1. Surname 1
Name
Professor
Course
Date
Week 2 Discussion
The issue involving John and other employees regarding personal data being collected by
cell phone providers is sensitive; thus, it needs to be explored from a critical perspective. The
situation is even worse when we consider that such information can be misused to the detriment
of the employees if accessed by malicious people. In this sense, I advise adopting a clear
personal data collection policy and guidelines that articulately outline the type of data that
cellphone providers should be allowed to collect and the data that need to be eliminated from
being collected/stored. I also recommend that binding sanctions be outlined, highlighting the
penalties imposed on any service provider who breaks the formulated rules.
In my view, the very minimum data possible for operation should be allowed to be
collected, while the gathering of customers’ sensitive information should be avoided. The first
kind of data that I feel should be eliminated from being collected includes the client’s passwords.
Such data can easily be used to hack into the client’s accounts, resulting in dreadful
consequences (Buckey 82). Additionally, it is important to restrict the collection of contacts,
pictures, and videos stored in the users’ phones. Such data is excessively private, thus should
only be accessed by other third parties only with the consent of the owner. If such information
falls into the wrong hands, it can be used for unethical acts such as cyberbullying and extortion
2. Surname 2
of the users (Buckey 148). Lastly, data such as calendar information and the user’s location
should also be eliminated from the data to be collected and stored for security purposes.
The adopted policies should require companies to notify consumers of the specific data
being collected, and the data is stored, shared, and used. The issue involving John that involves
collecting his data can be viewed as an ethical practice since the act is tantamount to infringing
one’s privacy. I would address this issue by ensuring that the customers are informed and
consent before cell phone providers collect and store their private information.
