Information Technology Ethics: Data, ACS Code, and Contracts

This assignment delves into the realm of IT ethics, scrutinizing the ethical implications of data collection practices, particularly within the context of companies like Apple. It examines these practices through the lens of philosophical ethics, identifying potential unethical behaviors and their consequences. The assignment then explores the ACS Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, outlining key principles such as public interest, quality of life enhancement, honesty, competence, professional development, and professionalism. Finally, it analyzes contract-based ethical theory, explaining its role in resolving ethical dilemmas and providing examples of its application, highlighting its importance in establishing ethical guidelines for individuals and organizations. The assignment emphasizes the significance of ethical decision-making in the IT field and provides insights into how to navigate complex ethical issues.

Running head: IT ETHICS
Information Technology Ethics
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note:

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Question 1
Identification of the Main ethical Issue associated with Data Collection in the article with the
help of Philosophical Ethics Perspective
The Apple products like iPhone, iPod and iPad get the respective permission for
accessing personal information or data and it is absolutely legal for them to take up the personal
data as it is allowed to do so (5 Extremely Private Things. 2017). There are five private things
that are surrendered to Apple and to the third party developers, which include the details shared
with Siri, few fairly personal data, location of the devices, speed of the information and the
messages sent for a time. Although, it is legal according to the product’s documents; it is highly
unethical as per perspective of philosophical ethics (5 Extremely Private Things. 2017). Such
unethical approach for facilitation of delivery of messages to other customers could be quite
ineffective and would draw unethical significance majorly. Moreover, this particular approach
can also increase the chance of business failure at once.
The main reason for such unethical significance is that the customer’s data should be
stolen or drawn under any circumstance and the different values and concepts related to human
morality are being analyzed on top priority (Kagan, 2018). Ethics eventually seeks in resolving
the questions regarding human morality by properly defining the major ideas like good and evil,
right and wrong and even virtue and vice. The respective information of the customer could be
used for illegal or unethical approaches and hence philosophically, the case scenario is termed as
unethical in nature. There exist 6 principal ethics orientated philosophies present for better
analysis of a situation, which include category based imperative, utilitarianism, hedonism, the
golden mean, the golden rule and finally the ignorance veil (Peters, 2015).

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These above mentioned philosophical ethics provide knowledge about the wrong steps
that are being undertaken by the management of Apple, regarding the method of data collection
and ensure systematization on top priority and take up effective decisions eventually (Sidgwick,
2019). The consequences of such data collection procedure could be extremely vulnerable and
could even take up the data for wrong intentions. The customer might even face data hacking and
there would not be any chance for reflection of a certain standard for ethical data management
(Winch, 2020). Moreover, according to philosophical ethics, the confidential data could be stored
inside the phone and would not be deleted under any circumstance. These philosophical
approaches towards business ethics provide proper guidelines to make the most ethical business
decisions; however few of the approaches are controversial and also comprise of no support from
the moral scholars (Duska, Duska & Kury, 2018). The most ethical decisions hence would not be
taken in this case and the customers might not even utilize Apple products under any
circumstance.
The business people or customers of Apple would also consider their personal ethics,
legal provisions and organizational policies with the philosophical approaches towards ethics
while making decisions. The management of Apple Inc. should change their policies, so that it
becomes quite easier for them to understand the social responsibilities and ethical behaviors
easily and promptly (Keown, 2016). The software license agreement of Apple iOS states that the
software using in connection with the Apple ID, requires to have an applicable term of service.
As a result, the latest terms and conditions of iTunes’ are required in the device. Although, there
had been minimum of one instance of speed information that has made its way into the
respective hands of law enforcement (Fraser, 2018). The subsequent makers of different mobile
navigation tools, namely TomTom has apologized to their customers and it was being revealed

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that the organization had sold traffic data to the police within Netherlands (5 Extremely Private
Things. 2017). As a result, they have been confronting major ethical concerns associated to
leakage of customer data to the police; in spite of the fact that it was legal and they have helped
the police in setting speed traps.

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Question 2
ACS Code of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct
The Australian Computer Society or ACS Code of Ethics is the set of guidelines that
provide guidance to any particular individual for ensuring that he or she is following ethical
approach in his work or business. The ACS member has the distinct responsibility to uphold and
advance the honor, effectiveness and dignity to be a professional. It also helps in entailing being
a good individual and also acting within the respective regulation and ensuring that various
society values are being followed under every circumstance. According to Tavani, (2016), these
distinct codes are responsible for inspiring members of the profession by simple identification of
values and ideals. These codes of ethics are provided in the following paragraphs:
i) The Primacy of the Public Interests: The first as well as the foremost ACS code of
ethics and professional conduct is the primacy of the public interests. This public interest
eventually takes up the preference over sectional, private as well as personal interests and even
deals with all types of conflicts for resolving them effectively (ACS Code of Ethics. 2020). This
public interest identify those individuals, who are potentially affected by the work and would
raise the stakeholders about any type of conflicts within the professional activities and legal or
even accepted public needs.
ii) The Enhancement of Quality of Life: The 2nd important and significant code of ethics
as well as professional conduct is the major enhancement of quality of life. A proper growth of
the ICT has led an effect on the society and it provides benefits to the individual by ensuring an
ethical approach (Strike & Soltis, 2015). It also helps in recognizing the work and role that the

