Legal and Ethical Issues in E-Commerce: A Case Study of Getz

This article discusses the legal and ethical issues in E-commerce, focusing on a case study of Getz, a small retail business. It covers topics such as frauds on the internet, copyright violations, domain name disputes, web tracking, privacy concerns, and disintermediation. The article also explores the consequences of hacking on Getz's business, including data breaches, DDoS attacks, financial losses, and damage to reputation. Finally, it provides preventive measures to address these issues and protect the business.

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Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................1
Legal and Ethical issues:.............................................................................................................1
Cybercrime..................................................................................................................................3
Consequence of hacking on the Getz's business..........................................................................4
Preventive measures that resolves issues.....................................................................................5
CONCLUION..................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
E-Commerce is an electronic or online business which performs activities in terms of
buying and selling of products or services using internet. Transfer of money or data are mainly
involved to implement these transactions (What is Ecommerce? 2020).
Getz is a small retail who wants to initiate it's business online through E-Commerce for
expansion of it's retail business. It mainly deals with clothing for both males and females. So it is
mainly focusing on minimising physical retail stores as it reduces operational costs. Moreover
online business can target more and more customers which helps any business to gain brand
image and productivity.
The following discussion will cover ethical and legal issues, security related to hacking and
it's consequences, preventive measures to overcome problems that generally arrives in
technology and in online business in context of Getz.
MAIN BODY
Legal and Ethical issues:
Legality in E-commerce refers to legal acts which means to move within limitations of
laws (Soto-Acosta, Popa and Palacios-Marqués, 2016). Illegal acts breaks the law which results
in loosing the licence of a business. Ethics in E-commerce refers to the acts which are not
relatable in breaking any law, it is simply considered right or wrong. Which means unethical acts
may not be illegal.
Following are the legal issues discussed:
 Frauds on the internet: This is done when any website gains a good popularity
(Kollmann, 2019). If Getz's image is good and very well reputed then anyone can use it's
name in order to act of fraud with some people or Getz's customers for example,
assurance of jackpot, taking money for any instance, doing fraud activities using Getz's
name. So this is considered as illegal because law will definitely handcuff Getz as all
frauds were being done in name of the firm. So Getz must ensure it's web developer to
keep tight security on it's website and regular updating the content so that misusing of
website will not be possible for anyone.
 Copyright: It refers to the intellectual property where owner gives rights to copy it's
work and no legal action would be taken but if Getz buys a software then they will only
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have a right of using it, if they distribute it to other people then legal action would be
taken against Getz. Because distribution right is only with the copyright holder. Company
cannot use any content from other websites because this also violates the law. All these
issues comes under copyright legal issue. So this must be taken care that the firm would
not use any content or software permissions without any rights given by a owner
otherwise legal action will be taken against a firm.
 Domain Names: It refers to the name which different sites uses to identify or addressing
their name in a unique way (Alos-Simo, Verdu-Jover and Gomez-Gras, 2017). There are
several companies who wants their domain name same. There is a competition over the
internet because best domain name attracts the people in reviewing their sites. So some
people sell domain name at higher prices which is an illegal act. Any other site can use
Getz domain name for it's activities which is strictly against the law. Getz should also
take care that the domain name which it is using is not used by other site previously
because as a result it can be considered doing illegal business on internet.
Following are the ethical issues discussed:
 Web tracking: It refers to an activity where website owners share, collect and store
information about visitors surfing on the internet (Rodrigues, Oliveira and Costa, 2016).
There are some log files and cookies associated with sites through which hacker can enter
in Getz system and analyse it's functioning , software and data. And if the firm revisit
those sites than hacker can even gain the access to the system. This is considered
unethical but not illegal. So for the safer side, it is recommended that as soon as Getz
finished using a particular site, they must delete all the log files and and cookies which
were automatically downloaded after visiting that site.
