Ethical Issues in IT: Analysis of Data Collection and Ethical Concerns

This essay delves into the ethical dimensions of data collection in the realm of Information Technology, specifically examining the controversial practices of Cambridge Analytica. The author initiates the discussion by introducing the core ethical theories, including deontology, utilitarianism, virtue ethics, and the social contract theory, providing a framework for analyzing the ethical implications of data harvesting. The essay then meticulously applies these theories to the Cambridge Analytica case, evaluating the company's actions in relation to each ethical framework. It scrutinizes the collection of behavioral information, the use of personality traits to influence political campaigns, and the potential breaches of individual rights and privacy. The analysis includes the ethical considerations of online questionnaires, the extrapolation of personality traits without consent, and the impact of these actions on the democratic process. The essay concludes with a balanced assessment, acknowledging both the benefits and the ethical transgressions of Cambridge Analytica's practices, and offers a comprehensive view of the ethical challenges in IT.

Running Head: ETHICAL ISSUES IN IT
ETHICAL ISSUES IN IT
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Introduction
The aim of the essay is to discuss the aspects of the ethical issues connected to the data
collection of “Harvesting” Personalities Online that is performed for helping the political
candidates. The discussion of the act in correspondence to the ethical theories is provided in
this report along with the major discussion of the act. Then it is judged whether the act is
ethical or not. Lastly this report concludes with an appropriate conclusion for the report.
Discussion
The four ethical theories could be categorized as the Deontology, Utilitarianism, Virtue and
Right.
Deontological approach dictates positive attributes and states that individuals should abide to
the obligations and adhere to the duties. The theory states about the relationship between
morality of actions and duty (Zembylas, 2017). Deontology does not weigh the benefits and
costs of a certain situation. Since the theory dictates to follow rules in doing one’s duty,

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uncertainty and subjectivity is avoided. If the characteristics of the action is good, the action
is considered to be morally good and not for the reason that the product of it is good. The idea
to understand personality traits of Americans by using questionnaires to understand them is
ethical. The company Cambridge Analytica has adhered to its duty in collecting behavioral
information about Americans.
Utilitarian Approach determines the right from the wrong based on the outcomes. It is a
consequentialism theory, and its relevant with results of the outcome. This framework is also
used to justify war or military force (Reamer, 2015). The theory is also used in judging
moral aspects and reasoning in business. It is the most reasoned and logical approach to
judge the right and wrong from a course of action based on its outcome. Since the future is
unpredictable, certainty of the consequences is hard to determine. Considering the case of
Cambridge Analytica, the company used personality traits to harness votes for presidential
candidates. Serving a presidential candidate with personality trait data greatly helps in
targeting a particular sector of voters. The action greatly benefited the candidate to target
audience to win and have an edge over the opponent candidate.
Social contract ethical theory of rights states the rules and rights that have been set by the
society must be regarded highly and protected by all means. Rights are observed to be
ethically valid as it is followed and endorsed by a large number of people (Freeman, 2016).
To determine what rights the society wants to exercise and enact, the societal ethical
priorities and goals must be considered. An individual can exercise rights upon another
individual if he has the premises to so. Cambridge Analytica circulated questionnaires online
to study personality traits. Every individual has the right to decide whether he or she wants to
fill the form. Individuals, who did not fill the questionnaire, were compared with previous

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statistical data to group them under agreeable or neurotic. The company has no right to group
an individual by extrapolation without the consent.
Virtue ethics describes the morality in human character rather than judging the person by his
actions, as his moral behavior can deviate due to the course of certain situation. To name an
individual unethical, this approach takes certain factors into considerations to judge the
individual’s ethical misconduct, the factors being the moral of the person, motivation and
reputation. The theory simply deals with the moral character and virtues, which can be honed
by practice and is long lasting (Dunn, 2016). A strong moral helps an individual to take right
decisions in situations of ethical challenges. The idea to target audience based on personality
traits to win vote is dishonest and unethical. The people were not informed that the
information collected through the questionnaires will help develop political strategies and
tailor political messages. Extrapolating information in the assessment of personalities is
breaching of virtue ethics.
Conclusion
Therefore it can be concluded that the act of the harvesting of the traits by the Cambridge
Analytica is justified and they are executing this task for the improvement of the conditions
of the people in the country and understand the needs of the people. The company Cambridge
Analytica has adhered to its duty in collecting behavioral information about Americans. The
action greatly benefited the candidate to target audience to win and have an edge over the
opponent candidate. The company has no right to group an individual by extrapolation
without the consent. The people were not informed that the information collected through the
questionnaires will help develop political strategies and tailor political messages.
Extrapolating information in the assessment of personalities is breaching of virtue ethics.

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References
Dunn, C. (2016). Ethical issues in mental illness. Routledge.
Freeman, R. E. (2016). Ethical leadership and creating value for stakeholders. In Business
ethics: New challenges for business schools and corporate leaders (pp. 94-109).
Routledge.
Reamer, F. G. (2015). 18 Ethical Issues in Social Work. Social workers' desk reference, 143.
Zembylas, M. (2017). The contribution of non-representational theories in education: Some
affective, ethical and political implications. Studies in Philosophy and
Education, 36(4), 393-407.