MMM343 Business Ethics Report: Analysis of Media Articles, 2019

This report analyzes two media articles focusing on business ethics. The first article examines Facebook's practice of using contractors to transcribe Messenger audio clips, raising significant privacy concerns and ethical questions. The analysis delves into the stakeholders involved, the ethical theory of deontology, and recommends increased transparency and user data protection. The second article discusses French telecom company Orange being found guilty of moral harassment linked to worker suicides, stemming from restructuring and job cuts. The report investigates the stakeholders affected, the legal and ethical implications of the company's actions, and the impact on employees, highlighting the need for ethical leadership and responsible corporate practices. Both articles are linked to the assignment brief and address the ethical issues, stakeholders, and recommendations for improvement.

Business Ethics

Table of Contents
ARTICLE 1......................................................................................................................................1
Facebook admits it paid contractors to transcribe private Messenger audio clips.......................1
ARTICLE 2......................................................................................................................................6
French telecom company Orange found guilty of 'moral harassment' resulting in workers'
suicides.........................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

ARTICLE 1
Facebook admits it paid contractors to transcribe private Messenger audio clips
15 Aug 2019
The ethical issue is related to that Facebook paid contractors to the transcribe and listen
the audio clips from its users of Messengers services that has raised privacy issues for firm and
questions over privacy protections of its users (Owczarzak, 2019). The Facebook alleged
contractors were not provided context regarding audio and in what manner this was obtained and
transcribe recordings without any kind of explanation. Bloomberg reported that this company
presented only the transcription as feature fir the users that would listen to messages. According
to contractors that they had not knowledge about recorded audio and how they were obtained. In
relation to this, Facebook has been gathering the audio from voice chats of users and then paying
to the outside contractors to be transcribed this. On the basis of Bloomberg, Facebook gathers
and has the contractors transcribe the audio to check proper accuracy of automated speech
recognition system. But Facebook does not disclose data use policies that it gathers the audio
from users and then send to the human transcribers.
The stakeholders which involved in this business ethics related issue are outside
contractors which transcribe the audio clips from service users. The audio clips which uploaded
on Facebook were listened through contractors. Other stakeholders which involved in business
operations of Facebook are service providers and vendors (Fritsch, 2019).
Facebook has became latest tech giant for facing scrutiny over handling the data of users.
The Facebook told to Bloomberg in reply that users are those people which opted to have
transcribed voice chats and humans were used to the cross- references transcriptions done
through artificial intelligence. This added that masked audio for maintain the privacy of people
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but this do not confirmed what to be happened to audio after audio used through contractors
(McElroy, 2019). It has been stated that Facebook is under the scrutiny already for misused the
data of user in many other ways. This agreed to $US5 billion ($7.4 billion) fine for settle US
Federal Trade Commission probe of privacy related practices after leak of the user data in order
to British political consulting company, Cambridge Analytica. According to Facebook, human
aids in improve services but the users are not aware typically of extent of human involvement
with private data users. There were more than 1000 recordings obtained through Belgian
broadcaster VRT NWS that noted some contained the sensitive personal conversations and
information that has been identified speaking person. Facebook confirmed that this had been
transcribing the audio of users and also following the scrutiny in other firms. Other than this,
there are many different ways that Facebook gathers audio and voice data bot social media
privacy policy of giant makes unclear mention about uses of data appropriately (Hutchings,
2019).
Irish Data Protection Commission takes lead in overseeing the Facebook in Europe. It
said that this was analysing activity for the violations of strict privacy rules of European Union.
Facebook is social networking that finished $5 billion settlement with Trade Commission of US
Federal after probe of privacy practices and denied that this gathered audio from its users in
context to inform ads or identify what people see in news feeds (Ostalak, 2019).
Facebook company has not disclosed to the users that third party may be review audio.
On the basis of people with the matter knowledge that it can led some of contractors to feel that
work is unethical. The decision of Facebook to pause audio transcribing following scrutiny of the
human review programmes from Google, Apple and Amazon. These three organisation use staff
members to review its voice assistant requests as well as accidental activations for purpose of
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improvement. Facebook is important and largest client of TaskUs's but staff members are not
permit to mention its publicly. Employees call client through “Prism” code name. Facebook
company uses TaskUs for reviewing the content that possible policies violation. There are
TaskUs teams which working on the preparation of election and screening the political ads by
some of staff members were moved to new transcription team. Facebook data- use policy and
make this understandable for public consists no audio mention. It stated that Facebook will
gather, communications, content and some of the other information that provide when users
interact with the others (Aloudat, Al-Shamaileh and Michael, 2019).