 Privacy: Sometimes owner of an organization does not have any knowledge about their
employees thinking that they are disruptive or productive. Electronic payment system or
monitoring system of Getz consist their customers identification through which
employees can easily access and modify for their personal use. This is not illegal but it is
unethical because modification in customers identity may result in business loss and
elimination of that employee who went against this ethic. So firm should keep track of
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each and every employee activities they are performing in a firm. This can increase the
chances of maintaining privacy limited to it's company itself.
 Disintermediation and Re intermediation: Disintermediation refers to the reduction of
intermediate between producer and consumer resulting in a loss of job. Whereas re
intermediation refers to increment of intermediates between buyer and seller resulting in
gaining job (Bi, Davison and Smyrnios, 2017). Their basic services includes matching
and providing information or value added services like any consulting. These are safer in
traditional selling but risky in online because creation of number of intermediates
multiplies online hence sharing informing with a lot of people. Getz cannot resist this
because this is important in expansion of business. So some can misuse the information
which is considered against the ethics. So firm should intermediate those only who are
appropriate in the eyes of owner.
Cybercrime
It refers to an illegal or unethical activity using internet, network and computer system. It
can destroys or ruins peoples life because it directly affects privacy, personal information,
confidential data, national security or financial health.
Scenarios that results in the hacking of the web site
It refers to an aim to make the use of computer system or private network through the
unauthorised access to make control over that network security. This is done for some illegal
purpose. Person who attempts hacking is known as the hacker, they can exploit, destroy, steal
important or confidential data and prevent authorised users from accessing the system.
It is necessary to understand the causes of data breaches so that preventive measures would be
taken timely in context of Getz.
 Weak and lost credentials: Password is the main credential that can be stolen by an
unauthorised user (Zhang and Wen, 2017). If Getz's password is weak or lost then this
can create a great opportunity to a hacker to access the data which can result in data
breach or leaked information.
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 Poorly designed platforms: When a software or website is designed, Getz's specialist
must take care of it's security or network system. Because if it is poorly implemented
then hackers can easily make their way to enter into the data and can easily steal
information.
 Malware: It refers to a software which is intentionally designed to destroy computer
system or network (Guo and et. al., 2018). Origination of this cause can arrive when Getz
opens any mails or website which are not secured leads them to access in computer or
private network and can spoil system or misuse it in anyway. It exists in many forms like
virus, worms, trojan horses, ransomware, spyware, adware, rogue software and
scareware.
 Excess permissions: In business, if Getz's owner has given too many permissions to a lot
of people then it can easily gives a path to the hacker to use that permission and enter into
the data. This is done when owner does not have a tight security or don't know whom to
give access or whom to not.
Consequence of hacking on the Getz's business
It refers to the results or outcomes which Getz can face after being the victim of cyber
crime or hacking.
 Suffering through data breach: Data breach refers to the leakage of data or information
intentionally to misuse it. If Getz has faced the cyber attack then it can lead to important
data leakage through which business can suffer a huge loss. It depends on the size of data
Getz holds because larger the data larger will be the loss for the company. Although Getz
is a medium sized firm so it has 66% chances of being the victim of this illegal activity.
 Suffering through DDoS attack: Denial of service attack refers to the disconnected or
disruptive services of the host connected through the internet. This attack is done through
malware, it can crash the Getz system and gain control over it's network. This means the
hacker can operate your personal technology in a wrong manner without being Getz
informed. This can ruin the image of the firm and could suffer financial loss. This comes
under unethical act.
 Suffering in a form of lost of money: Most hackers main target is to earn money in an
illegal way (Hiles and Hon, 2016). So they can attack into Getz's bank personal details
and can steal those money from the bank if they gain access to Getz's website. This is one
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of the most disastrous consequence because accessing bank details is not that easy but if
hacker is doing this that means they can steal any type of information associated with the
firm which is illegal.
 Suffering through spoiling in reputation: Activities which are performed by hackers
are mainly with the intention of spoiling the image of the business. So Getz's image can
be spoiled due to these cybercrimes which may results in zero revenue generation. And
ultimately shutting down of a business. It is a consequence of unethical act.
