Free Internet

&
Net Neutrality

MANAGERIAL ETHICS - FIRST GROUP TAKE HOME EXAM

ASSIGNMENT 1

Analysis Report by:

Amit Rajkamal Bohra (G16068)
Charuj Yadav (G16080)
Sachin Gupta (G16101)
Sudhir Kamath K (G16112)

Group 6B
1. Explain why you chose this current market phenomenon for ethical and moral analysis. Justify
your choice. (G16068)
Equality in all its forms has always been and will always remain at the core of the most basic fundamental
rights that an individual deserves and must possess. This very basic need lies at the core of the huge
debate about the access to information that one can or cannot have.
World Wide Web (WWW) or Internet as it is popularly known has dramatically evolved from an
innovation tool to being one of the most basic necessities of this modern time and world. Various
technological advances have continuously enhanced the power of Internet or Digital Information.
Information today is the key to everything around us. The economic ecosystem and even the social
texture of our society is extremely connected and dependent on this Digital Information flow. We can no
longer ignore the presence of this new force around us that drives most of our daily activities personal
as well as professional.
When something that is so influential, powerful and crucial to every aspect of our life today, its
distribution and regulation also becomes equally crucial and delicate to understand and handle. All the
markets around us are so technology driven, that the dependence on Internet is ever increasing and will
only keep increasing leaps and bounds going into the future. This market phenomenon called Internet is
therefore more important than any other for driving change or for overall human welfare of the society.
And just like every great force brings infinitely greater ethical and moral questions with itself, so does
Internet.
Internet is a service of access and use of data from the channels provided by the Internet Service
Providers (ISPs) and Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) connecting the Internet content creators with the
end users who consumer or use this content for various purposes. And the respective governments
regulate and monitor this flow of information for the larger good of the end users of that country or
region. But this is where the real concern comes. Since this flow of data cannot exist without this
mediating Pipe of Telecom Service Providers or Internet Service Providers, it also gives preferential
power in the hands of these TISPs. And if these TISPs use this power and interfere in the free flow of
information, its implications can be far greater than can be anticipated or imagined. It can very drastically
make an innovative medium into a personal selfish medium of a single individual or group of individuals.
And this lack of transparency and violation of equality can create catastrophic effects on the entire
economic, social and political system lying under it.
Also at the same time, the necessity and the usefulness of providing the least form of basic access to each
and every individual has also become a very important yet debatable question of todays time. The tradeoff that lies in doing this and the positive as well as negative consequences of this trade-off need to be
analyzed and understood from ethical and moral lenses to be able to create some form of mechanism that
can maintain neutrality and can at the same time also provide access to all irrespective of whether one can
afford it or not.