Facebook states that users which had the voice chats transcribes has to be opted in and
transcriptions were to be used to assure the Artificial Intelligence of Facebook interpreted
messages in correct manner. It does not include transcription team but vaguely means service
providers and vendors which support business through examining how the services and goods
are used. According to Facebook, systems process the content automatically and also
communications and the others to give examine context. This consists no mention of the other
give screening content. The contract employees hearing the conversation of Facebook users
about vulgar content (Hews, 2019).
'Legal but not ethical'
As per opinion of Jamie Winterton, Role of the transcribers to train the Artificial
Intelligence system made some sense. The main use of human in examining the underscores
artificial intelligence limits in ability to identify speech patterns and words. The machines can
work in a better manner but sometime the struggle with unfamiliar. Some contractors found that
recorded content is disturbing of the human moderating content tool on Facebook. Firstly
Facebook allowing the users of Messenger transcribed their audio clips in year 2015. On the
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other hand, Facebook used the human contractors to review the audio clips to assure that
artificial intelligence technology has the transcribed audio clips in correctly manner and this has
to stopped reviews of human following the scrutiny in other firms (Balfour, 2019).
Federal Trade Commission approves the measures to address eavesdropping Facebook
but also drew the criticism from the lawmakers for not going enough. In year 2014, Facebook
manipulated newsfeed around 700000 users to analyse impact on emotions. Experiment was
condemned as lack of transparency of Facebook handling it. In context to this, transcription done
through human increase the big concerns due to rogue staff members leaking the detail (Aloudat,
Al-Shamaileh, Michael, 2019).
Under this, Deontological ethical theory has been used because it holds that actions are
right independent of consequences. The father of this theory is Immanuel Kant. This theory
states that people should treated with proper respect an dignity because they have the proper
rights. The challenges related to this theory is that conflict can be arise when there is not any
agreement regarding principles included in decision, impacts of making right choice that has the
bad results and what decisions need to be made when the duties are conflict (Ostalak, 2019).
Other than this, it found that the deontology gives strongest model for the public relation ethics.
This theory is based on moral autonomy of people, same to freedom and autonomy from
encroachment that the public relation seeks to be included in excellent way. It has been stated
that deontology gives strongest model for the public relation ethics. It depends on moral
autonomy of people, same to freedom and autonomy from encroachment that the public relation
needs to be considered in an excellent manner. This ethical theory hold that action are right
dependent morally of consequences. On the basis of given case, Facebook should not transcribed
the audio of users without their permission. It is related to breach their privacy and arise the
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security concerns. After this case, people can not believe on Facebook and it is a big ethical issue
that negatively impact on reputation of firm.
It has been concluded that Facebook listening and transcribed the audio of people or it
users which is unethically. It disturbs the privacy and security of people at large. This has been
stated that Facebook does not disclose the name of third party members which are included in
this already. It is one of the main concern for reputation of this company. The Deontological
ethical theory has been studied in this report because it is related with the arising ethical issue in
an organisation.
From above information, it has been recommended that Facebook should disclose the
name of third party people which involved in this. It should provide the better security to
customers or users so that without their permission any one can not use their personal data and
information. In order to protect the privacy of users, do not transcribe own Facebook messages,
restrict access to mic of phone and switch to the encrypted Secret Conversations.
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ARTICLE 2
French telecom company Orange found guilty of 'moral harassment' resulting in workers'
suicides
20 December 2019
Internet provider Orange and French phone has been feel guilty about “moral
harassment” that has resulted in string of workers suicides at the time of late 2000s. Firm was
find $120835 on Friday ruling set precedent for same legal bids in France. From the moral
harassment issues, 13 attempts and 18 suicides were recorded among year 2008 and 2010. In
relation to this, prosecutors blames deaths on privatisations methods of company. Former Chief
Executive of Orange Didier Lombard has been sentenced in jail to a year, suspended for eight
months and fined 15000 euro in landmark ruling. In this, prosecutors argued restructuring used to
privatise former state organisation. On the basis of BBC report that other employees stated that
firm was responsible for the suicide in year 2009 (Kanaouti, 2019).
Orange is large dominant international firm and it has 150 staff members and also top-
ten mobile network operator. This company has targeted the 266 million of consumers and it
incurred the significant costs. To reduce the cost, executives hatched plan get rid regarding
22000 employees as part of overall restructuring (Ayari, 2019).
