I am taking a business class right now, and the main theme of the class is Information Systems. For the most part, these information systems involve new technology whether it be software, information warehouses, etc. One of the things that is going on is that internet providers (Comcast, Dish Network, Frontier, etc.) monitor what we do over the internet and store our internet behavior in a data base. They then build a profile for each and ever customer (me and you) based off of our searches, sites we visit, things we write on blogs, etc. and sell these profiles to companies.
My class is an online class, and part of our grade involves writing on a discussion forum in which every week there is a new topic. This week's topic was about what I mentioned above, and we were asked if we agreed with what is going on. I stated that I did not agree, but another guy agreed with these tactics. I then responded to his post with the following:
"To what extent do you agree with companies collecting information on customers and employees? Would you agree with data mining where information systems are used to gather information about customers, potential employees, and employees on every social media site available? One of the things that the book mentions is that "a recent study reported that 70% of U.S. recruiters and human resource professionals have rejected candidates based on data found online" (Pearlson and Saunders 360).
You also have to consider that "individuals are facing privacy challenges from organizations providing them with services" (Pearlson and Saunders 361). What this is referring to is internet providers and companies like Facebook. They use cookies to be able to "follow individuals' surfing behaviors without them even knowing it" (Pearlson and Saunders 361). Furthermore, they store this data in a database to create "consumer profiles that can be sold" (Pearlson and Saunders 361). Who do you think this information is being sold to? The answer is the companies. Do you really think that companies only buy the "consumer profiles" of their customers? I think not. They are also buying the profiles of their employess without them even realizing it. Why do you think they would want to do that? Because it gives them a mental edge over their employees.
Imagine if everyone was able to read your mind but you were unable to do the same to them. What do you thnk would happen? You would be very vulnerable and easily manipulated. This same effect occurs when companies obtain information about their employees. It makes their employees vulnerable and more easily manipulated especially if they obtain "dirt" on the employees. It is an enslavement tactic.
Customers of internet providers do not have "a right to privacy while searching the internet....the right to monitor customer habits (or employees) in terms of their phone usage, location, emailing behaviors, and a myriad of other behaviors will be affected by how managers decide to use the information that they have collected" (Pearlson and Saunders 361). Managers are using these types of information in managing their employees."
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In case you are wondering, the book that we are reading in the class is entitled "Managing & Using Information Systems: A Strategic Approach" By Keri E. Pearlson and Carol S. Saunders.
My question to you is: Do you agree with these tactics or no?