Ethical Dilemma: Case Study on Privacy, Social Media, and Ethics

This case study examines a privacy-related ethical dilemma in the context of social media and data security. It begins with a personal anecdote about a situation where a colleague accessed and shared private photographs due to a lack of proper log-off procedures. The assignment then analyzes the ethical dimensions of this incident, considering the perspectives of the individual whose privacy was violated, the colleague who shared the information, other colleagues involved, and the role of social media platforms. The case study employs an ethical dilemma matrix to evaluate the impact of the incident on stakeholders and their values, such as autonomy, publicity, and veracity. The study highlights the potential for misuse of personal information, the importance of ethical conduct in the workplace, and the need for robust privacy protection measures, including the responsible use of social media and data security protocols. The case references relevant sources to support its analysis.

Assignment B1: Privacy-Related Matrix

In the today’s digital world, the use of social media has been increasing tremendously and people
are sharing their information through social media platforms with each others. There are various
privacy issues which are raised by public authority for social media platforms. The confidential
information of the companies is shared by social media platforms which includes marketing and
advertisements publishing due to which people are concerned about this particular issue
(Goldman, 2007). However there are various government regulations which need to be followed
related to the privacy policies and regulations but the sharing of confidential information by
social media platforms impacts on the users which make them unhappy so it is difficult to accept,
perception of public related to the privacy and security in the post snowden era.
I have chosen one of my personal experiences with my colleague, one day when in forget to log
off my computer then there were cookies and cache that I didn’t clear so he get my personal
photographs and shared with other colleagues without letting me know. Due to which I felt very
bad and embarrassed. Additionally, social media provides access to the information to other
websites which I observed when I started getting calls from the similar companies within ten
days.
The following matrix has shown various ethics values for different types of stakeholders
involved, (PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF PRIVACY AND SECURITY IN THE POST-
SNOWDEN ERA, 2014):
Ethical dilemma matrix:
ETHICAL DILEMMA

Stakeholders Autonomy Publicity Veracity
Me I was the victim of the
whole incident in
which my personal
photographs are stolen
by my colleague.
I felt embarrassed in
front of my other
colleagues.
I was victim of the
whole scene.
Colleague He is the one who
stole my photographs
from my system.
He knows personal
information about me
and let others know as
well.
I impacts on me and I
cannot do anything
but it is against office
ethics Office Ethics.
Other office
colleagues
With whom my
photographs are
circulated and they
considered it as a
joke.
They know little
information about me
but now they correlate
me with those
pictures.
I felt very
embarrassed as the
pictures are very
personal and secondly
it should understand
the ethical need of the
office.
Social media The cookies and
caches are stored with
the browser so that the
information can be
utilized in order to
know the users
approach and
The information is
published on the
social media
platforms and browser
application so they
used to sell at other
places. Cookies and
There should be some
regulations which
allow taking
permission before
accessing the
photographs and after

information is shared
with other websites.
caches should be
restricted in order to
share the information
with other websites.
session expired.

References
Goldman, E. (May, 2007). Social Networking Sites and the Law. Retrieved from
http://www.ericgoldman.org/Resources/socialnetworkingsitesandthelaw.pdf
Office Ethics. Retrieved from-
http://www.swlearning.com/swepstuff/previews/files/careerreadiness/0538726164/
ethics_ch01.pdf
PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF PRIVACY AND SECURITY IN THE POST-SNOWDEN ERA
(NOVEMBER, 2014). The public feels most secure using landline phones, least secure
on social media. Retrieved from- http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/11/12/public-privacy-
perceptions/pi_2014-11-12_privacy-perceptions_02/