Microsoft’s Plan for Enhancing Data Privacy and Cyber Security
Discuss about the Perceptions of Electronic Mail Privacy.
At a time when companies are at risk of losing their clients as a result of breaches in data privacy, Microsoft has identified a timely opportunity to ensure the grip on its customers through the enhancement of the privacy of their data. The rise and incorporation of technology into the day to day operation of businesses has led to the introduction of e-Commerce where most organizations choose to interact with its clients through online platforms. These platforms are used for a number of functions including marketing and promotion of products and services as well as retrieval of consumer feedback in order to adjust on quality delivery. The increased level of access to internet services has made this even easier and more affordable (Walters, 2011, p. 23). However the rise of internet use in organizational set ups has been accompanied with a number of challenges like cybercrime especially when the users lose privacy to their data. The article is a summary of Microsoft’s strategic plan as outlined by the CEO, Satya Nadella. The management’s main objective is to come up with and install measures that would ensure that customers at Microsoft have their data securely tagged with them hence less exposure to the dangerous cyber related crimes. In order to achieve this, the CEO notes that the company is continuously working on enhancing its systems in a bid to ensure that the organization is GDPR compliant. The General Data Protection Regulations are rules which have been put forward by the European Union aimed at harmonizing the data privacy laws. The article ends with an outline of Microsoft’s posted revenue and net income which indicates the essential place of consumers in the company’s success.
The article notes the essential place of technology in organizational success before pointing out the dangers that may be associated with technological incorporations in business. The speaker makes reference to the major face book data scandal which painted the venture in bad taste despite the fact that it never interfered much with the market value of the organization. Apart from noting the rise in the cases of data breaching, the article outlines the aspect that there are tech giants who are up to the task and hence can develop better software to ensure that consumers are in control of their data. There are state regulations which have been put in place to control cyber based crimes but the CEO intimidates the introduction of more regulations aimed at curbing the problem of cyber crime.
Ethical Issues Surrounding Consumer Data Privacy
The main ethical issue outlined in the article is consumer data privacy. The article majorly focuses on the online users who are always at risk of losing access to their accounts to online criminals and hackers. Every individual has a right to privacy. When one forcefully or maliciously gains access to an account belonging to other individuals, their rights to privacy become infringed. The other concern raised in the article is the fact that most companies have not managed to put in place the most effective strategies to ensure that the data of their customers are protected. This has led to major scandals in addition to loss of crucial information hence threatening the sustainability of these organizations. In addition, the article reveals the presence of privacy laws put forward by the authorities to ensure that those who are found guilty of cyber are tried and punished with references to the laid legal standards. However, the need to harmonize these laws in order to cover a wider scope of consumer protection is highlighted in the article. In addition, the CEO mentions artificial intelligence as one other area which also needs protection. This is an area which has mainly been ignored with the assumption that there are many rights associated with artificial intelligence. Individuals have taken advantage of this loophole to access the data base and alter crucial information in a bid to fit their motives and needs. In order to take care of AI, the CEO mentions the company’s strategy which involves working on artificial intelligence technology especially in domains which involve encrypted data. This, according to the leader, would be an effective step in the direction aimed at enhancing consumer rights by ensuring the privacy of their data. In a nut shell, the article’s core theme revolves around the aspect of good customer treated involving the cushioning of their rights to privacy and confidentiality. The presence of the data privacy laws is a clear indication that sanctions are likely to be meted on individuals who are found guilty of committing cyber crimes. For instance, the laws indicate that a person found guilty of cyber related vices like cyber attacks, data breaches as well as hacking shall be exposed to more stringent penalties which may include jail sentences for a period not less than two years. These sanctions increase depending on the nature of the crime. The regulations are meant to reduce illegal attacks on online users which include organization clients on the various online platforms.
