\"Ethical and social issues in information systems.\" It underscores the fact th
ID: 386020 • Letter: #
Question
"Ethical and social issues in information systems." It underscores the fact that our society has become very reliant on computers as technology has permeated the very fabric of our daily lives. It also highlights the many ethical and moral challenges associated with the misuse of these systems.
By doing a search of the internet or by other research methods, use Uber or another example of an organization that had to deal with a challenge posed by the misuse of information systems.
1) What was the moral or ethical dilemma?
2) How did technology contribute to this dilemma?
3) How did the organization respond to the situation?
4) What were the lessons learned?
5) What preventative controls do you think should have been put in place to avert this type of situation?
Explanation / Answer
Facebook profiling
Facebook has been collecting user data and create detailed profiles about them. Based on the users behavior and activities, Facebook analyses and classifies them. They study their behavior and predict their future behavior. This shared with marketers who use them to target their consumers effectively. This help's to find their target consumers and tailor ads exactly for them. Facebook has some 52000 attributes to classify its users
ProPublica, a non-profit organization investigated this profiling and targeting. ProPublica used a housing and on Facebook. Using the attributes section, the organisation chose to exclude Hispanic and African-American ethnic affinities. The ad was approved by Facebook
1) What was the moral or ethical dilemma?
Facebook helps marketers to do their business more effectively. It helps businessmen to find the right consumers. Segmentation and targeting are some of the core practices of marketing
But excluding a particular ethnicity is also discriminating. Also, note that that affinity to a particular ethnicity does not means that the user belongs to that ethnicity
2) How did technology contribute to this dilemma?
The technology and information system of Facebook helped in collecting such data and details which might not be easily and normally available in public forums. The technology helped in profiling based on user behavior on the platform
3) How did the organization respond to the situation?
Facebook said that this form of, ”exclusion targeting” is quite common in marketing and helps marketers. They say that they help marketers to exclude affinity, not an ethnicity. According to them, they have strict policies against targeting in a discriminatory way. It claims it takes swift actions against such marketing practices
4) What were the lessons learned?
5) What preventative controls do you think should have been put in place to avert this type of situation?
Facebook must use strict policies and guidelines helping businesses to use the way the social media platform should be used in an ethical way. Social media platforms thrive on selling data. But they should reframe their policies on which data to collect, analyze and sell. They should also increase awareness among the general public regarding data sharing
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