COM-127 4-1 Discussion: Legal and Ethical Considerations in Business Communications

This how-to COM-127 guide for COM-127 4-1 Discussion: Legal and Ethical Considerations in Business Communications  aims to provide the student with a clear understanding of the legal and ethical issues associated with business communications. For example, the task entails discussing Facebook’s 2009 privacy control changes and the stakeholders’ responses. 

Using this guide, students will be able to understand the proper methods of communication within business contexts and legal and ethical considerations.  If you get stuck or something confuses you, do not panic; we are here. A dummy solution is linked to every step of the How-To Owlisdom Guide. Thank us later 🙂

Review the Shapiro Library business case study Facebook: The Evolution of Privacy?

 Introduction to the Case Study

• To read the case study, visit the Shapiro Library.
• Situate the changes in Facebook’s privacy policies in 2009.
• Explain why business communication ethics is relevant.

Example

Generalizing the changes Facebook made in its privacy policies in 2009, it is possible to state that the company greatly enhanced the sharing of users’ information with developers and third-party applications. 

Briefly summarize the changes that were made to Facebook’s privacy controls in 2009

 Summarization of Facebook’s 2009 Privacy Changes 

• List the changes made to the privacy settings.
• What led to the changes in the privacy policy?
• Identify the ethic concerns from the user and public perspective.
• Emphasize issues related to the openness and consent of the users.
• List down matters that can give rise to legal problems or non-adherence to the set legal requirements.
• Mention particular laws or regulations that are affected.

Example

From an ethical point of view, these changes were incompatible with the principles of users’ self-governance and privacy. The users were not well informed on how their data would be more accessible to find and access or given enough ways to limit this increased visibility at the start.

How could the company have communicated its position more effectively in 2009?

 Effective Communication Strategies

• Assess the adequacy of the first approach to communication.
  
• Make particular reference to the public and media response to the strategy.
  
• Proposed Strategies for Improvement: Advise for better, more precise, and less ambiguous methods of communication.
  
• Communication with the stakeholders should be ongoing.
  
• Think through the power of the speaker and their expertise.
  
• Explain how the selection of the spokesperson affects the level of trust in the public.
  
• Suggest the use of communication that cuts across various channels.
  
• Stress the importance of regular and frequent updates of the article.

Example

It is essential to convey such a significant change successfully. Before 2010, their strategy was silent launch and only making changes after getting complaints from the public, as was the case in 2009. A more proactive approach would entail prior communication of key release dates, elaborating on the changes made, and describing any new settings the users may now access.

What was the impact of this foreign trolling campaign, and what are some possible future consequences? Did Facebook cross legal or ethical boundaries in allowing this to happen? Refer to the Ethics in Business Communication PDF learning resource to help you prepare your response.

Case Analysis: 2016 U.S. Presidential Election and Facebook

• Evaluate the impact of the campaign on the attitudes of the public.
  
• Identify and discuss the possible meanings of election integrity.
  
• Legal and Ethical Boundaries:
  
• Assess Facebook in relation to the election laws.
  
• Explain the principles of ethical concern in the management of platform.

Example

Through Facebook, foreign interference in the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election included targeted propaganda to divide the American electorate and thereby sway the election. This manipulation led to severe criticism of Facebook’s ethical behaviour and legal accountability for supervising and managing the content to ensure fair elections.

Respond to your peers’ ideas on how Facebook, as a company, could have communicated its position more effectively in 2009. Which ideas do you think are most effective, and which ones would you change or revise? Respond to your peers’ thoughts on the ethical or legal considerations regarding foreign interference in United States elections through social media such as Facebook. Specifically, how could Facebook have avoided the legal and ethical missteps your peers discussed?

Peer Responses

I understand that one has to respond to the peers’ questions and concerns. However, sometimes, we need to learn how to ask questions more clearly and professionally. Some discussion posts, like the COM-127 4-1 Discussion: Legal and Ethical Considerations in Business Communications, might require answers from peers. Here is how you can quickly answer any question at any given time.

• To answer your peer’s post, you need to read their post keenly to understand the central question of concern.
• Ensure that your response covers this critical point so that you remain on track and point throughout your response.
• Ensure that you state your ideas in a simple, coherent manner.
• For instance, support your response by providing factual evidence, data, or research findings. 
• Close your post with a question or a suggestion, thus provoking the conversational partner to reply.
• Teach the participants to give their responses critically and politely.
• Pay more attention to positive critical remarks and other possible ways of solving the issue.

Response 01

• This summary of Facebook’s 2009 privacy policy changes presents the ethical and legal issues they brought about. This is where the lack of proper consent mechanisms becomes a massive issue, which your paper emphasizes. I agree with your view that incorporating a proactive communication plan has helped improve communication and may have also helped relieve the public’s concerns.

Response 02

• According to the instructions of COM-127 4-1 Discussion: Legal and Ethical Considerations in Business Communications, we are supposed to write two peer responses. I have answered the given instructions in one response only. For the 4-1 Discussions, you can quickly write the peer responses with the help of the instructions mentioned above.

Closing

Following these guidelines will fulfil the COM-127 4-1 Discussion:  Legal and Ethical Considerations in Business Communications requirements. Appreciating the histories of legal and ethical business issues and identifying potential stakeholders’ opinions can be valuable tools for managing discussions and replies about these topics. Through these lessons learned from Facebook, students can be well-equipped for future challenges in business communication. We hope you nail this Discussion. Good luck!
In the next module of COM-127, we will explore Introduction to Communication 4-2 Quiz: Communication Theory.

References

Cohen, M. A., & Kouvelis, P. (2021). Revisit of AAA Excellence of Global Value Chains: Robustness, Resilience, and Realignment. Production and Operations Management, 30(3), 633–643. https://doi.org/10.1111/poms.13305 

Gunessee, S., & Subramanian, N. (2020). Ambiguity and its coping mechanisms in supply chains lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 40(7/8), 1201–1223. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPM-07-2019-0530 

Xu, Z., Elomri, A., Kerbache, L., & El Omri, A. (2020). Impacts of COVID-19 on Global Supply Chains: Facts and Perspectives. IEEE Engineering Management Review, 48(3), 153–166. https://doi.org/10.1109/EMR.2020.3018420