Transcript Case 19: The Controversial Patriot Act

Chapter 5: Invasion of Privacy
This chapter deals with various ethical violations
of privacy.
Types of invasion of privacy:
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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.
Chapter 5: Invasion 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 Cases
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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 Act – Read the entire act.
Justice Department – A summary of what
the USA PATRIOT Act means to law
enforcement and the courts.
Safe and Free – ACLU database of
summaries, articles and analysis of the
USA PATRIOT Act.
Civil 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 Investigators – An
official job description
Privacy Times – Learn more about right to
privacy versus freedom of information
Investigative Resource Center – A starting
point for online investigations
Case 21: A Prostitute on Page 12
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• Facts– Empirical Definition
• Values
• Loyalties
• Principles
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
Missoulian – Read the paper involved.
Changing the Way Violence is Reported –
Studies on the effects of sensationalized
reporting on readers
Junk Food News – An article about telling
the truth without sensationalism.
Public Service or Soap Opera? – A judge
decides how many details of the Peterson
murder case the public needs to know.
Case 22: Dead Body Photo
Scanned
photo here
• Facts– Empirical Definition
• Values
• Loyalties
• Principles
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
Californian – Read the paper that ran the
picture.
Code of Ethics – The ASNE requirements
for photojournalists
Ethics in Photojournalism – One man was
dismissed for improper editing of photos.