2. Apply Assurance of Learning One (AOL1) that studies any market phenomenon as an inputs
based problem. (G16080)
Free internet and net neutrality: Soon we will have 8 billion people in this world and only ___ out of these
8 billion will have internet access and today internet access is not about luxury or only limited to need to
supply basis but it is becoming a basic necessity or at least the back bone of a basic right, right to
information. We call todays age as information age because information is power but today just
informing someone is not good enough, time is of essence when the information was delivered will be
priority question. Collectively we can work at two levels, one basic package for every registered device
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Group 6B
which will be free of cost and it will be used to provide unbiased basic information, second when people
use internet beyond free usage limit they will directly pay to internet providers. Regulators will become
important here in ensuring that every user is allowed to use free internet as per his/her requirement and
every site/information is available without discrimination.
Application of assurance of learning (AOL1) on this topic is as follows:
What? Free internet is about giving the right of accessing internet for free of cost to everyone and
anyone for some basic information which may affect some of peoples fundamental rights. Such
information may include local and national government policies, report on daily working of government,
important updates about weather and any other change in natural, economic or political environment.
Who? anyone and everyone, (yes even the illegal residents- the way we cant stop providing them food
& water, we need to give them this access to information as well) a CEO should be able to check the
stock movement and a farmer should be able to check price movement of his crop in all markets at local,
regional and global level.
Where? Everywhere, (from Indian perspective) from the desert of thar to the highest rain fed jungles of
North-East, from the city of Cyberabad to the village in Bihar, from the disputed Bangladesh border to the
Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Wherever we have human being we will have free internet.
When? 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year, for all the years till human race exists (or till
we harness telepathy where everyone will know everything without any external device) , information has
to be provided, how and when people use it will depend on them.
How? Mobile devices, with cheaper manufacturing techniques and economies of scale in effect, prices
and costs of mobile devices can be further reduced. In addition to individual mobile devices community
level devices like desktops and telescreens displaying results can be placed in community centers or
village central offices.
How often? as often as required, if stock market information can be provided on a second to second
basis (a process even without which people can survive) so can be information on weather patterns,
railways and local transportation facilities, market prices of food commodities etc.
Who are the key subjects?
The key Subjects of our discussion can be divided under three main heads, users/product or service
beneficiaries, regulators and service providers/price beneficiaries
The common People, small businesses and start-ups will be the users and the beneficiaries of the free
internet provided and will pay directly (payment for above free net limits usage) or indirectly (a basic
package will be provided and paid through taxes, government subsidies or government owned channels)
Politicians, Governments and legal/judicial machinery of country will ensure that basic internet and
information to be provided by companies will be provided uninterrupted and as the quality standards
mentioned. Governments also need to ensure that other than the basic package all other information is
provided at the same cost and same speed.
Telecom/Internet Companies service providers will be the beneficiaries in terms of price, which they
will receive for the internet connectivity provided. They will have customers at government level and
individual level. By giving basic internet at free of cost companies will increase their reach and will
involve more and more people in internet usage (if free internet is not possible, companies can charge
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Group 6B
governments at lowest possible costs). Companies will be morally and ethically responsible for ensuring
that whatever kind of information paid or free speed and quality should remain same.
What are the key objects?
Objects can be differentiated at two levels intrinsic values and extrinsic factors. Intrinsic factors like
Integrity, Cultural, Principles, Philosophical, Social and Moral Values, will differ from society to society
and individual to individual whereas extrinsic factors like Free Market Economy and its Economic
Growth, Education and Innovation will remain same for everyone.
What are the main properties?
Properties can be divided as per the group which showcase them like user properties will include hate
speeches, unauthorized content and terrorism, service provider properties will include Connectivity,
Corruption and Globalization whereas regulator properties will include adherence to policies, Corruption
and Human Right issues.
Which events will be most important?
For free internet and net neutrality different portions of societies we create and will be engaged in
different events. For example some information/content providers will create events like Social Media
Platform Launch where they will give one way or two way information sharing access to users. Big
telecom and internet providers will have to construct optical Fibre cable network at a bigger level across
the globe, other corporate would like to take advantage of these events created by content providers and
internet companies and would like to create big Advertising events to promote their goods and services,
and last but not the least many users and groups of them will be watchdogs over government performance
of ensuring net neutrality and if they see any glitches in system, common users can creates events of Net
Neutrality movements.

Problem Identification: of course dream of free internet and net neutrality is not without its share of
road blocks. Following problems will be faced during implementation of free internet and net neutrality:
1.
2.

3.
4.

Cost who will pay for the free internet to be provided to users as a basic right to information?
Corruption who will be checking the nexus between
a. Government and content providers
b. Government and internet providers
c. Internet providers and content providers
Measure of content quality which will be the guiding authority on the content to be published?
Biased and negative content identification and justification to remove such content from online
will be one of the toughest jobs.

What are the controllable variables (X)?

Cost and corruption to a large extent are controllable variables. Open reverse bidding among the players
with strict adherence to quality can check the above two problems to a large extent. Stronger, independent
legal and judicial system with weapons like punitive damages for non-adherence of terms and conditions
of contract can ensure ethical and just behavior by service providers.
What are the uncontrollable variables (Y)?
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Group 6B
As quality of content available is subjective it will be very difficult to measure and control it and when it
comes to removal of or restriction to biased and negative content this problem reaches a different level of
difficulty. On one hand we cant allow free rein to anarchists and on the other hand we cant kill freedom
of expression. The worst part of this entire problem is every right solution is a wrong solution also.
To what extent Y dominates X and How is X related to Y?
Both the problem variables in this are independent of each other to a larger extent, only one part of X and
Y is related, that is the nexus between Government and content provider. Big global content providers like
Facebook and Google can affect the opinion people with biased and propaganda content only. Neutrality
of content provider and unbiasedness of Governments are critical challenges.
How many solutions can you identify?
Following solutions were identified:
o
o
o
o

