Topics in Information Technology Ethics PDF

Running head: TOPICS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ETHICS
ITC506 - Topics in Information Technology Ethics: Volkswagen Emissions Scandal
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1TOPICS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ETHICS
Volkswagen Emissions Scandal
Introduction
On September 2015, Volkswagen Emission Scandal created a worldwide stir, when the
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice to the German automaker
Volkswagen group for violation of clean air act (En.wikipedia.org. 2018). EPA detected that the
Volkswagen group had intentionally programmed their diesel engines in such a way that the
emission controls occur only during the laboratory emission testing. This had previously caused
the vehicles to pass the laboratory emission testing. However, those vehicles in real can emit up
to 40 times more nitrogen in real world driving. This scandal took a huge turn because this
programming software was deployed in eleven million cars worldwide. A proper investigation
on the case had resulted in the reduction in the stock price of Volkswagen by a third in days. The
essay analyzes the situation on basis of four classical ethical theories which are utilitarian theory
deontological theory, virtue theory and contract theory. Since the Volkswagen group has
intentionally programmed the engine to bypass the testing process, it is necessary to evaluate the
actual intention of the organization in doing so.
1. Utilitarian theory
According to the Utilitarian theory of ethics, the rightness and wrongness of an action is
based on the consequence of an action (Willis, 2014). An action is best only when it maximizes
the utility. Utility in this case is based on the well being of majority. On analysis of a situation on
basis of the utilitarian theory, it is essential to identify whether the situation is doing a greatest
goods. Therefore, in order to understand whether the Volkswagen emission scandal is ethical or
not according to utilitarian theory, it is essential to analyze whether the emission scandal has

2TOPICS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ETHICS
done any greater good for the people or environment (Hayry, 2013). The intentional fault in the
Volkswagen cars has resulted in increase in environmental pollution which is not good for the
people and the environment (En.wikipedia.org. 2018). Since the fault in the engine was
intentional there is no doubt in the fact that the use or even manufacturing of such cars is
unethical. The cars were capable for emitting 40 times more NOx in real world driving that
increases the pollution of the environment by a huge percentage. Nowadays the cars are
manufactured with an anti pollution system and Volkswagen had claimed manufacturing of
similar cars without actually implementing it. This situation has no positive impact or effect and
manufacturing or use of such cars is completely unethical on basis of Utilitarian theory. The
situation is further analyzed on basis of deontology, virtue and contract theory in the following
sections.
2. Deontology Theory
In deontology theory, the morality of an action is evaluated on basis of certain rules.
Therefore, the deontology theory analyzes the situation on basis of the rightness and wrongness
of the actions irrespective of the rightness or wrongness of the consequence. This indicates that
even if the consequence of a particular situation is right although its action was wrong, the entire
situation will be wrong, evaluated on basis of deontology theory. The right or wrongness of an
action is based on certain rules and these rules help in determining the morality of a situation.
One of the universal moral laws states that it is unethical to cheat (Rhodes, 2016). The
Volkswagen group has definitely cheated on their customers by claiming to manufacture a car
whose pollution level is controlled, while in reality, the situation is completely different. The
Volkswagen group has in intentionally helped in manufacturing of the faulty car, whose action is
completely wrong. Therefore on basis of the deontology theory as well the situation is