Eric Nakashima
Phil 103
Prof. Denman – T 6:00PM
11/24/15
Do We Have A Morally Acceptable Level of Privacy In This Kind of Society?
In today's world people are giving out and taking in information that because they are living in an IT-configured society. Most people all over the world are connected by some kind of technology, whether that be a phone, computer, or console. Being connected through technology is the fastest and best way to stay in touch with family, friends, and work. When using a computer, phone, or console you do not expect someone to be eavesdropping on what you are saying or typing. If you knew someone was eavesdropping on you, you would feel that your privacy was violated. The question of today's society is, do we have a morally acceptable level of privacy in this kind of society? In an IT-configured society, we should have some privacy to certain personal information and have our information gathered if and only if we give our consent. The importance of privacy, information gathering, and work are some focuses as to why privacy to certain personal information should be respected and retained if and only if given consent.
When a person goes on to the internet they do not expect their information to be gathered and spread throughout the internet. Most people think that their privacy to personal information is important and that it should be respected. Shaw gave three aspects of our concern to privacy. “First, we want to control intimate or personal information about ourselves and not permit it to be freely available to everyone” (Shaw 319). If a person wants to give their home address to an online store, they are controlling who gets their information. They are also giving consent that the store know their address to ship the product. The second aspect is “Second, we wish to keep certain thought, feelings, and behavior free from the scrutiny, monitoring, or observation of strangers” (Shaw 319). People do not want strangers to read their personal thoughts or feelings. For example some people have online journals or diaries that they do not want others to see. That person might have said some negative things about the company they work for that could get her terminated or about a friend that could end their friendship. If they are writing a blog or on Facebook where the public can read it then they are giving consent to have their feelings or thoughts read by strangers. The last aspect is “Third, we value being able to make certain decision autonomously” (Shaw 319). When we are shopping we want to make our own decisions on what to buy and where to shop. It also applies to work, we want to be able to choose where and who we work for. People want to be able to make certain decisions for themselves and not have any outside influences control their decisions. When people give out their personal information and feelings or thoughts, they are giving consent to have that information gathered.
When we put our information into an online website, whether that be Facebook, Amazon, some job website, or a blog, we are allowing our information to be gathered. The best example of information gathering is when we shop online, whether that be buying shoes, groceries, electronics, or music. We are allowing these websites to monitor what we buy and how often we are buying their products. The companies will then use this information to help their customers buy what they think will benefit them most. “Information-gathering organizations wouldn't be gathering personal information if they didn't think it would help them, and it often helps them in ways to improve their products and services” (Johnson 89). Many places will ask their customers to participate in online surveys or feedback on their experience with the company. People will take the survey giving their information with consent that the companies use it towards improving their products and customer service. Many people will give consent to this information being gathered but they do not want other personal information to be spread. Another place where information can be gathered and where people can give consent to what information is collected is in the work place.
In the work place people give consent to having certain personal information collected by the company they are working for or trying to work for. When filling out an application, you are giving them past work experience, your address, phone number, email address, and some knowledge of who you are and what skills you have. If you do get the job you have to give them your social security number, if you want direct deposit you have to give them your bank account number, and sometimes you have to take a drug test, which could require you to urinate in a cup or have your mouth swabbed. The last one might seem meaningless but the social security and bank account number are very personal information that you are allowing the company to collect. You are giving consent to the company collecting this information for the company and the company only. When you are working for the company you will be using their computers and their phones. By doing so you are allowing the company to monitor what you are working on and who you are talking to. It may seem like a violation of your privacy but you are on company grounds and you are using their computers and phones. You should be using their technology to help improve and increase productivity of the company and not be using it for your own personal gain.
There are a couple arguments that go against as to why privacy to certain personal information should be respected and retained if and only if given consent. The arguments that our right to privacy must be respected or that our privacy is a luxury and any degree of privacy we maintain is a bonus. The argument that our right to privacy must be protected is a good point but people put their personal information on the internet everyday. People are allowing their personal information to be collected every time they shop online or take survey. And the argument that privacy is a luxury and any degree of privacy we maintain is a bonus is a terrible argument. We do not want some information about ourselves to get out to the public. We should have the to right to hold onto certain personal information and be able to control what personal information gets collected.
In an IT-configured society we should have some privacy to personal information and have our information collected if and only if we give our consent. There are three aspects as to why privacy is important: first, we want to control what information is collected; second, we want feelings and thoughts to remain private; and third, we value being able to make our own decisions. We also allow certain companies and websites to gather information about ourselves. The information is to help companies and websites improve and increase their products and customer service. And in the work place we give the company that we work for or trying to work for consent to collect information about ourselves.

Work Cited
Shaw, William H. Business Ethics. 8th Ed. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2008. Print.
Johnson, Deborah G. Computer Ethics. 4th Ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2009. Print.