Do you think it’s a good idea to place “cookies” on a consumer’s computer? The u

Question

Do you think it’s a good idea to place “cookies” on a consumer’s computer? The use of cookies tells Web site owners and advertisers who views the ad. Nothing wrong with that—right? After all, many registration?based sites collect key demographic data such as the user’s address, age, interests, andbrowsing history. This information, however, allows the organization to use online media for behavioral targeting.

As mentioned in chapter 11, the ability to “buy” keywords means that advertisers can target very narrow contexts. Again, there seems to be nothing wrong with this approach to marketing.

So where might the ethical dilemma reside?

Critics point out that cookies are data sources that just “keep on giving.” Many consumers complain that cookies never go away and are the source of endless viruses. This little back door into the consumer’s purchasing habits, preferences, and demographics has become a big issue. Consumers with health problems (e.g., cancer), risky behavior (e.g., sky diving), addictions (e.g., alcohol or smoking), or alternative lifestyle choices claim that cookies allow them to be profiled and discriminated against by product, health, and insurance companies. In some instances, the U.S. government even uses this technology to track consumer actions and preferences.

Investigate the use of cookies and organizational policies that are intended to protect consumer information (see company Web sites for disclosure and privacy statements).

Take a stance: (a) Cookies are harmless and help marketers target the correct market with messages and don’t significantly invade privacy; or (b) Cookies are harmful, invade privacy, lead to discriminatory practices, and should be banned.

Summarize your stance.

Remember to cite your references

Explanation / Answer

I will start this answer by expressing my stance and that is a FIRM NO TO COOKIES.

Agreed that the companies want to collect the tastes and preferences of the customer and provide them with they want via internet and "keywords". Though these cookies collect sensitive data such as address, age, interests and browsing data, the question that comes around is are these companies really using this data ethically?

Around 24th March 2018, Facebook was busted for this sole reason. Facebook stored data of its customers and there are rumours that this sensitive data was used in the US presidential elections. If this is not the case of invading privacy for a commercial benefit, then what is this supposed to be?

Many companies claim that they are collecting this information for behavioural targeting but is this really true? We have also seen instances where these cookies act as a back door for hackers who phish the web pages and scam the customers. Now there are customers that aren't so technically savvy.

One such case that came to the light a few years ago was when a hacker resorted to phishing scam against an elderly couple aged around 70 and wiped out their bank balance. Having no where to go, the couple committed suicide. How did this happen? Cyber crime later revealed that the couple's computer was hacked and the behavioural pattern regarding the usage was identified by the hacker and their bank accounts details were siphoned off. This happened because of the cookies.

Like it was stated in the question, which is true, that, critics point out that cookies are data sources that just “keep on giving.” Many consumers complain that cookies never go away and are the source of endless viruses. This little back door into the consumer’s purchasing habits, preferences, and demographics has become a big issue. Consumers with health problems (e.g., cancer), risky behavior (e.g., sky diving), addictions (e.g., alcohol or smoking), or alternative lifestyle choices claim that cookies allow them to be profiled and discriminated against by product, health, and insurance companies. In some instances, the U.S. government even uses this technology to track consumer actions and preferences, there has been an instance in which fairness cream "Fair & Lovely" showed a person who is tan and upon using the fairness cream turns fair in a matter of 7 days. This is discrimination against the color of skin of a human.

Considering the above quoted examples, it is incorrect to say that cookies are harmless and help the marketers target the correct market, as there are on the other hand, hacking sharks who look for loop holes and exploit them at the cost of the customer. Therefore, cookies invade privacy and should be banned under all circumstances.

Also the companies should resort to more ethical ways of procuring customer information rather than relying on cookies.

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