Ethical Approaches of Apple and FBI †Free Assignment Sample

Question: This is a case study analysis which requires you to research the case and then critically apply and/or evaluate the application of theory in this situation. The assessment is focussed on the identification of the theory features application of the theory. Restating the theory or facts from the case does not meet the assessment grading criteria. Please refer to the assessment guidelines as shown in the PowerPoint slides. Answer: Introduction This particular paper is critically developed because of the significant refusal of Apple Inc. to the requests of police and military authorities of for unlocking the mobile phone of a suspected terrorist. This particular scenario involving the Apple and the federal agency of United States of America gives rise to the emergence of multiple ethical constraints within the modern day global environment. The particular action behind such a refusal made by Apple should need to be discussed to develop a proper understanding of the chosen context (Baggini, 2012). The scenario began with the individual practice of Apple back in 2014 when the company decided to introduce a unique and enhanced encryption protocol for different apps in its iPhone models. With the launch of the new encryption module in September 2014 and integrated into the particular operating system of its iPhone devices, it becomes almost impossible for the company to break into the information shared by its users upon the re quest of different investigators. The particular consequence of the identified situation is profoundly distinct from the past example, where investigators from various authoritative agencies can have the access to the devices designed and manufactured by the company if a proper search warrant is provided to the headquarter of Apple (Boatright, 2013). It is further observed that this sudden shift in a decision made by the corporation is based on addressing the increasing amount of responses related to the different concerns over the digital privacy and lack of trusts among the population about the various activities of the digital spies of America. The particular trend among the people emerged following the incident related to the significant disclosures from Edward Snowden, a former contractor for the National Security Agency (Bowie, 2013). Hence, it is necessary to examine and evaluate the indeed identified case for critically applying the theoretical application in accordance with the particular situation in the global environment. Critical Discussion Based on the information obtained from analysing an article as part of Blogmaverick, produced in February 2016, it can be determined that FBI instructed Apple to develop a particular version of iOS, which would allow the FBI to install the same version on the phone used by the terrorist. The primary intension of such instruction was to make use of the brute force method for pushing through all the password combinations associated with the phone until the iPhone gets unlocked (Bredeson, 2012). The principle objective behind such an instruction given the by the FBI is to search and examine any information that would assist them to investigate the horrific act of terrorism. Therefore, it can be observed that the increasing importance is provided to this particular ethical dilemma due to the alarming impact of raising terrorism affecting the global economy and national treasures of the leading countries. In this case, the refusal made by Apple is because the expected intension of FBI has no certainty of achieving a successful accomplishment if Apple complies with such an order (Collins, 2012). For an example, if the terrorist in possession with the particular phone uses a variety of numbers, letters, and symbols to (or intending to) constructing the password, it would take years to crack such pin for the official agencies to unlock the phone. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that the individual did not use a third party application, which does not have any additional encryption in case the agency is successful in terms of accessing the phone. Not necessarily, the third party apps or systems, the FBI can encounter with different apps designed by Apple (Crane Matten, 2012). These particular facts have led Apple to make such a decision to counter the request made by the FBI. By conducting an in-depth analysis, the result of the specific approach made by the company back in 2014 leads all the data in the Apples devices to become encrypted by default. Due to the encryption, the users will require a passcode to access the data stored on the instrument once it is locked, and the ten repeatedly failed attempt will automatically erase the particular information. Influenced by the Edward Snowden revelations, the appropriate decision to encrypt Apple makes the data for forming a proper response (Firth, 2012). The absolute strength of the encryption applied by Apple suggests that even the staffs of the company cannot have the access to the private data shared by its users as well. In this case, the theory related to the ethical dilemma can be observed critically. According to the statement made by Dave Lee of BBC, "Apple decided to enable encryption by default to avoid precisely this kind of ethical dilemma." Therefore, different ethical theories applying to the identified context should need to be elaborated with maintaining the proper discussion. Consequentialism Based on this particular theory, it rests on the development of actions depends on bringing ordinary consequences to the overall society by judging the majority of the context. It is expected that the substantial outcome of the activities followed by the company should need to bring positive implications to the overall community (Halbert Ingulli, 2012). The morality of the context is based on the specified portion of good and evil with the accordance to the perception of people regarding what is wrong, and what is right. Based on the definition of the society, the particular factors associated with the good or evil is developed. This particular fact leads to the ethical egoism stating that the actions engaged by a business should need to be formulated in a fashion to serve the best interest of the company in the long-running basis. Therefore, it can be critically analysed and determined that the consequentialism factor is adequately considered during the time of taking such a major decision in 2014 (Haukur Ingi Jo nasson. Ingason, 2013). It is observed that the particular decision made by the company serves the fundamental interest of the business for the long-term aspect. In the case of the personal egoism, the actions are defined according to the long run benefit of the individual or the business, where there is no mention about the reactions or responses of the other parties. Therefore, this particular theoretical application can also be found in the inevitable decision to form the encryption after the revelations of Edward Snowden. Apple Inc. does not consider it about the individual drawbacks would be faced by the investigative agencies of the sound level caused by the particular decision. Values Clarification The theory related to the values clarification or the philosophical relativism refers to the most valuable aspect is not developed by the belief of a certain individual, but it should need to be produced by evolving an awareness related to the feelings, values, and beliefs of the others (Jeffrey, 2013). Therefore, the particular definition of the theory suggests the consideration of the alternative models for shaping up the acting and thinking. Considering this particular acknowledgement, it can be determined that the individuals or the businesses gain their values by independently making their choices. On the other hand, it is also a major fact that the particular decisions affect the thinking of others. The certain scenario regarding the decision of Apple provided major influences to the police and military authorities of the country. Based on the specific discussion, it is ascertained that the businesses should need to be driven by their values, as these entities are always want to create values out of their products or services (Michalos, 2013). The organizations, in this case, should need to attempt to develop a proper clarification of the values by highly emphasising on their feelings related to the contemporary society as part of the business environment. The value clarification varies from one organization to another organization, which is dependent on the distinction of truths and beliefs. Therefore, the methodologies applied by multiple organization are also distinct from each other. The particular understanding leads Apple to take one of its vital decisions regarding the security modification in its iPhone products (Murdock Foster, 2012). The particular decision is based on providing values to the opinions of its users based on the appropriateness of actions safeguarding their personal data stored and sh ared with the device. Based on this particular analysis, it is reflected that Apple provides high value to its customers rather than the authoritative requests in order to promote the enhancement of its customer base and become the leader in its respective industry. Utilitarianism Based on the application of the utilitarianism concept, it emphasises on the development of a moral standard for the promotion of the best interest of the majority of the society in a long-running basis. In this situation, the factors concerned by everyone is described to provide the priority (Poruthiyil, 2013). Different experts are agreeing on the concepts of utilitarianism, simply defined as the utilitarianists, and provided importance to the intrinsic factors more precisely. These intrinsic factors are majorly observed to be happiness and pleasure. On the other hand, some other opinions suggest that power, beauty, or knowledge also serve mainly to the development of the intrinsic factors. The utilitarian action developed by an individual or business suggests the development of the action to the greatest ratio of good to the evil scenarios concerned with the particular environment of the firm. On the other hand, there is the involvement of the rule utilitarianism, which suggests t hat there is a specific utilitarian value in certain actions developed by the firm (Pride, Hughes, Kapoor, 2012). Based on this particular fact, the general rules are adopted and implemented within the context of driving the business to the specific direction. In the case of Apple Inc., the refusal to grant the request of the FBI suggests the utilitarian approach, as the firm takes the particular decision with the aim of providing greater utility to its users based on the maintenance of privacy and safety from the outside interference. This is the vital fact, which leads the significant approach of the company to be criticised by the administrative bodies of the global environment. Ethical Approaches of Apple and FBI The global technologic industry has experienced a major uproar over the incident related to the revelation of a series of court orders instructing Apple Inc. to come into the settlement with the FBI to assist their process of investigation. The FBI seeks the help of Apple in order to crack into the iPhone of the deceased San Bernardino shooters named Tashfeen Malik and Syed Rizwan Farook (Rothlin Haghirian, 2013). In a public letter towards its customers, the CEO, Tim Cook, on behalf of Apple Inc. denied any associated with the government for providing them the