Privacy and Ethics Blog Post

As we discussed in class, many apps are accessing every single aspect of our phones without us realizing it, even though we technically agreed to it. Explore the “Terms and Conditions” of an app that has not been previously discussed in class. Look through the user agreement and identify at least three methods the app uses to collect data that would not be typically assumed. What do you think the app is using that information for? Why might the information be useful to other parties? Is it ethical for the app to gather that information, knowing that–as stated in the Ira Rubenstein article–most people don’t read the Terms and Conditions? Also, should this be considered hacking?

Further think about privacy and ethics by putting yourself in the shoes of one of the famous hackers. Is it your civic duty to reveal corruption with the data you find? Would you do it? All of the examples we discussed in class have a very limited quality of life than they had before; is it worth it? With the Panama Papers data hack in mind, read into the current event, and decide what you believe to be ethical in this case. Was it ethical to hack that data in the first place? Therefore is it ethical to put people on trial based on data that is, in a way, stolen?
Keeping the unit readings in mind, write a 400-500 word response to each of these questions and pose some of your own.