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ethiCS GUiDe Synthetic Friends

DiSCUSSion QUeStionS 345

1. Consider your decision to use company funds to buy an a. Does it have a legal obligation to find out how many
army of bot followers. of its users are bots?
a. Is your action ethical according to the categorical b. Does it have an ethical obligation to find out how
imperative (pages 56–57)? many of its users are bots?
b. Is your action ethical according to the utilitarian per- c. Is there any way for investors to determine how
spective (pages 92–93)? many users are bots? How?
c. What would your boss say if he found out that all 5. Consider the position of an advertising agency or social
of the company’s new corporate followers and media company that sells your firm advertising.
Facebook likes are fake? a. Suppose your company is charged based on the num-
2. Consider Instagram’s action to purge bot accounts. ber of ads shown to users and the number of clicks
a. Is it ethical for Instagram to delete followers? on those ads. Does the advertising agency have an
Consider both the categorical imperative and utilitar- ethical obligation to find out how many of the ads it
ian perspectives. sells are seen by actual humans—not bots?
b. Is it ethical for Instagram to allow any bots at all? b. The advertising agency offers to sell you “likes” for a
Consider both the categorical imperative and utilitar- new product line you’re launching. It tells you that
ian perspectives. buying likes is just like hiring actors for a TV com-
3. How hard should Instagram, or any other social media mercial. You’re paying them to say they like your
company, work to eliminate bots? product. Is it ethical to buy or sell likes? Consider
4. Suppose a social media startup decides to become a pub- both the categorical imperative and utilitarian
licly traded company. It hasn’t been profitable—yet. The perspectives.
number of average monthly users is one of the primary
means of valuing the company.