School of Computing and Maths: Ethical Analysis of Internet Spying

This essay from a student at Charles Sturt University's School of Computing and Maths examines the ethical implications of the internet's role as a surveillance tool, referencing Julian Assange's claims about the internet being a 'greatest spying machine.' The essay explores several ethical theories, including utilitarianism, deontology, virtue theory, and contract theory, to analyze the positive and negative impacts of internet technology on society, data privacy, and cybersecurity. It discusses how these theories can be applied to evaluate the ethical, moral, and legal issues arising from increased internet use and the potential for misuse. The analysis considers the impact on individuals and society, weighing the benefits against the risks, and considers the role of government in addressing these issues. The essay concludes by emphasizing the importance of ethical frameworks in guiding decision-making related to internet technologies.

SCHOOL OF COMPUTING AND MATHS, CHARLES STURT UNIVERSITY
Internet is world's 'greatest spying machine
Assignment 3: Applying Ethical Theory
Student Number
Word Count: -1250

Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Utilitarianism theory..................................................................................................................3
Deontology theory......................................................................................................................4
Virtue theory..............................................................................................................................4
Contract theory...........................................................................................................................5
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................5
References..................................................................................................................................7

Introduction
There are several theories and issues which need to be implemented while
implementing the judgement practice. The judgement practice of the particular persons is
influenced by the several internal and external factors which need to be considered by the
decision maker.
What is going on?
With the advancement and ramified changes in the technologies, there are several ethical
issues which have emerged and have to be faced by the different person while making the
proper judgment practice..
What are the facts?
These theories are used to evaluate whether the implemented technologies in the society will
have ethical, moral and legal issues or not. In this report, several theories such as
Utilitarianism theory, deontology, and virtue and contract theory have been analysed for
analysing the ethical and moral issues
What are the issues?
In this case, the internet as biggest spying machines suggested by Julian the founder of
whistle blower, WIKI website Leaks have been taken into consideration (Resnik, 2018).
Who is affected?
The increased uses of technologies and system program have shown that the increased web of
Internet has grasped the world in the single system. If any one of the person want look for
something then he could do by using the advance technologies and system process. In
addition to this, the implemented technologies and system work program will also have
negative impact which hampers the data privacy of the several people. If the ill — intentioned
person uses the internet for their wrong intention then it may result to negative impact on the
society at large (Mill, 2016).

Ethics Analysis
Utilitarianism theory
This Utilitarianism theory suggests that each and every action is motivated by the
feeling of pleasure which arise differently to different person. It is observed that action is
based on the motivation of feeling pleasure which should be analysed the positive and
negative impact of the implemented action. The judgment practice in the given case is related
to whether the internet use and increased serving of social media will be having positive and
negative impacts on the society (Julian Assange, 2017).
As per the Utilitarianism theory divulges the situation by implementing the normative ethical
theory that places the limelight on rightness and wrongness of the particular action which
needs to be taken by the implemented policies. In the given case, use of technologies has
gained momentum throughout the time.
Deontology theory
This deontology theory emphasis upon the moral and ethical issues related with the
case. Each and every action has negative and positive impact on the society. If the particular
action implemented shows the less positive impact than its negative impact then the
judgement practice of that particular action should be measured accordingly. In this case,
Julian the founder of whistle blower, WIKI website have suggested that with the ramified
changes in technologies and increasing use of internet, the Internet has become as new spy
for the world. There are several ethical and moral issues related to use of internet such as
increased data security loss, data manipulation, cyber-attacks and loss of securities program
(McMahon, 2017).
However, Deontology theory elaborates the relation between the clients and business owners
in context with the ethical and morality terms. All the busienss owners needs to identify their
responsibilities toward the clients and how they needs to use their factors to make the
busienss effective in the best interest of the clients (Resnik, 2018).

