ETH 301 – Business Ethics
Summer 2013
Module 2 – Case Assignment Informational Privacy
August 5, 2013
Justin Ellsworth was a Marine that gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country. Many service men and woman would agree that the fight continues even after death. For the deceased the fight may be over and they could finally rest in peace, but what is left behind when a death is so sudden and not expected. Justin Ellsworth left many wondering what might have been his last words, his last eventful moments perhaps a significant other left behind. His parents wondering this requested for Yahoo to release Justin’s privacy to them. As a company that is protected by laws Yahoo decided not to release Justin’s email credentials to his parents. Only after going …show more content…
The courts apply tests to see if certain laws are passed and they also apply tests when dealing with rights to privacy. How can the courts decide what is right and what is wrong in dealing with this case? Even though it might have been a tough decision to make the question is was it the right one? I believe in this case the courts were wrong, and should have stood strongly with the rights to privacy that was protecting Justin’s email. They didn’t take into account the future ramifications that this may cause to other email users. Yahoo’s reputation although saved from having the court order decide what they should do is still shaken. Their integrity is now questionable, and to avoid any future issues of this matter Yahoo needs to address this in their disclaimer. The courts had a duty to choose what would have been the right thing to do in this situation, but they decided to violate Justin’s rights to privacy. Justin fought for his country to defend these rights, and I believe he would not agree with the decision that was