Open reverse bidding among the players

Strict adherence to quality
Stronger, independent legal and judicial system with weapons like punitive damages
100% Removal of hateful and terrorism related data promptly

How do you rate them in terms of efficiency, effectiveness, sales earnings, market share, profits,
growth, development, and market valuation?
Except qualitative aspect of content all other problems can be tackled to a larger extent with the solutions
offered. If properly applied offered solutions can bring a lot of relief to all the people and then all efforts
can be put towards tackling uncontrollable variables.
How do you know the solution selected is optimal and not sub-optimal? What are its tradeoffs?
How do you strategize the optimal solution?
Controlling content quality and bias is a very difficult task, and there we have a huge trade-off between
biased and propaganda content and freedom of expression. Due to this trade-off we cant have a closed
ended solution. This makes all solutions sub-optimal and even looking for an optimal solution in this is
not advisable.
What are the major consequences to each stakeholder?
The major consequences to for each stakeholder are very high. We cant keep people without information
as information is power and only those societies where power is with common people can think of any
progression, so this initiative though has multiple difficulties if implemented will change our society
forever. Governments will understand their role and responsibilities in a more organized fashion, and with
power in control of people, accountability will be better taken care of by the government. Corporate
whether content or internet provider will make benefit with increased reach and as they will move
towards higher economies of scales they would be able to generate more profits.
What have you learnt from AOL1?
From AOL 1 we have learned subject and object analysis, how to define and analyze the main properties
and events joining the subjects and objects given in the case. We also learned how problems can be
identified and how it can be divided into controllable and uncontrollable variables.

Group 6B
3. Assurance of Learning Model Two (AOL 2): A Process-Based Problem Formulation-Resolution
Model (G16101)
1. What do SOPE say and why? What do you observe? Where are SOPE and why? When and
where did you notice this problem and why? What are the economic and social processes
involved? How did SOPE come about and how often? And with whom?

Subjects -The People, Politicians, Government, Businesses, Lobbyists, Bureaucrats, Start Ups,
Telecom Companies, Internet Service Providers.
Objects - Integrity, Cultural, Principles, Philosophical, Values, Social & Moral justice, Free
Market Economy, Education ,Innovation, Economic Growth
Properties - Competition Globalization, Human Rights, Profit, Connectivity.
Events Social Media Platform Launch like Internet.org, Optical Fiber cable network
construction, Big Advertising campaigns, and Net Neutrality movements.

