Herman T. Tavani
Abstract
Is every act of whistle blowing, by definition, a betrayal of trust on the part of the whistle-blower? If so, are employees who blow the whistle, by implication, untrustworthy employees? Assuming that they are, would employees who blow the whistle (presumably on the grounds of moral obligation) also be willing to concede that they are not trustworthy employees, by virtue of carrying out their whistle-blowing act(s)? In answering these questions, we first propose some working definitions of whistle-blowing, trust, and trustworthiness. We then ask whether some instances of whistle-blowing are morally permissible (and perhaps also morally required), even if it turns out that an employee's act of whistle-blowing always violates ("betrays") the trust relationship between that employee and his/her employer. Next, we examine a framework that purports to differentiate between acts of whistle-blowing that are morally permissible, and those that are morally required. Finally, we apply that model in our analysis of a recent case involving Edward Snowden, an employee, who intentionally leaked sensitive US-government information to the press.
- Bok, S. (2003). "The Morality of Whistle Blowing." In Computers, Ethics, and Society. 3rd. ed. (Edited by M. D. Ermann and M. S. Shauf,). New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 47--54.Google Scholar
- Brenkert, G. C. (2010). "Whistle-Blowing, Moral Integrity, and Organizational Ethics." In The Oxford Handbook of Business Ethics. (Edited by G. C. Brenkert and T. L. Beauchamp). New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 563--601.Google Scholar
- Buechner, J., Simon, J., and Tavani, H. T. (2014). "Re-Thinking Trust and Trustworthiness in Digital Environments." In Autonomous Technologies: Philosophical Issues, Practical Solutions, Human Nature: Proceedings of the Tenth International Conference on Computer Ethics -- Philosophical Enquiry: CEPE 2013. (Edited by E. Buchanan, et al.). Menomonie, WI: INSEIT, pp. 65--79.Google Scholar
- Carr, L. (2014). "Self-Trust within Trust Betrayal: The Whistle Blower." Available at http://www.rivier.edu/faculty/lcarr/Self-trust%20within%20trust%20betrayal%20-%20the%20whistleblower.pdf.Google Scholar
- Davis, M. (1996). "Some Paradoxes of Whistleblowing." Business & Professional Ethics Journal 15, no. 1: 3--19.Google ScholarCross Ref
- De George, R. T. (1999). Business Ethics. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.Google Scholar
- Democracynow.org (2014). "Debate: Was Snowden Justified? Former NSA Counsel Stewart Baker vs. Whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg. Available at http://www.democracynow.org/2014/2/14/debate_was_snowden_justified_former_nsa#. Accessed 3/19/14.Google Scholar
- Esposito, R., Cole, M, and Schone, M. (2014). "Exclusive, Edward Snowden Gives Wide-Ranging Interview to Brian Williams." http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/nsa-snooping/exclusive-edward-snowden-gives-wide-ranging-interview-brian-williams-n110351. Retrieved July 6.Google Scholar
- Finn, P., and Horwitz, S. (2013). "U.S. Charges Snowden with Espionage." The Washington Post, June 21. Available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-charges-snowden-with-espionage/2013/06/21/507497d8-dab1-11e2-a016-92547bf094cc_story.html. Accessed 12/2/13.Google Scholar
- Griggs, B., and Gross, D. (2014). "Edward Snowden speaks at SXSW, calls for public oversight of U.S. spy programs". Available at http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/10/tech/web/edward-snowden-sxsw/. Accessed 3/12/14.Google Scholar
- Rieder, R. (2013). "Snowden's NSA bombshell sparks debate." USA Today, June 13. Available at http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/rieder/2013/06/12/rem-rieder-surveillance/2415753/. Accessed 11/30/13.Google Scholar
- Simon, J. (2013). "Trust." Oxford Bibliographies in Philosophy (Edited by D. Pritchard). New York: Oxford University Press. Available at: http://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780195396577/obo-9780195396577-0157.xml.Google Scholar
- Snowden, E. (2013). "Statement to Human Rights group (in Full)." The Daily Telegraph, July 12. Available at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/10176529/Edward-Snowdens-statement-to-human-rights-groups-in-full.html. Accessed 11/30/13.Google Scholar
- Taddeo, M. (2009). "Defining Trust and E-Trust: Old Theories and New Problems." International Journal of Technology and Human Interaction 5, no. 2: 23--35.Google ScholarCross Ref
- Tavani, H. T. (2013). Ethics and Technology; Controversies, Questions, and Strategies for Ethical Computing. 4th ed. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons. Google ScholarDigital Library
Index Terms
- Trust, betrayal, and whistle-blowing: reflections on the Edward Snowden case
Recommendations
Explaining the Whistle-Blowing Process: Suggestions from Power Theory and Justice Theory
<P>Review of research concerning whistle-blowing suggests that legal sanctions have been singularly unsuccessful in encouraging whistle-blowing but that legalistic responses by organizations seem to have been somewhat more successful. Below, we review ...
National culture and consumer trust in e-commerce
The article examines how culture influences trust in e-commerce.Disposition to trust is a significant predictor of perceived trustworthiness.Disposition to trust mediates effects between national culture and trustworthiness.Long-term orientation and ...
Judging the complexity of privacy, openness and loyalty issues
Special Issue on EthicompPrivacy protection and whistle-blowing are controversial issues. Privacy has to be protected but it hinders access to correct information. Whistle-blowing is necessary for correct decision-making, neutralizing wrong beliefs and preventing crime but it ...
Comments