Chapter 5: Invasion of Privacy Types of invasion of privacy: Intrusion on seclusion or solitude. Public disclosure of embarrassing private affairs. Publicity that places individuals in a false light. Appropriation of an individual’s name or likeness for commercial advantage. This chapter deals with various ethical violations of privacy.

The ethics of privacy Decency and basic fairness Topic must have redeeming social value The individual’s dignity must be maintained even with the disclosure Chapter 5: Invasion of Privacy

Chapter 5 Cases Case 19: The Controversial Patriot Act Case 20: Privacy in Cyberspace Case 21: A Prostitute on Page 12 Case 22: Dead Body Photo

Case 19: The Controversial Patriot Act Facts– Empirical Definition Values Loyalties Principles John Ashcroft and President Bush were staunch supporters of the USA PATRIOT Act.

The USA PATRIOT Act was created to avoid tragedies like September 11. Can the government tighten security without being so intrusive? Does the PATRIOT Act violate American rights? In what ways? Would you rather have your privacy or your safety?

Case 19: Additional links USA PATRIOT ActUSA PATRIOT Act – Read the entire act. Justice DepartmentJustice Department – A summary of what the USA PATRIOT Act means to law enforcement and the courts. Safe and FreeSafe and Free – ACLU database of summaries, articles and analysis of the USA PATRIOT Act. Civil Right ViolationsCivil Right Violations – Instances when the USA PATRIOT Act did not work.

Case 20: Privacy in Cyberspace Facts– Empirical Definition Values Loyalties Principles

How much about your past are you comfortable with being accessed? What personal information should be available to the public? Should private investigative services be regulated by law?

Case 20: Additional links Private Detectives and InvestigatorsPrivate Detectives and Investigators – An official job description Privacy TimesPrivacy Times – Learn more about right to privacy versus freedom of information Investigative Resource CenterInvestigative Resource Center – A starting point for online investigations

Facts– Empirical Definition Values Loyalties Principles Case 21: A Prostitute on Page 12 ?

In just this past decade, the media has sensationalized their coverage of the murders of Jonbenet Ramsey, Nichole Simpson, and the White House sex scandal. Identify the golden mean of news value for a community and the privacy of those personally involved. If one applied the agape principle, what would be considered morally appropriate behavior? Why should victims of circumstance endure punishment through a sensational account?

Case 21: Additional links MissoulianMissoulian – Read the paper involved. Changing the Way Violence is ReportedChanging the Way Violence is Reported – Studies on the effects of sensationalized reporting on readers Junk Food NewsJunk Food News – An article about telling the truth without sensationalism. Public Service or Soap Opera?Public Service or Soap Opera? – A judge decides how many details of the Peterson murder case the public needs to know.

Facts– Empirical Definition Values Loyalties Principles Case 22: Dead Body Photo Scanned photo here

News photographs of people mourning over 9/11, a plane crash, and the Columbine shooting. Are photos of dead bodies cautionary of morbid? What is the decent level of publicity for a tragedy? Should the victim and/or the victim’s family have the ultimate say?

Case 22: Additional links CalifornianCalifornian – Read the paper that ran the picture. Code of EthicsCode of Ethics – The ASNE requirements for photojournalists Ethics in PhotojournalismEthics in Photojournalism – One man was dismissed for improper editing of photos.