We’ve used Kant’s categorical imperative for assessing ethical behavior: Act as if you would have your behavior be a universal law. As a litmus test, we’ve said that if you’re willing to publish your behavior in The New York Times, then your behavior conforms to the categorical imperative.

a. Consider the inverse of that litmus test. Is it true that if you’re not willing to publish your behavior in The New York Times, it is unethical? (Or, in a different but equivalent form: Your behavior is ethical if and only if you’re willing to publish it in The New York Times.)

b. Considering your answer to question

a, if data brokers are unwilling to say what data they are collecting and how they are processing it, is it reasonable to conclude their behavior is unethical?

Explain your answer.