I do not think it is ethical and in the US it violates the right to privacy. Not everyone wants their information being sold for profit, even if it means the company can “cater” to them more easily. …Read MoreI do not think it is ethical and in the US it violates the right to privacy. Not everyone wants their information being sold for profit, even if it means the company can “cater” to them more easily. People should have a choice on what companies do with their information.Read Less
It is absolutely unethical for this to happen, I dont think companies should really be collecting user data at all, much less without a user’s consent. It is an obvious violation of user privacy and …Read MoreIt is absolutely unethical for this to happen, I dont think companies should really be collecting user data at all, much less without a user’s consent. It is an obvious violation of user privacy and people have the right to know what happens to their data.Read Less
With the understanding that user data is generally considered to ‘belong’ to the individual and ethics generally determine that it is wrong to take or use something that belongs to someone else …Read MoreWith the understanding that user data is generally considered to ‘belong’ to the individual and ethics generally determine that it is wrong to take or use something that belongs to someone else without their knowledge and consent, it is ethically wrong for companies to collect data from their users without explicit consent. There may be a number of ways the company is incapable of serving its customers without using their data, but in that case, the customer likely isn’t seeking those services if they have not given their permission. If it were more difficult to request these permissions, the situation might be different, but as things are it is exceedingly easy to request such permission. If it is easy to ask but companies are doing it without asking, then it seems like a breach of ethics.Read Less
Considering that user data is subject to search requests by law enforcement, explicit consent is required by the 4th Amendment both to collect data and to hand it over to the government.
Even if a company “needs” someone’s data to operate or perform its services, there is no reason to use someone’s data without their consent, unless there is some sort of malicious or manipulative …Read MoreEven if a company “needs” someone’s data to operate or perform its services, there is no reason to use someone’s data without their consent, unless there is some sort of malicious or manipulative intent. I would totally be ok if Instagram used my activity on the app to give me posts that I enjoy more. However, if Instagram were using, for example, audio data captured from my phone’s microphone during my conversations, that would absolutely not be ok because it is something I was unaware of. Privacy is something everyone should be entitled to, and to unknowingly use someone’s data would absolutely be unethical.Read Less
I believe it is completely unethical for this to occur. If companies need information from their users, it does not hurt to ask for consent from the user. Individuals have the right to their own data …Read MoreI believe it is completely unethical for this to occur. If companies need information from their users, it does not hurt to ask for consent from the user. Individuals have the right to their own data and for this to happen I feel as if it is a complete invasion of privacy.Read Less
Honestly, I’m not even sure anymore. We live in a world where everything we do becomes data, our preferences, personalities, and habits. We post willingly on social media, we use smart devices, and …Read MoreHonestly, I’m not even sure anymore. We live in a world where everything we do becomes data, our preferences, personalities, and habits. We post willingly on social media, we use smart devices, and we accept terms and conditions without reading them. We’re constantly self-documenting, so how can I suddenly claim my data is sacred? Maybe outside intervention is necessary because right now, there’s no real control. I don’t feel afraid of data collection. I have nothing to hide. But even then, it feels like everything is being pirated. Governments take it, tech companies sell it, it’s all happening behind the scenes. And what’s the solution? Pay a monthly fee just to protect my own information? That feels absurd. So is it unethical? It’s hard to say. It’s complicated. The system itself is built around data exploitation, and we’ve become numb to it… or I have, anyway. Maybe it’s not just unethical, it’s a sign that the entire structure needs to change, meaning we have become an open sewer of information trading?Read Less
Certainly, this practice is unethical if you view unethical behavior through the lens of morality. I find it unlikely that a majority of people would disagree. Using anyone’s private property, …Read MoreCertainly, this practice is unethical if you view unethical behavior through the lens of morality. I find it unlikely that a majority of people would disagree. Using anyone’s private property, digital data included, for any intent that was not expressly consented to is immoral. This surely applies to physical belongings and, consequently, user data. However, if we look at unethicality through the lens of permissibility or adherence to proper conduct, I am not confident this kind of practice is necessarily condemnable. At least, not legally. It could be reasonably argued (and I imagine that it has) that a person’s continuing use of a company’s product, online or otherwise, overrides the need for explicit consent, or is consent in and of itself. It could be more of an assumption of risk type of scenario. So is this practice morally reprehensible? Sure. Improper company conduct? Maybe not.Read Less
Users should have the option to consent if companies are going to be take their data. If they do not, their information could be dangerously spread and used.
