Ethical dilemma

Running Head: UBER AND PRIVACY VIOLATION 0

Uber and Privacy Violation

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In the modern days, Uber has changed the way people look for taxis. However, like every industry or company there has been one unique ethical issue, privacy violation. The ethical issue falls under information ethics which is a branch in ethics that concerns itself with the relationship between creation, organization, dissemination, and the use of information in a society. In the case of Uber, there have been concerns rotating around cease and desist orders as to its legality (Kessler, 2012). However, one issue that is clear is that of privacy where numerous customers have argued that the company is showing little concern over its customer’s privacy. For example, there is the common ‘Good-view tool’ that allows the company to track the location of its customers. As a result, it violates the duty to respect consumer privacy leading to an ethical dilemma. The ethical dilemma exists in that the company fails to notify its customers of the privacy violation and that it uses the information obtained for its business interests (Weinstein, 2014). Therefore, an ethical dilemma exists for the company since it has to make a choice between two wrongs by informing its consumers about their privacy violation or that it uses it for its business interest.

There are several traditional theories that can be used to resolve the dilemma. However, for this paper, I intend to apply the utilitarian and Kantian deontological theories. The utilitarian theory is one of the most common approach to making ethical decisions especially when the action performed affects a huge number of people. It instructs that we should weigh the different amounts of good and bad that will be produced by our actions and make the best decision. In the case of Uber, it should inform its customers on how it tracks their location for their business interests. Also, the Kantian deontological theory can be applied in the situation where the company should aim at being ethical by being perfectly rational. According to Kant, the most rational behavior is considered to be the most ethical one.

References

Kessler, S. (2012, October 9). Uber: When Innovation Outpaces the Law. Retrieved January 31, 2017, from A Fast Technology Web site.

Weinstein, B. (2014, November 21). Opinion: Four other ways Uber is ethically challenged. Retrieved from A CNN Money Web site.