Case study: Facebook

Before starting this experience, please go through all of the “Foundations” readings and experiences.

Please read the following short articles:

• Delay, Deny and Deflect: How Facebook’s Leaders Fought Through Crisis (New York Times, Nov 14, 2018)

• Yes, you should delete Facebook. Here’s why..

Questions for discussion

1. Did Facebook violate any of the ACM Code of Ethics? For example, consider Principles 1.2, 1.3, 1.6, 2.7, 3.1, and 3.7.

2. Sheryl Sandberg criticized the actions of Alex Stamos, Facebook’s Chief of Security. What actions did he take that she disagreed with? Was Stamos acting ethically or unethically? Justify your answer by reference to one or more principles in the ACM Code of Ethics.

3. Was Sandberg acting ethically or unethically? Justify your answer by reference to one or more principles in the ACM Code of Ethics.

4. As a company, what is Facebook ethically obligated to do now? Justify your answer by reference to one or more principles in the ACM Code of Ethics.

5. As a consumer, are you ethically obligated to delete your Facebook account in light of these findings? Why or why not? Justify your answer by reference to one or more principles in the ACM Code of Ethics.