Suppose a data broker correctly identifies that your grandmother is addicted to playing online hearts. From its business intelligence, it knows that frequent hearts players are strong prospects for online gambling. Accordingly, the data broker refers your grandmother’s data to an online gambling vendor. Grandma gets hooked and loses all of her savings, including money earmarked for your college tuition.

a. Is the data broker’s behavior ethical?

b. Assume the data broker says, “Look, it’s not us, it’s our customer, the online gambling vendor, that’s causing the problem.” Does the broker’s posture absolve it of ethical considerations for Grandma’s losses?

c. Assume the online gambling vendor says,

“Look, it’s not us; it’s Grandma. We provide fair and honest games. If Grandma likes to play games where the odds of winning are low, talk to Grandma.” Assume in your answer that the gaming company has gone to great lengths to provide the elderly with an emotionally rewarding user experience for games with low winning odds. Does the vendor’s posture absolve it of any ethical considerations for Grandma’s losses?