Choose a topic on data governance/privacy that has an ethical dilemma (a non-comprehensive list has been provided below). Take a position in favor or against the topic/company you chose. Provide both quantitative and qualitative information to support your position, including ample sources from your research.
- Propose a solution to the ethical dilemma. This could include legislation, regulation, monetization, or stopping a practice. Be specific in your recommended action.
- Identify key stakeholders and conduct an analysis on what is important to each party and why. How would your recommended solution impact each group? What could you do to influence your stakeholders to adopt your solution?
In discussing your position, be sure you are explicit in your explanation of the ethical dilemma and how it affects the communities involved.
Full Answer Section
Qualitative information:
- Facial recognition technology raises serious concerns about privacy, civil liberties, and racial discrimination.
- The use of facial recognition technology by law enforcement has been linked to a number of false arrests and wrongful convictions.
- Facial recognition technology can be used to track and monitor people's movements without their consent, which raises concerns about the Fourth Amendment right to privacy.
Solution:
I propose that the use of facial recognition technology by law enforcement be banned. This could be done through legislation or regulation.
Impact on stakeholders:
- Law enforcement agencies would no longer be able to use facial recognition technology to identify suspects, track people's movements, or monitor protests.
- People of color, women, and children would be less likely to be misidentified by facial recognition software.
- Everyone's privacy and civil liberties would be better protected.
Influencing stakeholders:
To influence stakeholders to adopt my solution, I would educate them about the risks of facial recognition technology and the importance of privacy and civil liberties. I would also work to build a coalition of supporters who would advocate for a ban on the use of facial recognition technology by law enforcement.
Key stakeholders:
- Law enforcement agencies
- Civil liberties groups
- Privacy advocates
- People of color
- Women
- Children
What is important to each party and why:
Law enforcement agencies are interested in using facial recognition technology to identify suspects, track people's movements, and monitor protests. However, they should be concerned about the risks of misidentification and the potential for abuse.
Civil liberties groups and privacy advocates are concerned about the impact of facial recognition technology on privacy, civil liberties, and racial discrimination.
People of color, women, and children are more likely to be misidentified by facial recognition software. Therefore, they have a strong interest in preventing the use of this technology by law enforcement.
Conclusion
The use of facial recognition technology by law enforcement raises serious ethical concerns. I propose that the use of facial recognition technology by law enforcement be banned to protect privacy, civil liberties, and racial justice.
Sample Answer
Ethical dilemma: The use of facial recognition technology by law enforcement
Position: Against
Quantitative information:
- A 2019 study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology found that facial recognition software is significantly less accurate at identifying people of color, women, and children than it is at identifying white men.
- A 2020 study by the ACLU found that facial recognition software is being used by law enforcement agencies across the United States to mass surveil the public, often without a warrant.
- A 2021 study by the Brennan Center for Justice found that facial recognition technology is being used to track and monitor protesters and activists.