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technology for enhancement of the life quality of individuals and also protect or promote the
safety features of the employees.
iii) Honesty: Another vital code of ethics and professional conduct is honesty. Every
professional should be honest in his or her work and should be breach public trust, under any
circumstance. Major situations can be referred to as advantageous and such behavior is required
for making the business the most successful one (Coates, 2016). Hence, this particular code of
professional conduct is responsible for inspiring the professionals by proper identification of
values that the other members can aspire from.
iv) Competence: The fourth important and significant ACS code of ethics as well as
professional conduct is competence. Each and every professional should work competently and
diligently for ensuring that better effectiveness and efficiency is being gained under any possible
circumstance (Tavani, 2016). The professional should be aware of their own restrictions and not
indicate on the competencies. As a result, maximum effectiveness is gained and the stakeholders
or members of the organizations would be able to eradicate the complexities successfully and
provide inspiration to others.
v) Professional Development: Another vital and noteworthy code of ethics or
professional conduct would be professional development. Several newer technologies as well as
standards are present that are absolutely relevant to their work and each and every individual
should continue in upgrading the skills and also increase the responsiveness of the issues
impacting the profession as well as encourage the colleagues and employees in continuing their
professional development (ACS Code of Ethics. 2020). Hence, they are able to provide
inspiration to others.

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vi) Professionalism: The sixth important and noteworthy ACS code of ethics and
professional conduct is professionalism. The entire professional world is characterized by new
changes and it has not had the core opportunity of evolving over several years and then acquire
their own legislation and standards majorly. It is needed to undertake proper actions against the
members, who engage in behaviors contrary to the code on the basis of actual skills and
performance of staff (ACS Code of Ethics. 2020). Any type of conduct or action that might
affect the image of their professions or even degrade from the good name of the ACS.

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Question 3
Contract based Ethical theory serving real purpose in the context of solving an Ethical
Dilemma with Examples
Contract based ethical theory states that different individuals, who are living together
within a society in accord with the major agreement, which would establish major political and
social rules and regulations of behavior (Tavani, 2016). It is needed to ensure that each and every
individual is following social and moral point of views and would agree in governing the moral
and political obligations eventually. Morality can be referred to as the set of values that govern
behavior that the rational people admit or not accept (Winch, 2020). The contract based ethical
theory is generally made amongst two or more parties, in which each and every party follow the
most basic guidelines and ensure that all types of complexities and issues would be eradicated in
an ethical manner and also by following ethical approach.
The respective individual should protect the respective interest of the immediate
stakeholder and ensure that maximum loyalty is provided to the business and the organizational
issues and complexities are resolved properly. It is also needed to advise the stakeholders about
such conflicts and take into consideration that the profession is traversing with other professions
(Duska, Duska & Kury, 2018). Moreover, any client should not be misguided for providing
realistic estimates and qualify professional opinions on the limited knowledge and experience. It
is needed to ensure that all the professionals are following their respective requirements and
ethical dilemmas are resolved successfully. Different products and services are being provided
that can easily match the financial as well as operational needs of the stakeholders and not
misrepresent the knowledge and skills eventually (Strike & Soltis, 2015). This particular contract

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based ethical theory would also reject and not allow any type of bribery or even inducement for
the person.
This particular theory of social contract could be explicit such as laws or even implicit
such as raising anyone’s point to raise the major ethics and factors. People eventually agree only
to be governed by the respective moral or political obligations that are being bordered within the
social contract of constitution (Coates, 2016). A proper framework is needed to be followed for
ensuring better effectiveness and efficiency in the society or organization and hence reduce the
issues and complexities to a high level. Social contract theory is also referred to as the old
philosophy, which is the distinct overview that the moral or political obligations of people are
eventually dependent on any particular contract or agreement within them for forming a society,
in which they are living (Fraser, 2018). This specific theory is completely related to the modern
moral and political theory and is also provided with the full exposition and defense properly.
Different approaches are needed to be undertaken in the contract based ethical theory.
Five distinct elements are considered as the major parts of this particular theory, which
include the role of the social contract, the parties, the respective agreement, the object of the
agreement and finally the important factors of the agreement to ensure that all types of
distinctiveness of the approach is undertaken and any specific issue is avoided successfully
(Duska, Duska & Kury, 2018). Moreover, major advantages are also gained from the
organization and the theory increases chance for effectiveness. Various philosophers have
considered this specific contract theory has the major requirement for understanding all types of
vital and significant analyses and have resolved criticism to a high level (Kagan, 2018). Hence,
the equilibrium is maintained within the company successfully and several advantages are being
gained without much issue or complexity. The most distinct and important examples of this

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particular contract based theory is that it provides consent and bargaining to the respective
organization and also ensure that aggregation is present for each and every individual in the
business (Tavani, 2016). The distinctiveness of the contract based ethical theory ensures that all
the fundamental rules and laws are being followed in the business and every individual is
following an ethical approach eventually.

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References
5 Extremely Private Things. (2017). [online]. Accessed from
https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/iphone-legal-facts_n_6787876?
section=australia [Accessed on 18 April 2020].
ACS Code of Ethics. (2020). [online]. Accessed from
https://web.science.mq.edu.au/~mattr/courses/object_oriented_development_practices/
7/notes.html [Accessed on 18 April 2020].
Coates, A. J. (2016). The ethics of war. Manchester University Press.
Duska, R. F., Duska, B. S., & Kury, K. W. (2018). Accounting ethics. John Wiley & Sons.
Fraser, N. (2018). Recognition without ethics?. In The culture of toleration in diverse societies.
Manchester University Press.
Kagan, S. (2018). Normative ethics. Routledge.
Keown, D. (2016). The nature of Buddhist ethics. Springer.
Peters, R. S. (2015). Ethics and Education (Routledge Revivals). Routledge.
Sidgwick, H. (2019). The methods of ethics. Good Press.
Strike, K., & Soltis, J. F. (2015). The ethics of teaching. Teachers College Press.
Tavani, H. T. (2016). Ethics and technology. Wiley.
Winch, P. (2020). Ethics and action. Routledge.