Introduction

In this assignment, you'll examine a Facebook scandal(s) by analyzing relationships among technology and society. Explore and discuss how professionals tackle complex problems using rational examinations, ethical theories, and laws which govern information technology (IT). Write/discuss from a factual and critical perspective. Analyze a major player in relation to an ethical theory. Counter another student's analysis with more research.

Performing Ethics = Rational Examination.

Looking at all aspects of a problem will help you, a company, or a government make rational decisions about what really happened, who is to blame, and what might fix the problem. A rational examination can include a review of who did what when, how, where, and why as well as a philosophical/analytical discussion backed up with ethical theories and approaches to allow the examiners to make determinations and decisions.

A rational examination typically includes these factors:

Who (Players) What When (Timeline) Where How (Technologies) Why Consequences Laws
  • Whistleblowers
  • Owners
  • Manager
  • Workers
  • Lawyers
  • Victims
  • Bad Actors
  • Legislators
  • By-standers
  • Problems, Dilemmas
  • Solutions, Actions
  • What happened when, where, and by whom?
  • Countries where the problem originated
  • Countries that are affected by the problem
  • Software
  • Hardware
  • Electric grid
  • Internet (wifi, cable, fiber)
  • Cellular network
  • Radio Waves
  • Satellite
  • Finances
  • Ignorance, Accidentally
  • Negligence
  • Poor Design
  • Non-action
  • Pressure, Coercion
  • Obedience, Duty, Loyalty
  • Greed
  • Power
  • Fear
  • Hate
  • As a joke
  • Vengeance
  • For recognition
  • Political
  • Positive for some or for everyone?
  • Negative for some or for everyone?
  • What are they called and where can you read them?
  • What laws are missing?
  • What laws need to be updated?

If the ultimate goal of technology is to improve the Quality of Life, then humans need methods to help determine if improvements in the quality of life have occurred. An ethical discussion of technology refers to the improvement of its users, the company that ordered it, and the individual workers who made it.

Quality of life is often measured by looking at a person's physical wellbeing, material wellbeing, social wellbeing, emotional wellbeing, and development and activity. Learn more from Felce and Perry.

Ethical frameworks for computer science.

Computer Scientists who study morals and ethics have agreed upon common frameworks to help them analyze their decisions. Besides understanding the difference between the concept of "morals" and "ethics" understand the two main frameworks so that you, too, can use them in your arguments for future case discussions:

Scroll through all three sections and hover over concepts to learn their meanings. View Devising an Ethical Framework in a new tab.

Facebook Scandals

During Facebook's reign as the most popular social media platform, they have made many mistakes, including sharing our personal data without consent, not disclosing security breaches, recording our faces, and perpetuating fake news.

For this discussion, you will focus on their relationship with Cambridge Analytica and how it influenced elections around the world.

If you have access to Netflix, watch their 2019 documentary The Great Hack. The movie clarifies very clearly who did what when, how, and why. Also, search recent news for updates to the scandal.

If you don't have access to Netflix, or you want to round out your understanding of Facebook, then start with the following sources:

Your Analysis

Start writing in a word processing document to synthesize what you learned about Facebook Scandal(s). Use research, including what you find in the SmartNews feed, library journals, broadcast news, etc.

  1. In paragraph 1, describe and cite one of the major players in the scandal. Who did what when, how, and why? A major player can be a whistleblower, an owner, a manager, a worker, a lawyer, a victim, a bad actor, a legislator, or a by-stander.
  2. In paragraph 2, describe and cite the positive OR negative consequences of that person's actions.
  3. In paragraph 3, describe and cite one of the ethical theories or approaches and how it pertains to that person's actions.

Remember:

  • Check the word count (150+ per paragraph, not counting the author names or article titles).
  • Check the hyperlinks (they must be in article titles, law names, or theory/approach names).
  • Bold the name of key concepts (not long phrases).
  • Spellcheck, fix grammar, then Ctrlc or ⌘c to copy the paragraphs.
  • Click the Chapter 2 Examine a Case Discussion in Canvas.
  • Ctrlv or ⌘v to paste the copied text into a Reply thread (click the Reply field to activate the editing box).
  • Save your thread.
  • Don't include a bibliography list; it increases the amount of scrolling, which causes eye fatigue.

Your Counter-argument

Before the Available Until date, reply to at least one person's thread:

  1. In paragraph 1, discuss a counter-argument related to their analysis of the case. Describe and cite at least one article that supports your argument (unrelated to the theory).

Remember:

  • Check the word count (150+ per paragraph, not counting the author names or article titles).
  • Check the hyperlinks (they must be in article titles, law names, or theory/approach names).
  • Bold the name of key concepts (not long phrases).
  • Spellcheck, fix grammar, then Ctrlc or ⌘c to copy the paragraphs.
  • Don't include a bibliography list; it increases the amount of scrolling, which causes eye fatigue.