On Monday we began our discussion of social networks and their impact on society. Online social networks are valuable tools that enhance the speed of communication and connectivity. As we learned earlier in the term, James Moor views computer ethics as a unique field of study because of the dynamic nature of computers and their consequences for society. I think online social networks fall under James Moor’s umbrella of computer ethics because of the unlimited possibilities they present to users and our incapability of fully grasping their potential. As a result, I think society should examine the issues that arise on them as new subject matter with a unique set of rules and ethical principles. Two articles from this week’s readings illustrate Moor’s view and present challenging questions for society.
The first article, “Facebook Flap,” discusses a recent change in Facebook’s privacy policy that caused outrage among some users. According to the article, Facebook changed its terms of use that would allow the company to have perpetual ownership of users’ contributions to the site. Personal rights activists worry this would eventually give advertisers the ability to access personal information from status updates and other private sources. Facebook rescinded the policy but the question remains about the morality and legality of their actions.
Does Facebook have the legal authority to control such content or the distribution of this type of information? Do the author’s lose their right to privacy because they post the information in a semi-public space, albeit a digital space without concrete boundaries? Even if Facebook can legally do this, is it moral for Facebook to have perpetual control of your contributions to capitalize on them with advertisers?
The second article, “Facebook Bullies,” is about a New York teenager that is suing Facebook among others for trauma that resulted from cyberbulling on the site. She contends that four high school classmates made a password-protected page used to make slanderous and false statements that were mentally and socially traumatizing. The girl’s attempts to notify Facebook about the material remain unclear. Facebook says the lawsuit lacks merit but did Facebook do enough in this situation?
Does Facebook have a moral obligation to protect the character of its users? If so, what actions should the company take to ensure their safety? Although Facebook is legally protected when others post libelous statements on its site, at what point (if any) should Facebook become liable for the spread of this disinformation?
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