As per the deontology theory, technologies should be used to its extents. However,
digitalization of country has increased the access of the internet to each and every sector. It is
observed that the Australian government needs to analysis the facts whether the internet
should be allowed to dominate the economy or not (Solum, Galleries, & edu Page, (2017).
Virtue theory
This virtue theory reflects the details of the intents, inherent power of the person,
divergent thinking, perception values and core strength which could be used to judge the
cases as per their concern. Each and every person has their own rights and core intents which
need to be evaluated for the effective decision making. It is observed that the virtue theory is
accompanied with several intents intents, inherent power of the person, divergent thinking,
perception values and core strength which is used by the person while making the effective
decision making. The judgement practice for the adopting the internet as biggest spying
machines has more positive impact on the society which may increase the overall outcomes
to society (Kimuyu, 2018).
.
Contract theory
The contract theory emphasises upon the rules, regulations, laws and implemented
strategies which needs to be complied by each and every person. The Societies and
communities needs to be considered by the decision maker before evaluating the judgement
practice. Each and every person has their separate rights and they all need to comply with the
implemented rules and regulation for the betterment of the society. However, the right of one
person should be followed by one person to the extent to which it does not impact other in
negative manner.
Ethical issue
The judgement practice needs to be analyzed by considering each and every internal and
external factors of business. With the changes in the technologies, internet has covered big
market share of the country (Hursthouse, 2011). However, with the increased coverage of the

technologies, society has faced high cyber security issues which may show positive outcomes
to society way more than the positive outcomes to society.
Ethical implication
The increased use of internet will not only destruct the privacy of the data but also increase
the chance of the cyber-attacks as well. Nonetheless, as compared to its negative impact,
internet has been providing good level of positive impact on the society and economic at
large (McMahon, 2017).
What can be done about it?
The Australian Prime minister Malcolm needs to analysis the judgement practice of the case
by evaluating the fact whether the use of internet would be rendering benefits to the society
or not.
What options are there?
In this case, internet as biggest spying machines has been identified. It is observed that the
benefits of the internet is comparatively high therefore the judgment practice for adopting
internet as biggest spying machines should be adopted (Spielthenner,2015).
These ethical theories plays major role for determining the effective judgement in
determining the internet as biggest spying machines (Fried, 2015).
Which option is best – and why?
After evaluating all the cases and details of the judgement practice, it is evaluated that there
are several ethical issues which needs to be handled for the better judgment practice. It is
observed that these four theories will assist researcher to identify the ethical, moral and
motivation factors arise from the pleasure of feeling and associated laws. These all factors

need to be considered by the decision maker in their judgment practice by using the different
ethical theories.
Conclusion
Now in the end, it could be inferred that these ethical theories and its practice assists
in evaluating the internal and external factors and helps researchers to identify the positive
and negative impacts on the society at large.

References
Fried, C. (2015). Contract as promise: A theory of contractual obligation. Oxford University
Press, USA.
Hursthouse, R. (2011). Virtue theory and abortion. Philosophy & Public Affairs, 223-246.
Julian Assange, 2017, Greatest spying machine the world, retrieved from
https://www.smh.com.au/technology/internet-is-worlds-greatest-spying-machine-assange-
20110316-1bwoz.html
Kimuyu, P. (2018). Ethics of Physician Assisted Suicide.
McMahon, C. (2017). Authority and democracy: A general theory of government and
management. Princeton University Press.
Mill, J. S. (2016). Utilitarianism. In Seven Masterpieces of Philosophy (pp. 337-383).
Routledge.
Resnik, D. B. (2018). Moral Theory. In The Ethics of Research with Human Subjects (pp. 53-
85). Springer, Cham.
Solum, L. B., Galleries, L. B. S. P. P., & edu Page, M. A. (2017). Legal Theory Blog. Legal
Theory.
Spielthenner, G. (2015). Consequentialism or deontology?. Philosophia, 33(1-4), 217-235.

References
Fried, C. (2015). Contract as promise: A theory of contractual obligation. Oxford University
Press, USA.
Kimuyu, P. (2018). Ethics of Physician Assisted Suicide.
McMahon, C. (2017). Authority and democracy: A general theory of government and
management. Princeton University Press.
Mill, J. S. (2016). Utilitarianism. In Seven Masterpieces of Philosophy (pp. 337-383).
Routledge.
Julian Assange, 2017, Greatest spying machine the world, retrieved from
https://www.smh.com.au/technology/internet-is-worlds-greatest-spying-machine-assange-
20110316-1bwoz.html
Resnik, D. B. (2018). Moral Theory. In The Ethics of Research with Human Subjects (pp. 53-
85). Springer, Cham.
Solum, L. B., Galleries, L. B. S. P. P., & edu Page, M. A. (2017). Legal Theory Blog. Legal
Theory.
Hursthouse, R. (2011). Virtue theory and abortion. Philosophy & Public Affairs, 223-246.
Spielthenner, G. (2015). Consequentialism or deontology?. Philosophia, 33(1-4), 217-235.