Week 7 Discussion-Ethic theories
doc
keyboard_arrow_up
School
Moi University *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
406
Subject
Information Systems
Date
Nov 24, 2024
Type
doc
Pages
2
Uploaded by UltraLightningDugong3369
Ethic theories
Amazon used its monopoly over e-commerce shopping in the race for the bottom line,
scamming customers into signing up for Prime service and preventing them from having the
opportunity to find the best available products on other online shopping platforms (Paul, 2023).
The decision to use deceptive practice to make customers sign up for the Prime subscription
service without their consent might be considered morally wrong from Kant's Deontological
ethic lens that judges actions based on the means rather than on ends or outcomes(Micewski &
Troy, 2007). It states that the outcome or end of the business action cannot justify the use of any
means since individuals/organizations must act within the ethical or moral law (Micewski &
Troy, 2007). Consequently, it follows that even if a Prime subscription brings happiness to
customers, it is morally unjustifiable given that Amazon used deceptive means to enroll
customers without their consent as required under the F.T.C. law and Restore Online Shoppers'
Confidence Act (Palmer, 2023). Amazon uses dark patterns or deceptive designs to dupe
customers into making choices to subscribe that they could not have done under different
circumstances (Ng & Sisco, 2023). As indicated by Maier and Harr (2020), dark patterns are
seductive design approaches found in websites that exploit customers through deceptive
functionality at the user interface to make decisions that are chiefly not in their interest. Maier
and Harr (2020) add that the most common deceptions involve accepting some undesirable
option because of the challenges encountered in changing them. For example, Palmer (2023)
states, "Amazon made it difficult for consumers to buy items on its site without Prime, and a
button that instructed users to complete their transaction did not clearly state they were also
agreeing to join Prime for a recurring subscription." Besides, Amazon designed a difficult
cancellation process to prevent customers from opting out of their Prime subscriptions (Palmer,
2023). From Amazon's perspective, the approach is beneficial by increasing sales and
profitability, given that the retailer made $9.6 billion in revenue from its Prime subscription
services in the first quarter of 2023 (Rosenblatt, 2023). Palmer (2023) notes, "Prime subscription
service has grown to become one of the most popular subscription services in the world, with
more than 200 million members globally, and it has generated billions of dollars for Amazon."
But though Amazon is a profit-oriented business, should it be at the expense of the customer's
rights? The answer is no, and thus, any move to dupe customers into signing up without their
knowledge or consent for financial gain is immoral, unethical, and illegal.
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help