SAUDI ARABIAN FILTERING SOFTWARE CONTRACT VEIL OF CENSORSHIP

SAUDI ARABIAN FILTERING SOFTWARE CONTRACT: VEIL OF CENSORSHIP (CASE 2. 7) 02/20/17 NATHAN AZZARITO CHARLIE BOLGAN CAMERON LITTLE ALEX MATTINGLY EVAN O’HARA CASE 2. 7 1

ETHICAL DILEMMA • Websense is a software company specializing in filtering software. • They have an opportunity to provide their software to the Saudi Arabian Gov’t, whose contract with another filtering software company, Secure Computing, is about to run out (Spinello 2002) • This would put restrictions on what the Saudi people could view online including pornography, anti-government sites, and would even block a page about protecting human rights in their country. • What would be the consequences of helping Saudi Arabia do this? • Should Websense provide the software? CASE 2. 7 2

IT COMPONENTS INVOLVED • The main software involved is Websense’s content filtering software, which would limit access to certain sites on the web to Saudi citizens. • The other main component is the main server in the Saudi capital Riyadh, where the software would be implemented and content would be filtered through. CASE 2. 7 3

STAKEHOLDERS • Government: Obligation to protect citizens from what they deem harmful websites • Citizens of Saudi Arabia: Right to some freedom regarding web content viewing yet gov’t wants to suppress that right • Websense: Obligation to provide software to their client • Employees of Websense: Obligation to complete their jobs CASE 2. 7 4

ALTERNATIVES #1: WEBSENSE DOES NOTHING • Websense: Lose a big contract, hurt future client relations (bad) Wouldn’t feel guilty about possible suppression (good) • Citizens: • Gov’t: Sites would still be blocked, no real effect on citizens Keep a software they are already familiar with (good) Potentially lose a better software, might have to pay more money for current software (bad) • Employees: CASE 2. 7 Wouldn’t be financially affected, wouldn’t be morally conflicted (good) Possible cutbacks if client falls through (bad/ugly) 5

ALTERNATIVES #2: NO RESTRICTIVE SOFTWARE AT ALL • Websense: No moral conflict (good) No revenue increases (bad) • Gov’t: Citizens may be more trusting of government (good) Anti-gov’t sites may give citizens ideas to protest government (bad) Protests could lead to government takeover/collapse (ugly) • Citizens: More freedom/personal expression (good) Less restrictions may lead to citizens acting out (bad) Acting out may lead to imprisonment or death (ugly) • Employees: (good) CASE 2. 7 No moral conflicts regarding giving software to an oppressive government Possible salary decreases (bad) Possible layoffs (ugly) 6

ALTERNATIVES #3: COMPANY MERGER WITH SECURE COMPUTING • Websense: -Better combined software (good) Possible differences in how to implement the software (bad) Gov’t denies contract (ugly) • Gov’t: -Provide better filtering software (good) Less options on what software to use (bad) government makes the software themselves (ugly) • Citizens: -New software could make internet faster/more efficient (good) Sites could get more restrictive (bad) Public outcry (ugly) • Employees: CASE 2. 7 -New positions opening (good) Possible layoffs depending on merger restructure (bad/ugly) 7

ALTERNATIVE #4: GOVERNMENT CREATES SOFTWARE THEMSELVES • Websense: No criticism in terms of violating morals/freedoms (good) No revenue (bad) Other countries/large clients may show concern in hiring them (ugly) • Gov’t: Saves money, can customize software as they like (good) Software may not be as secure (bad) Citizens may have access to sites that should be restricted(ugly) • Citizens: Possible new software development job opportunities (good) Possible access to restricted sites (good/bad) Government employees could purposefully create ways to get around restrictions (ugly) • Employees: No moral conflict about providing software to Saudi government(good) Potential salary decrease (bad) CASE 2. 7 Potential layoffs (ugly) 8

DEONTOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE • Best Choice: No Restrictive Software • • This benefits Saudi citizens the most Kantian Universal Law • Relationship between Saudi Gov’t and its citizens • CASE 2. 7 Could improve trust of their government 9

TELEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE • Best Choice: Merger between Websense and Secure Computing • Websense/Secure Computing: Both could benefit financially • Government: Would get a better product • Citizens: Roughly the same level of web restriction • Employees: loss their jobs CASE 2. 7 10

OUR NORMATIVE RECOMMENDATION: WEBSENSE MERGER WITH SECURE COMPUTING (LESS RESTRICTIVE SOFTWARE) • Websense merging with Secure Computing to create a less restrictive, yet still secure software to sell to the government • Could create future jobs for both companies, and facilitate more trust between citizens and their government • Would alleviate any moral conflicts Websense had since the software is less restrictive • If received well, could lead to Saudi Arabia being less restrictive of their citizens in the future, and could open up more international business opportunities in the future CASE 2. 7 11

REFERENCES • Spinello, Richard A. Case Studies in Information Technology Ethics. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2003. Print. CASE 2. 7 12