Problems
The services that will be considered are provided by the company GradImages to Cal Poly. This company provides photoshoots for students’ graduation events (Cal Poly). However, students and their parents raised significant concerns regarding the application of facial recognition technologies in the Cal Poly educational facility (Cal Poly). Consequently, ethical issues about students’ rights to autonomy and privacy started to be profoundly discussed. The lack of particular regulations and the absence of close collaboration among parties made the solution to the debates impossible.
Moral Dimensions and Ethical Concerns
As for the case’s moral dimensions and ethical concerns, one should stress autonomy, privacy, and respect for others. These issues may arise with the GradImages service regarding the student’s right to privacy. Notably, it also depends on Cal Poly’s actions.
The first moral question raised in this situation is autonomy. This point is significant in considering the students’ fundamental rights regarding their personal lives (Smith & Miller, 2021). The second question is whether the moral value of privacy and the alleged tradeoff between privacy and security were considered (Ethics Foresight). These points assume that the GradImages company should profoundly and independently consider confronting students’ privacy.
In addition, the third question is the digital divide, such as unequal access to technology and social justice. These moral values are important because they represent the core understandings of the human personality. In other words, everyone should respect other people’s personal lives regardless of their authority. Therefore, this personal life means all the abovementioned factors, such as autonomy, freedom, moral values, and others.
Moreover, neglecting these concerns will seriously impact the well-being of the students. One should understand that they are developing personalities and are in the earlier, unstable stage of their lives. Consequently, such interferences as facial recognition systems could be devastating for their young personalities. As general moral guidance for companies in this position, I recommend listening attentively to students and their parents first.
Understanding what is bothering them and why they are worrying about their lives is crucial. As a result, it would be possible even to find a compromise in solving this moral issue (Smith & Miller, 2021). However, it is also crucial to pay attention to expected standards and laws regarding such situations and research them thoroughly.
As the connection of the course ideas discussed this quarter with this case, one should stress the various ethical norms and the willingness to sustain them. For example, respect for others, regardless of personal profit, should be noted as a moral value. Engineers should consider them a guideline in their actions to form a just and respectful society.
Proposed Solutions
Personal Autonomy
As the first solution to the problem, the thinking process regarding possible approaches to avoid various ethical failures must be conducted in collaboration. It can be a formal meeting with the representatives of both Cal Poly and the GradImages company. It will be crucial to closely communicate and discuss possible decisions concerning students’ privacy, autonomy, and ethical issues. According to Berle (2020), it is essential to conduct the “reassessment of the value of personally identifiable images that acknowledges the dignity of the data subject” (p. 6).
It will help to understand students’ concerns by placing directors and other representatives in the students’ positions. Consequently, it will create a qualitative mental structure of realizing how and which ethical approaches in collaboration should be changed. An advantage of this solution’s element is that it addresses the issue of unwillingness to take the time to research the proper concerns of students and their parents, and it will help to enrich communication among parties.
The Creation of an Analogue of GDRP
Another proposed solution’s component is to construct the qualitative ethical structure regarding the cooperation of Cal Poly and GradImages in creating such an institution, as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This structure functions in the United Kingdom and is responsible for legal and ethical implications regarding face recognition technologies (Berle, 2020). This government change should incorporate workers from high workplaces, students, and their parents, teachers, and others collaborating with GradImages. It will be necessary to create an excellent analog of GDPR that will understand the needs and ethical issues not only of such companies as GradImages but also the process of its collaboration with educational facilities such as Cal Poly. This solution’s component will address the problem of the absence of constant and qualitative policies and laws regarding the question discussed.
Anticipation of Objection
An opponent can criticize my proposed solutions, highlighting the absence of direct communication between the company and the students with their parents. This process can ignore the company’s core strategic plans and values and significantly harm GradImages. Another aspect of the criticism may be the complexity of creating an analog to GDPR. It can be costly and, in addition, would take a significant amount of time. I will respond to this critique by saying that the proposed stems will form a qualitative background for the next steps of solving the problem and will be a guideline for the GradImages company workers.
References
Berle, I. (2020). Face recognition technology: Compulsory visibility and its impact on privacy and the confidentiality of personal identifiable images. Springer International Publishing.
Cal Poly GradImages Facial Recognition. [Word Document].
Ethics Foresight Memo Prompt 570. [Word Document].
Smith, M., & Miller, S. (2021). Biometric identification, law and ethics. Springer International Publishing.