Data 275 Ethics Case Study Writing Assignment Week 5
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Apr 3, 2024
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Data 275 Ethics Case Study Writing Assignment Week 5
Ethics Case Study Assignment Week 5
Cokash, Mike
Cambridge Analytica and Facebook
Situation Summary
Cambridge Analytica uses paid access to user profiles to take advantage of the Facebook policy to collect the paid users’ friend’s profile information, such as postings and group likes. Cambridge Analytica used this information to create a political tool instead of the original use of academic research. Using this information to profit off of and not disclose the true nature of why the information was collected to Facebook users is unethical. The data collected was used as assumptions, such as certain Facebook groups; they concluded that everyone who liked that group was homosexual. In reality, not everyone who liked the group is homosexual, but an ally of LGBTQ Rights. The collected part of the data was authorized by the originally paid user who took an assessment. The data collected from their friends was not allowed, as these persons did not know their data was being collected. Compromised Ethics Principles
Beneficial: The only information the Data helps is Cambridge Analytica making money off their political tool. The private information of others was used to build a political tool instead of academia.
Respectful: Cambridge Analytica paid for their data to be used for research but not to be used to create a political tool.
Fair: Cambridge Analytica used likes and groups an individual was a part of to assume political affiliation, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status.
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Appropriate Courses of Action
Between the two companies involved, Facebook and Cambridge Analytica, Facebook should have identified any negative impact the data provided and how it was used would have had on those involved. Facebook’s policy allowed more information than requested, and the information gathered was used for an alternative reason than what was initially told. Originally Facebook did not have the opt-out option during this time as they do currently, so they did correct that ethical issue.
Cambridge Analytica misled what the data being collected was for. They did not send out
clear and accessible language about the information and whose information was being collected. While likes of posts and groups were collected, the analysis behind them was not disclosed. To create a political tool, to assume demographics, including sexuality to all parties, would have helped with the ethical issue but not solved it. 2
References
Cadwalladr, C., & Graham-Harrison, E. (2018, Mar 17). How Cambridge Analytica turned Facebook ‘likes’ into a lucrative political tool.
The Observer
http://search.proquest.com.proxy.davenport.edu/newspapers/how-cambridge-analytica-
turned-facebook-likes/docview/2014560070/se-2
Kassner, M. (2017, January 2). 5 ethics principles big data analysts must follow
. TechRepublic. Retrieved February 11, 2023, from https://www.techrepublic.com/article/5-ethics-
principles-big-data-analysts-must-follow/
White, S. (2016, June 15). 6 ethical questions about Big Data
. FM Magazine. Retrieved February 11, 2023, from https://www.fm-magazine.com/news/2016/jun/ethical-questions-
about-big-data.html
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