The basic concept of net neutrality is about complete non-discrimination of network traffic.Net
neutrality was a big ethical and moral issue in 2015 worldwide. Though U.S and Indian and other
government court and regulatory authority have allowed internet to be completely free in respective
countries but debate still persists.
2. Why do you consider them legal, ethical or moral? Are there other legal, ethical and moral
issues you have not identified?
The Internet role in political spheres in terms of soliciting election campaign donations, disseminating
information about political parties and candidates, and mobilizing volunteers, providing government
services, opinion making has grown tremendously in recent years .Internet is affecting our lives in all
spheres. Governments are using internet services to provide people basic necessities. Internet has
become a necessary commodity. As with all commodity .There are ethical, legal and moral issues
related to free market economy, providing internet to all ,corruption, Lobbyists, Profit
maximization ,basic Human rights, Education, Economic growth.
There can be terrorism and hate speech issues that proponents of regulated internet will highlight we
have excluded this point of view from our analysis.
3. Whom do you include or exclude in the SOPE narratives, process and why? With what
consequences and to whom?
We have tried to include all the subjects, objects, those are either the cause or the outcome of the
events and process related to free internet .Each SOPEs are related to each other in some way.
4. Why? Why did it happen? What laws not complied with? What ethical codes violated? What
moral principles compromised? What brought this about? Major social and cultural
antecedents? Major social and cultural determinants? Major social and cultural concomitants?
Key socio-economic and competitive circumstances? Regulation-constraints? Free market
resource constraints?
Facebook with other six companies started its product Internet.org in order to provide affordable
access to less developed countries by increasing efficiency. This event or launch was criticized for
Facebook trying to provide only its services i.e. discriminatory access to some websites via internet in
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Group 6B
disguise of free internet. Start-up criticized this initiative of Facebook by saying that Facebook was
trying to kill competition in disguise of free services. Though legally correct by existing rules at that
time, this initiative probably involved unethical practices on part of Facebook in violation of net
neutrality. Probably some internet services provided by Facebook to the people in free is better than
no existing internet services. Government and policy makers also grappled with the ethical and moral
issue, should it allow internet.org which provides at least some internet services or disallow as it
violates the rights of other start-up companies which will not be able to allow access to its products
and services in free.
5. How are SOPE elements ethically and morally interrelated? Are they mere random or arbitrary
sequences or associations? Are there strong and significant correlations among SOPE that
exonerate guilt?
SOPEs elements are ethically, morally are inter-related strongly.
Regulating internet i.e. providing faster speed for the websites of the Businesses and Corporate who
can pay will slow the access speed for the companies which are still coming up, creating an
unnecessary hurdles for them. Similarly it can reduce the speed available the government provided
services to people. An internet controlled by large corporate houses or political parties can be used to
influence wider public opinion.
6. Any analogies to past experiences across industries? How and why do you categorize SOPE and
its interdependencies?
If government does not have enough resources and nestle steps up to provide food for free to anyone
who wishes to serve Maggie as Maggie does not provide all the nutrition Now the people dying of
hunger will have some food to eat, but they will get used to Maggi. This will deter other brands from
entering the noodle space since Maggi will now be basic food for everyone.
Regulated Internet can be compared with the dedicated railway line for fast trains and high speed
highways with toll charges. Both can be justified in free market economics but may not be morally
and ethically good for society as a whole i.e. the rich people by paying extra can get better services
while services provided to poor section of society deteriorates.
7. How do you characterize your SOPE processes ethically and morally? Why and why not? What
are the major ethical concepts and constructs involved or should be included in your SOPE
analysis and why?
Corporate Morals and Moral Judgement
Ethical Requirements on Government Policy Formulation
Moral Character and Responsibility
Privacy, Confidentiality, Intellectual Property and Innovation
Compliance and Corruption.
Some Internet for the needy(Moral) vs Discrimination between small and big companies
8. How do you understand your SOPE analysis using major ethical theories and why? For
instance, how do you empower this analysis using Rawlsian distributive justice principles and
why?

Group 6B
Rawls's theory of justice regulates the procedures under which a society determines the rules that
pertain to what he calls the basic structure of society. Rawls's theory of justice fits the Internet and
serves the public interest, it aids in explaining that awarding the owners of the still-scarce physical
network the right to discriminate among users when they acquired this right under conditions of
scarcity of content that no longer exist, perpetuates a distortion of power that cannot be justified.
9. How do you understand your SOPE analysis using major moral principles and to what effect?
For instance, how do you empower this analysis using Kantian moral universal principles and
why?
Users Perspective: If net neutrality is not followed in in its truest form and net is allowed to be
regulated it allows ISPs to exhort and blackmail users. According to Kants Universalizability this
will allow these practices to turn into universal activities where such blackmail and extortion are
nothing to be considered ethical. Therefore going by the Kants Categorical Imperative CI 1. One
should act that their action become universal law and 2.Humans should not be merely used as a mean,
Net Regulation is violation of Kantian Ethics.
Internet Service Provider Perspective:
If Internet is regulated and ISPs start discriminating between data and websites, then according to
Kants CI formulation, all data should be discriminated against including ISPs data, resulting in slow
transfer of data across network. This will force end user to pay more for the same speed they were
getting earlier. In this case ISPs will treat users as a means to earn greater profit. This violates Kants
principle of treating humans with respect.
Conclusion: Going by the previous stake holder analysis, it can be concluded as regulated internet is
unethical because it violates respect and universalizability principle.

