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Welcome to SEE's Reasoning with Ethics page. The following case and linked pages (right margin) are provided to help support class discussions or essay assignments with a focus on ethical reasoning, which is a supporting factor for student character formation. A free subscription with a weekly email that includes a current events case and guided questions to support ethical discussions is available. SEE encourages the strategy described here to be applied beyond current events cases and to included analysis of relevant cases in history, literature and life. Current Case |
Cases can be used as • Class discussion starters • Reading lessons • Essay prompts • Social studies, health or ethics class analysis |
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Video Security vs Privacy
February 24, 2020 Most of us have heard the story of the person who is out of their home, but able to intervene via a home security system with someone who might be threatening their property. Recently, it was reported that a man on military assignment in Iraq was alerted to a home break-in by his doorbell camera and able to contact police to stop the crime. This type of story is fueling the home security camera market, which is predicted to approach $10 billion within three years. Is there any downside to the good news for home security? As the video from doorbell camera systems are optionally (by the owners) made public to police and Click the following link for more background- |
neighbors, some object that innocent bystanders are involuntarily recorded, publicly broadcast and sometimes mistakenly labeled with criminal intent. The concerns go further with suggestions that racial profiling is encouraged and supported by this technology.
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Students are asked to consider what core ethical values might be compromised with the use of home security systems that allow public sharing of live images. Do those walking in public space in front of video secured homes have an ethical claim to privacy? What limits might be placed on home video security systems to balance the security need of a homeowner and the privacy rights of the public? What core values support privacy rights?
Thoughts on the case? We want to hear them!
Ethics in action creates character