access to their encrypted system. On the other side, the FBI countered their particular request by stating that the petition is highly reasonable in terms of bringing justice to the victim due to the special act of terrorism. Therefore, the major question pertaining the core ethical dilemma arising out of the scenario is based on whether a company is liable to develop a mechanism for the law and enforcement authorities to pro vide them the needful assistance related to its design. Here, the assistance suggests any kind of compromise with the law and enforcement authority by the company related to the different security issues. By analysing the overall situation, it can be determined that such an incident gives rise to the significant amount of ethical dilemmas for the firms operating in the technology industry in the global as well as the national or regional environment (Shaw Barry, 2013). The customers and several important business relationships are highly affected due to the short-term impact of the scenario. On the other hand, the similar situation provokes the similar kind of demand from the government of other countries as well. The particular scene also depicts a long-term ethical dilemma by considering the efforts of the FBI. In this case, the efforts made by the FBI ultimately and ironically undermined the broader aims of the agency by insisting the company build their devices with maintaining the infiltrative design for accessing the critical data and information. Based on the overall investigation to this particular context, the precise incident between Apple and FBI is just the latest instance amongst the years-long battle between the privacy and security minded groups and the legal enforcement community (Tong, 2012). In the rise of technology in the modern day environment, the process of communication become increasingly and continuously digitalised leading the specified authorities to direct the industries for providing their assistance. The principal objective of such assistance is based on ensuring the establishment of the government backdoor for breaking the security technology. From the context of the technology industry, different companies and privacy activists vigorously opposed to kind of proposed government backdoor for safety and encryption technologies adopted in the related product designs. The involvement of different civil liability groups can be critically observed in this certain scenario. America Civil Liabilities Union (A CLU) and Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) safeguarded the particular right related to the privacy concern by stating the aspect as an incontrovertible (Zsolnai, 2013). Based on the analysis made by the computer scientist from the contemporary environment, it is pointed out that compromising with the law and enforcement authority or accepting the particular scheme by the government would cause the devastating security susceptibility for the wide range of users. This particular backdoor is also known as the golden keys, as the particular scheme will provide different facilities to the hackers around the world alongside the foreign governments to exploit the particular the particular information shared by the users. Therefore, the proper ethical response can be developed by judging the overall scenario (Pride, Hughes, Kapoor, 2012). It should need to make sure that there is no transaction between the security and privacy concerns of the vast amount of users, as the process will we aken the security interest of every single individual by weakening the encryption. Conclusion Based on the statement included in the letter produced by the CEO of Apple Inc., Mr Tim Cook, the company has provided whatever the legal resources and directions to the legal enforcement committee in the previous context as well as the current investigation. However, Cook refused when the FBI asked the companys engineers to design them a tool, which will allow their agents to bypass the security system included in the iPhone devices. By looking at the scenario, it can be determined by considering the statement of Cook that Apple also wants to bring justice for the victims of the horrendous act of terrorism just like the legislative authority (Haukur Ingi Jo nasson. Ingason, 2013). However, complying with such a request of the institutional agencies would subsequently lead the scenario to violate the trust of its consumers fundamentally. Therefore, it would cost any tech giant to experience the major ethical dilemma by publicly compromising the particular integrity of the devices . It is unlikely that such a request would be a one-time deal with the legislative authorities of the country despite the assurance provided by the FBI Director James Comey. However, considering the significant concerns over the generated precedents and vulnerabilities due to the individual action, the particular ethical approach adopted by Apple Inc. can be stated rightful and appropriate. References Baggini, J. (2012).Ethics. London: Quercus. Boatright, J.(2013). Ethics in finance. Bowie, N. (2013).Business ethics in the 21st Century. Dordrecht: Springer. Bredeson, D. (2012).Applied business ethics. Mason, Ohio: South-Western/Cengage Learning. Collins, D. (2012).Business ethics. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley Sons. Crane, A. Matten, D. (2012).New directions in business ethics. Los Angeles: SAGE Publications. Firth, L. (2012).Ethics in business. Cambridge: Independence. Halbert, T. Ingulli, E. (2012).Law ethics in the business environment. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning. Haukur Ingi Jo nasson., Ingason, H. (2013).Project ethics. Farnham, Surrey, England: Gower. Jeffrey, C. (2013).Research on professional responsibility and ethics in accounting. Bingley, U.K.: Emerald.