Assignment Task: Please provide feedback from the below?
Apple as a private company must act to protect the interest of its stakeholders who are comprised of customers, members of the organization, and the public. Moreover, Apple's decision could highly affect the company credibility and financials, as well as affecting the privacy rights of its stakeholders (Gilbert, 2016, p.70).
The decision that best benefits these stakeholders is based on morality, and ethical values that take into consideration the greatest good for all (Utilitarianism page 49). In this situation, the decision is not to help the FBI to break into the IPhone of the said terrorist. The consequences of complying with the demands of the FBI are far more damaging as it will keep the door open for law enforcement to be able to violate one of the basic humans' right to dignity.
Utilitarianism leads all the ethical actions, and decisions that as CEO must be taken, because focusing on the consequences helps with providing" insights that might not otherwise be seen" (Gilbert, 2016, p.64). Morality and ethical values are the most important drivers of these actions.
Rights and duties or Fairness and Justice approach do not lead to a different answer, as it is focused strictly on the overall consequences complying with the FBI will bring to all stakeholders in terms of privacy violation, and the idea of law enforcement having the pathway fully clear to do it. It is important to lead with sensitivity, and to make ethical and educated decisions based on what the best course of action is for whichever the circumstance may be (UMGC, 2023, p.4).
References:
Gilbert, J. (2016). Chapter 5: Rights and Duties. In Ethics for managers: Philosophical foundations and business realities. Routledge.
Gilbert, J. (2016). Chapter 4: Utilitarianism. In Ethics for managers: Philosophical foundations and business realities. Routledge.
Moser Ph.D, R. M., & McDonald Ph.D, P. (2023). The FBI & Apple: Security vs. Privacy.
Nicas, J., & Benner, K. (2020). F.B.I. Asks Apple to Help Unlock Two iPhones.