning•Genetic testing and profiling

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BiotechnologyGenetically Modified Foods•Safety issues•Labelling issues

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Case Study: Toxic Tacos? (p.645)