Preventive measures that resolves issues
 Use strong passwords: Getz should use complicated passwords like combination of
uppercase and lowercase alphabets, symbols and digits. Size must be of at least 10 letters.
No repetitions of passwords on different sites. Firm should change them regularly to be
more secure. Password management application may help Getz to keep their passwords
locked. This helps the firm to be protected against such activities which are unethical or
illegal in E-commerce.
 Keeping software or website up to date: This is important not only for a protection
against cybercrime but it is also necessary to run any E-commerce business (Laudon and
Traver, 2016). Because technology is a very mandatory aspect for doing the business
online. Hackers mainly attacks on known security or old version of the system. So that is
why Getz should update their security system timely on a regular basis. This helps the
firm to be secure from hacker targets and can be safe from being the victim of this crime.
 Usage of internet security suit: Norton security is an antivirus or anti-malware software
which protects the system from unusual viruses and unsecured mails or links. This
software pop ups notification every time if it finds that a firm is using some unprotected
links (Combe, 2019). So Getz must install this in all their systems they are using because
this can make them aware of wrong sites, links or mails so that the firm avoids using
those internet threats.
 Minimum sharing of access: Getz must keep their personal and private information
locked. And should share them with those people only whom they trust more. Firm must
take care that to which employees they should give access to their information or to
whom they can grant permission to access. This can generate more security to it's data.
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CONCLUION
It is concluded that, Getz must be careful in doing E-commerce activities. It is important
to educate buyers as well as sellers about legal and ethical issues, cybercrime and hacking.
Otherwise it can lead a business in a huge loss or shutting down of it. One must gain knowledge
everything about crimes activities done on the internet to be aware and take preventive measures
for the same. Like the above discussion is made on types of various legal and ethical issues a
firm can face while operating online business. Moreover, number of cybercrimes are also
discussed that how can attackers may attack the firm's system, what are the consequences
company can face and how they can take precautions against such crime activities either it is
illegal or unethical. People switch over online business just to reduce it's operational costs and
ease of working. But E-commerce is also as much risky as traditional one. That doesn't mean that
one should stop doing business online, there are many technical advancements and laws which
identifies these wrong practices and helps to overcome from being a victim.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Alos-Simo, L., Verdu-Jover, A. J. and Gomez-Gras, J. M., 2017. How transformational
leadership facilitates e-business adoption. Industrial Management & Data Systems.
Bi, R., Davison, R. M. and Smyrnios, K. X., 2017. E-business and fast growth SMEs. Small
Business Economics. 48(3). pp.559-576.
Combe, C., 2019. E-Business Management. pdf drive. Com
Guo, Y., and et. al., 2018. Mobile e-commerce recommendation system based on multi-source
information fusion for sustainable e-business. Sustainability. 10(1). p.147.
Hiles, A. and Hon, F. B. C. I., 2016. E-Business Service Level Agreements: Strategies for Service
Providers, E-Commerce and Outsourcing. Rothstein Publishing.
Kollmann, T., 2019. E-business. Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden.
Laudon, K. C. and Traver, C.G., 2016. E-commerce: business, technology, society.
Rodrigues, L. F., Oliveira, A. and Costa, C. J., 2016. Playing seriously–How gamification and
social cues influence bank customers to use gamified e-business applications. Computers
in human behaviour. 63. pp.392-407.
Soto-Acosta, P., Popa, S. and Palacios-Marqués, D., 2016. E-business, organizational innovation
and firm performance in manufacturing SMEs: an empirical study in
Spain. Technological and Economic Development of Economy. 22(6). pp.885-904.
Zhang, Y. and Wen, J., 2017. The IoT electric business model: Using blockchain technology for
the internet of things. Peer-to-Peer Networking and Applications. 10(4). pp.983-994.
Online
What is Ecommerce? 2020. Available through<https://ecommerceguide.com/guides/what-is-
ecommerce/>./
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