I do not think it is ethical and in the US it violates the right to privacy. Not everyone wants their information being sold for profit, even if it means the company can “cater” to them more easily. …Read MoreI do not think it is ethical and in the US it violates the right to privacy. Not everyone wants their information being sold for profit, even if it means the company can “cater” to them more easily. People should have a choice on what companies do with their information. Read Less
It is absolutely unethical for this to happen, I dont think companies should really be collecting user data at all, much less without a user’s consent. It is an obvious violation of user privacy and …Read MoreIt is absolutely unethical for this to happen, I dont think companies should really be collecting user data at all, much less without a user’s consent. It is an obvious violation of user privacy and people have the right to know what happens to their data. Read Less
With the understanding that user data is generally considered to ‘belong’ to the individual and ethics generally determine that it is wrong to take or use something that belongs to someone else …Read MoreWith the understanding that user data is generally considered to ‘belong’ to the individual and ethics generally determine that it is wrong to take or use something that belongs to someone else without their knowledge and consent, it is ethically wrong for companies to collect data from their users without explicit consent. There may be a number of ways the company is incapable of serving its customers without using their data, but in that case, the customer likely isn’t seeking those services if they have not given their permission. If it were more difficult to request these permissions, the situation might be different, but as things are it is exceedingly easy to request such permission. If it is easy to ask but companies are doing it without asking, then it seems like a breach of ethics. Read Less
Considering that user data is subject to search requests by law enforcement, explicit consent is required by the 4th Amendment both to collect data and to hand it over to the government.
No, as people have a right to their privacy and private data.
Even if a company “needs” someone’s data to operate or perform its services, there is no reason to use someone’s data without their consent, unless there is some sort of malicious or manipulative …Read MoreEven if a company “needs” someone’s data to operate or perform its services, there is no reason to use someone’s data without their consent, unless there is some sort of malicious or manipulative intent. I would totally be ok if Instagram used my activity on the app to give me posts that I enjoy more. However, if Instagram were using, for example, audio data captured from my phone’s microphone during my conversations, that would absolutely not be ok because it is something I was unaware of. Privacy is something everyone should be entitled to, and to unknowingly use someone’s data would absolutely be unethical. Read Less
I believe it is completely unethical for this to occur. If companies need information from their users, it does not hurt to ask for consent from the user. Individuals have the right to their own data …Read MoreI believe it is completely unethical for this to occur. If companies need information from their users, it does not hurt to ask for consent from the user. Individuals have the right to their own data and for this to happen I feel as if it is a complete invasion of privacy. Read Less
Honestly, I’m not even sure anymore. We live in a world where everything we do becomes data, our preferences, personalities, and habits. We post willingly on social media, we use smart devices, and …Read MoreHonestly, I’m not even sure anymore. We live in a world where everything we do becomes data, our preferences, personalities, and habits. We post willingly on social media, we use smart devices, and we accept terms and conditions without reading them. We’re constantly self-documenting, so how can I suddenly claim my data is sacred?
Maybe outside intervention is necessary because right now, there’s no real control.
I don’t feel afraid of data collection. I have nothing to hide. But even then, it feels like everything is being pirated. Governments take it, tech companies sell it, it’s all happening behind the scenes. And what’s the solution? Pay a monthly fee just to protect my own information? That feels absurd.
So is it unethical? It’s hard to say. It’s complicated. The system itself is built around data exploitation, and we’ve become numb to it… or I have, anyway. Maybe it’s not just unethical, it’s a sign that the entire structure needs to change, meaning we have become an open sewer of information trading? Read Less
Certainly, this practice is unethical if you view unethical behavior through the lens of morality. I find it unlikely that a majority of people would disagree. Using anyone’s private property, …Read MoreCertainly, this practice is unethical if you view unethical behavior through the lens of morality. I find it unlikely that a majority of people would disagree. Using anyone’s private property, digital data included, for any intent that was not expressly consented to is immoral. This surely applies to physical belongings and, consequently, user data. However, if we look at unethicality through the lens of permissibility or adherence to proper conduct, I am not confident this kind of practice is necessarily condemnable. At least, not legally. It could be reasonably argued (and I imagine that it has) that a person’s continuing use of a company’s product, online or otherwise, overrides the need for explicit consent, or is consent in and of itself. It could be more of an assumption of risk type of scenario. So is this practice morally reprehensible? Sure. Improper company conduct? Maybe not. Read Less
Users should have the option to consent if companies are going to be take their data. If they do not, their information could be dangerously spread and used.