Lawyer that declined to named, adding ruling will be main concern for some other firm
as this sets precedent for the corporate responsibility in the employee burnout cases and moral
harassment. Many of managers have been harassment convicted but not the organisations
themselves. Orange has acknowledged previously suffering expressed through the recognised
and victims there have been management errors in executing restructuring plan built also denies
there was systemic plan for harassing staff members (Bianco, 2019). On the other hand, former
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and current employees provided wrenching testimony in trial of three month regarding severe
anxiety that to be prevailed as tackled through executives $50 billion debt through get rid of
around 22000 staff members out of 120000. Main of the staff were the civil standards and can
not fired. In trial, executives said that employees had left organisation on voluntary basis, claim
deviate in ruling and own statements at time. Under this, former executives of Orange, telecom
company have gone on the trial over suicides spate among employees. Accused are facing the
charged which connected top the moral harassment and also allegedly developing climate that
drive around 19 staff member to taken their lives.
The stakeholders which are involved under this controversy are Chairman and CEO Mr.
Lombard, current CEO Stephane Richard, senior management and former and current staff of
ORANGE and families of suicide people (Doellgast, Bellego and Pannini, 2019).
Compensation claims
Case centres around drive through former state the monopoly to be shed 22000 jobs and
also redeploy other 10000 as this adapted to the competition in private sector. There are large
number of workers employed on state contracts the expect jobs for staff members in public and
private sectors which enjoy labour law protection. In relation to this, union alleged that the
management sought different ways to motivate workers to accept or quit reassignment. The
prosecutors listed around the 13 suicide attempts and 18 suicides among April 2008 and June
2010. On the basis of Union records that one workers stabbed itself in stomach at the time of
meeting one female worker threw out of window. Guilty verdict against the Lombard and firm
will be reverberate in European and French Boardrooms as this sets precedent for large business
and pave way for the same collective process in France (Miller and Becker, 2019).
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Orange has acknowledged previously suffering expressed through victims and also
recognised that they have been the management issues in executing restructuring plan but also
denied that there was systematic plan to harass staff. In relation to this, prosecutors argued that
some methods employed in deep restructuring of firm after privatisation suicide wave triggered.
There were three other executives of Orange assused of the moral harassment have denied
responsibilities. They are mainly responsible for developing fear atmosphere at the time of
desperate firm restructuring that can led to suicides directly and also attempted to suicides of
many staff members. According to them, restructuring plan was economic necessity. Former
telecom monopoly used last day of trial in the month of July to provide compensation to all
victims and relatives to died people (EHRENREICH, Adombo and Sabatino, 2019). It has been
estimated by presiding judge that the compensation claims amount far around €2 million
($2.25m). Testimony depicted implacable universe of the marginalisation, systematic
harassment, underemployment and miscasting at telecommunication company. In regards to this,
staff members despairing colleagues spoke which hanged themselves, threw out of the windows,
under trains and many other ways they died. “Orange has been undertaken wider social
transformation project that executed the measures that aims at preventing the suffering
workplace environment and the psychological risk” at level that is unprecedented between the
large size firms. In relation to this, Union accused the management of using the violent
institutionalised harassment methods to be intimidate the staff members for leaving (McNally,
2019).
Case centres around drive through firm to shed of 22000 jobs and also redeploy other
10000 as this adapted to the competition in private industry. On the other hand, defendants are
suspected to having the degraded working situations of employees that risked to hurting the
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dignity and rights, changing mental or physical health and compromising professional future. In
relation to this, moral harassment can punished throughout year in prison ad fine €15,000
(£12,800). Orange selfist is on trail and court can order firm to grant the extra damages to the
each civil party. Any kind of research into wave of the employee suicide among 2007 and 2010
that was opened following complaint from Sud Union. In year 2010, Mr. Lombard replaced as
the France Telecom chief and denied all charges. This person attributed suicides, depression
cases to the local complexities with the no link with each other, relation to firm to cut the job at
time and attempted suicides. Mr. Lombard launched restructuring the plan that aimed at shedding
around 22000 jobs but many of the staff members were considered the civil servants so that were
protected from the lay-offs (Bianco, 2019).
