Privacy-related Matrix

IFSM 304 – Ethics in the Information Age

Step 1: Identify the ethical dilemma based on one of the broad categories identified. An example (following here) might be to falsify your personal profile in a social networking site.

Step 2: Identify the stakeholders involved. You, someone who reads your personal profile in a social network site, potential employers, etc.

Step 3: Choose any three of the principles that might apply such as autonomy, publicity, and veracity.

Step 4: identify how the dilemma affect each stakeholder based on the principles you identified. Put this statement in the matrix next to the stakeholder.

For example:

Ethical dilemma: falsifying your profile on a social networking site
Stakeholders	autonomy	Publicity	veracity
1: You	You have the duty to maximize the right to make your own decisions.	You have the duty to take actions based on ethical standards that must be known and recognized by all who are involved.	You have the duty to tell the truth
2:Other users of the networking site	They have the duty to make their own decisions	They make these decisions based on ethical standards that should be recognized by the person falsifying their profile	They assume that the person falsifying the profile has the duty to tell the truth.
3: The social networking site	The autonomy of the site is limited by law (Goldman, 2007)	Users of social networking sites are content publishers, as such the site must take actions based on legal and ethical standards and must notify users of these standards so they are known by all.	As providers of content the site must conform to the laws regarding truth or be held responsible for legal issues as defamation (making harmful false statements about someone else) or copyright infringement. (Goldman, 2007)
4

Goldman, E. (May, 2007). Social Networking Sites and the Law. Retrieved from http://www.ericgoldman.org/Resources/socialnetworkingsitesandthelaw.pdf

The completed matrix allows you to weigh the different issues involved and assign a rank as to the importance of the actions based on the effect on the stakeholders. Submit the matrix for grading in your Assignments Folder. Include the following explanation below the matrix:

1) why I chose the dilemma;

2) why I chose the three principles; and

3) an analysis of the research used to identify the actions in the matrix.