WHAT SOULD DAVE DO?

Dave and Sam both work at a branch of a major bank in downtown Toronto. Dave is a data analyst and Sam is the branch's IT supervisor. They are not friends but have always maintained a professional relationship. Dave is working after normal business hours to finish an important project. He realizes that he is missing data that had been sent to Sam but not to him. Dave had inadvertently observed Sam typing his password several days ago, so he decides to log into Sam's computer and resend the data to himself. Upon doing so, Dave notices a tab on Sam's internet browser that appears to be that of an adult website. Curiosity getting the better of him, Dave clicks on the tab only to see what can only be described as a vile pornography website of adults interacting with children. Dave is horrified, shocked and appalled by what he sees.

Over the past year and a half, Dave has gotten more and more involved with the conspiracy group called QAnon. They believe that there are many people in high positions who are involved in a satanic pedophilia ring and that some of these people engage in eating children, and in something called "Spirit cooking". Dave is convinced that Sam is one of the people that his QAnon co-believers had spoken about.

Dave also knows that he should report what he saw on Sam's computer to the bank's CIO. He knows it to be the right thing to do but if he does, then he would have to admit that he violated the bank's information technology policy when he logged into Sam's computer without permission. This is a serious violation of the bank's regulations and Dave knows that he could be fired for this. He is also aware that finding a new IT job in banking would be extremely difficult in this post covid period.

If he confronts Sam directly about what he saw, then he would have to reveal to Sam how he was able to log into his computer. This might, at best, cause him to get a bad appraisal report which could affect his getting a promotion in the department or, at worst, cause him to lose his job.

Dave also realizes that if he does nothing then that would make him complicit in what is clearly an illegal activity under Canadian law. Not reporting this matter would put him in serious jeopardy if someone else was to find out what Sam had been doing on company time, as they most surely will. Not only could lose him job but he could end up in jail as an accessory to pedophilia if this happens. In addition, he would be turning a blind eye and letting a Satan worshiping pedophile get away scotch-free. This would go against everything that he believes as an avid follower of Q.

Dave had gotten married a few years ago and his wife is having their second child. She is 4 months pregnant. He has many financial commitments since he recently brought a house for his expanding family. He is the sole income earner in his household since his wife does not work.

QUESIONS:

1. What should Dave do in this situation? Explain your answer in the context of ethical, social and political issues raised by the use of information technology.

2. Who should Dave seek to protect and how should that guide his decision?

3. How has information systems been used to spread conspiracy theories and why has that impacted so many societies around the globe.