Impact on Customer Loyalty
Going though the article, it is possible to deduce the various benefits that would come with the adjustment suggested by Microsoft in a bid to enhance the rights of its clients. If the implementation of the new idea succeeds and leads to positive results in terms of customer retention and loyalty, the project is likely to be borrowed by other organizations (Adam, 2011, p. 23). This would lead to an extensive solution on an issue which has been a threat to a good number of online users (Tavani, 2011). Due to the crucial place of technology in the corporate arena, there is the inevitable need to come up with the necessary measures which would ensure that all those who make use of this platform stay safe from any form of distraction. This leads to the conclusion that the ethical decision made by the company on artificial intelligence and the need for protection of consumer privacy is appropriate and likely to be accompanied with a number of good outcomes. This is because some of the clients shy away from the online platforms and choose to stick to the rather traditional manual business transactions due to the fear that their data might be breached (Banerjee, 2008, p. 23). When users sabotage interaction on a company’s online platforms, the company’s ability to reach its clients with some of its marketing strategies becomes hampered in one way or the other. Companies may choose to use online platforms to inform its clients on new products, services as well as variations in prices. The portion of the clientele which fails to access such crucial information ends up missing on these offers. The final impact is felt by the company especially when the loyalty of some of its customers becomes compromised. The root cause of such a scenario is the idea of customers avoiding the online platforms for fear of losing privacy to their data. The ethical artificial intelligence decisions made by Microsoft are therefore going to be effective measures which will play a crucial role in reviving the confidence of the organization’s customers with regard to e-Commerce (Berleur, 2008, p. 234). With the assurance that they will be in good control of their data, the customers are likely to stay on the online platforms which in turn leads proper consumer loyalty.
Conclusion
The process of making ethical decisions ought to be organized and laced with the right considerations of the moral philosophies. This is my outline of the steps in making an ethical decision. To begin with, one must gather the necessary facts (Cappel, 2013, p. 34). This can be associated with the moral philosophy of justice which views ethicalness in terms of fairness and use of the right procedure. The next step involves defining the ethical issues before identifying the affected parties. Identifying the affected parties follows on the deontological moral philosophy which focuses on individual rights. Once the affected parties have been identified and their concern properly addressed, the next stage in the process involves identification of the consequences. The ethical decision made should therefore be influenced be the possible outcomes and the consequences associated with it (Cappel, 2015, p. 54). The next stage involves establishment of obligations which involves core rights, values and principles. This stage draws upon the principle of utilitarianism which focuses on rights as a way of enhancing ethical standards. In the next stage, I would note my character and personality and weigh the same using the situation at hand (Kappelman, 2009). The strategy in this case is to ensure that the ethical decision made at the end of the process is not necessarily influenced by an individual opinion and point of view but through a thorough analysis of all the elements surrounding the ethical case. This would involve thinking in a creative manner concerning the consequences that the action would have on the affected parties and the society as a whole. Once the various considerations have been and the gut checked, the ethical decision is made (Introna, 2010, p. 33). This is always done with the possible repercussions in mind. Not all the parties might be satisfied with the outcome. Ethical decisions are crucial when it comes to effective leadership. This is because they lead to effective developments likely to improve the quality of activities within an organization. Due to the sensitive nature of these decisions, they ought to be made with reference to the right factors.
References
Adam, A. (2011). Computer Ethics in a Different Voice. Information and Organization, 11(4), pp. 235-261.
Banerjee, D. (2008). Modeling IT Ethics: A Study of Situational Ethics, Management Information Systems Quarterly, 22(1), pp. 31-60.
Berleur, J. (2008). IFIP Framework for Ethics, Science and Engineering Ethics (Special Issue on Global Information Ethics), 2(2), pp. 155-165.
Cappel, J.J. (2013). Closing the Email Privacy Gap, Journal of Systems Management. 4(1), 6-11.
Cappel, J.J. (2015). A Study of Individuals’ Ethical Beliefs and Perceptions of Electronic Mail Privacy, Journal of Business Ethics, 14(10), 819-827.
Introna, L. (2010). Look to the Future of the Information Society, Ethics and Information Technology, 2(2), pp. 89-144.
Kappelman, L. (2009). Saving our Sacred Honor, Communications of the ACM, 42, 5, 23-25.
Tavani, H.T. (2011). The State of Computer Ethics as a Philosophical Field of Inquiry: Some Contemporary Perspectives, Future Projections, and Current Resources, Ethics and Information Technology, 3(2), pp. 97-108.
Walters, G.J. (2011). Privacy and Security: An Ethical Analysis, Computers and Society, 31(2), pp. 8-23.
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