Under this, there has been Utilitarianism ethical theory used. It was developed through
John Stewart and this states that the aim of business actions is to increase happiness in long run
for all the conscious that are impacted through business action. Utilitarianism is family of the
ethical theories that it promotes the actions that well being and happiness for impacted people. It
is applied to each alternative act situation in choice of situation. Thus is one that brings regarding
better results. The main of Utilitarianism is to examining cost and advantages of reaction and
comparing to attain reaction that produced most happiness for many people (McNally, 2019). It
is one of the main theory that employs stakeholders approach rather than stockholder approach.
“In order to apply the utilitarianism to the business decisions or examine the business actions,
compare business action with possible actions and increase happiness in all the impacted parties
in long term”. On the basis of case study, happiness of many staff members and families was
sacrificed to feed happiness of top management people. Restructuring of firm many have given
the advantages to staff members if they treated with the respect in long run. In context to this,
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current actions of CEO and management caused complete despair more so that staff members
committed to suicide to break free of mental corporate slavery chains. It was unethical
completely in utilitarian eyes (Dombo and Sabatino, 2019).
It has been concluded that moral harassment impact on the health of people and they
suicide. The top management does not support people at workplace and also pressurise them to
do the extra work. The harassment impacted on reputation of company and the chief executives
penalty for the suicide cases of staff members.
From above mention information it has been recommended that company should apply
the anti- discrimination act at workplace in order to protect the employees from any kind of
harassment at workplace. In an organisation, there should be the grievance handling so that
employees can mention their issues and it is a responsibility of manager to find effective ways to
overcome from them.
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REFERENCES
Books & Journals
Aloudat, A., Al-Shamaileh, O., & Michael, K. (2019). Why some people do not use Facebook?.
Social Network Analysis and Mining. 9(1). 19.
Ayari, M. (2019). Gender, globalization and beyond in Karen Tei Yamashita's Tropic of Orange
and Jhumpa Lahiri's The Interpreter of Maladies.
Balfour, V. H. (2019). Likes, comments, action: The strengths and limitations of strategic impact
documentary's Facebook audience engagement strategies (Doctoral dissertation,
Queensland University of Technology).
Bianco, E. (2019). Politics, America, and Sex: What Could Go Wrong? The Orange County
Right Wing and the Battle over Progressive Education.
Doellgast, V., Bellego, M., & Pannini, E. After the social crisis: The transformation of
employment relations at France Télécom.
Dombo, E. A., & Sabatino, C. A. (2019). Creating Trauma-informed Schools: A Guide for
School Social Workers and Educators. Oxford University Press.
EHRENREICH, A. Suicide and cyber-bulfying at Rutgers.
Fritsch, L. (2019). Listening to your mum’s voice can make your day (Doctoral dissertation,
Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski).
Hews, R. J. (2019). Twitter trials and Facebook juries: An analysis of the Australian sub judice
rule and the regulation of prejudicial publicity on social media during high-profile
criminal trials (Doctoral dissertation, Queensland University of Technology).
Hutchings, T. (2019). 4 “Who do you remember?”: Religion, Facebook and existential media.
Residues of Death: Disposal Refigured.
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Kanaouti, S. (2019). Psychologising Evil in the Media: a Market-Like Exchange of Political
Responsibility for Isolation in the Greek Crisis Environment. In Perspectives on Evil
(pp. 142-170). Brill Rodopi.
McElroy, E. (2019). Data, dispossession, and Facebook: techno-imperialism and toponymy in
gentrifying San Francisco. Urban Geography, 1-20.
McNally, K. I. (2019). Hardily working: stories of labor in a state mental hospital (Doctoral
dissertation, Boston University).
Miller, S. L., & Becker, P. (2019). Are we comparing apples and oranges? Exploring trauma
experienced by victims of interpersonal violence and abuse and by court-involved
women who have used force in relationships. Journal of interpersonal violence,
0886260518823289.
Ostalak, M. A. (2019). A comparative analysis of grammatical structures and vocabulary in
Polish and English Facebook chats.
Owczarzak, M. (2019). Perceptions of Audio Notifications Within a Mobile Messaging
Experience (Doctoral dissertation, figshare).
Online
Facebook admits it paid contractors to transcribe private Messenger audio clips. 2019. [Online].
Available through: <https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-15/facebook-hired-
contractors-to-transcribe-messenger-audio/11416238>.
French telecom company Orange found guilty of 'moral harassment' resulting in workers'
suicides. 2019. [Online]. Available through: <https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-
21/french-telco-orange-found-guilty-over-former-workers-suicides/11820172>.
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