Suppose you own a company that makes smart air purifying devices. Your air purifiers can filter and analyze the contents of the air. Then the data is sent back to corporate headquarters and formatted into online reports for users.

a. Would it be ethical to sell the data you collect?

Assume each user had to accept a “terms and conditions” agreement before using the online reporting application. Consider both the categorical imperative and utilitarian perspectives.

b. Suppose an insurance agency wanted to buy data from you that showed which users’ air purifiers recorded tobacco smoke. Would it be ethical to sell this type of identifying data? Consider both the categorical imperative and utilitarian perspectives.

c. Suppose you’ve been contacted by law enforcement with a request for data on all homes that report trace amounts of illegal drugs. If you tell your users that you are being forced to hand over their data to the police, you may lose a lot of business. Is it ethical to withhold this information from your users?

Consider both the categorical imperative and utilitarian perspectives.