10. How many ethical and moral solutions can you identify? How do you rate them in terms of
effectiveness/moral value?
Complete net neutrality.
Limited Free internet provided by government not by Corporates
Internet services providers can also provide free internet to limited users but with no restrictions.
Free internet provided by government as a basic necessity if Government can afford
economically.
11. What have you learnt from AOL2?
By using AoL 2 we are able to analyze the different process involved in a phenomenon. How each
process affect other processes and how they are interrelated. We were able to categorize and analyze
each involved process from an ethical and moral perspective. An ethical solution for one process
might be unethical for other process.
4. Assurance of Learning Model Three (AOL 3): An Outcomes-Based Problem Resolution Model
(G16112)
1. What were the beneficial/harmful consequences of the problem-solution, and to whom, when,
where, how serious, how often, and with whom?
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Group 6B

The idea of Net-Neutrality is to offer internet to everyone equally. Large players like Facebook and
Twitter today were able to survive and grow because the internet was neutral. Thus, a neutral world of
internet helps start-ups and budding technologies to compete with market leaders and this helps
improve the competition in the technology market resulting in innovative methods to surface. This is
how a blog would be able to compete against a news giant or a new technology or a product to
complete against conglomerates. If not followed, the large players would be able to use their heavy
assets and make sure the majority of the bandwidth is used by them leaving almost nothing to the new
comers which would almost leave their channels and websites unusable. The US President Obama
declared internet as another utility like water and has urged private companies not to engage in
abusive manner against the new players.
If Net Neutrality had not been enforced and if the large players are allowed to get a dedicated internet
link for themselves for a larger pay, the telecom companies providing the internet will neglect the new
players who cannot afford to pay the additional amount and thus it can result in hampering the pace of
the technological innovations. If there is no scope that even the best articles and research papers are
not visible in the first few pages when searched online or if the webpage is not loading when opened,
people would hardly check them no matter how valuable the research info is.
Opposition to this neutralization have come from many cable and wireless companies like Verizon
stating that a neutral internet is actually beneficial from a long term point of view. They state that a
premium charge for the internet would help them improve the infrastructure and this help them
provide better services. A two-lane model for internet where in the premium players who can pay for
a higher speeds can use larger internet bandwidths can use this opportunity for medical solutions like
remote surgery which is not very reliable now since the internet speeds cannot be pre-judged and any
delay in the internet speeds can lead to failure. Also, these cable companies believe that the maximum
of the bandwidth in countries like US is used by streaming websites like Netflix and YouTube and so
these companies must be charged higher when compared to the other websites.
2. Who were the key stakeholders (subjects) especially of harmful outcomes, in relation to what
key objects, with what key properties and key events?
If Net Neutrality were not enforced then all new start-ups and new products would get impacted.
Otherwise, it would be the telecom companies who would get impacted as they cannot make more
revenue by exploiting the bigger players and by charging them higher rates.
3. What, when and how often of key consequences to SOPE
On 8th February 2016, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) took a revolutionary
decision for Net Neutrality and decided that telecom providers have to provide the same services to
all the consumers.
A similar decision was also taken by the U.S Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in
February 2015 in favor of Net Neutrality.
4. Why harm? Why did it happen? Why not prevented? Major Antecedents of harmful
consequences in relation to SOPE? Their major determinants, concomitants, and critical
contingencies?
The debate for having a neutral internet provision started decades ago when the strong cable and
wireless companies started lobbying the governments to create regulations that would favour them.
These companies (Comcast, Verizon etc.) who own more than 94% of the internet infrastructure have
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Group 6B
slowly been using their influences and they would like to get a share of the pie that technology majors
like Netflix and YouTube are currently enjoying using the equal internet laws.
5. Analysis of the Consequences :
a) Teleological :
The internet (or ARPAnet as it was called back then) was invented by the Department of Defense in
the US to connect Universities and government agencies for the exchange of information. And then as
time progressed it was spread across to other territories and finally was spread across the world once
it was recognized by various governments. And so the basic purpose of the internet is to share info
between people without any bias which would have been broken if Net Neutrality law wouldnt have
been passed.
b) Deontological :
US President Obama called internet a utility like water. At times like this, when organizations and
civilians are dependent on the internet 24X7, a regulation against Net Neutrality would be detrimental
to the nation. And therefore it becomes the duty of the Government to uphold the rights for the
internet and make sure it is equally available to everyone.
c) Distributive justice :
As per the social norms, the internet has become a commodity of sorts that needs to be distributed
equally among the people and should be available to all in the same way and there must not be any
unfair advantage to large corporations just because they have more financial power.
d) Corrective justice :
The concept of net neutrality provides a corrective justice to the new comers in a market because the
big players that are now capable of paying large sums for the exclusive bandwidths were once upon a
time start-ups. Hence, it is justified to have a common ground where the small players are given
opportunities to compete against the leaders.
e) Virtue-ethics :
It is not fair under any grounds to expect a new comer in a market to have a huge investment which is
enough to pay the premiums to buy the additional bandwidth. Hence, a start-up can only survive
based on its product innovation and quality. A beginner cannot be expected to have a backing the way
the conglomerates do. Thus net neutrality gives an equal opportunity and a fair ground to all
participants.
f) Hindsight vs Foresight :
By looking at this example, we can see that laws governing internet at this scale were never thought
were required. This shows that the technological world is moving extremely fast but the laws and
regulations are yet to catch up with it. It gives an idea that the newer technologies that have been now
invented but its usage not yet regulated have to be brought up and discussed before any of the power
houses takes advantage of its monopoly and coerces the government. A good example would be the
drone technology used by Amazon to deliver goods.
6. Assurance of Learning:
By using AoL 3 we are able to analyze the benefits and harmful effects from multiple angles which
gave us a different view of the market phenomenon. If we were to work on other market phenomena
we would then know on what basis the benefits and harmful effects could change when looked at
from each angle. Also, since AoL 3 is based on the outcome based analysis, we are able to understand
that even though the intentions/inputs may vary or be predictable but the outcomes could always
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Group 6B
change and could always have unexpected results that could affect each and every entity in different
ways.
5. Define your unit of ethical and moral analysis of the market phenomenon: for instance, is it a
given action, a given actor, a given action + actor, or, is it the entire system of inputs + processes +
outputs + a given environment? And why do you choose this unit of analysis? (G16068)
The unit of ethical and moral analysis in understanding the true phenomenon of Free Internet and Net
Neutrality has to be the entire system of inputs, processes, outputs + the entire ecosystem under which the
Internet space prevails.
We hereby will define each of these individual units of analysis that make up the entire system:
Inputs:
The various Over the Top (OTT) program developers, the website developers, the startups providing
services over the internet, the advertisers, the political campaigners who use internet for their propagation,
the online sellers, the content developers of the world wide web, the App developers, and everyone else
who create usable or readable or in short consumable content/services for transmission over the internet
platform are the inputs to this system of Free Internet & Net Neutrality.
Processes:
The Telecom Service Providers (TSP) and the Internet Service Providers (ISP), hereby referred as
Telecom/Internet Service Providers (TISP) are the main joining link between the inputs and the outputs in
the entire system. They form the processes of transmitting the created inputs to the end users in the form
of data output of varying speeds and varying costs. Also, the government agencies with the authority to
regulate and control the flow of information over these TISPs also form an integral part of the overall
processes served by the TISPs.
The infrastructure and the continuous upgradation of the network to meet the quality and internet traffic
demands form a very important factor in understanding the various actions that these TISPs take. The
implications of their actions has a direct and very deep impact on the outcome and the entire ecosystem as
a whole.
These Telecom/Internet service providers basically act as a Pipe for the inputs to flow towards the end
users as in the form of an efficient output. It is often referred as a Dumb Pipe. But thats what we are
going to analyze that by differentiating the prices and speeds, are the TISPs wanting to have their say and
become a Vocal Pipe instead of the Dumb Pipe.
Outputs:
The data service or the access to all forms of data that is provided by the Telecom/Internet Service
Providers to the end users is the outcome of the entire system of Free Internet & Net Neutrality.
This data access can be in various forms and on various platforms. An end user can access data service
provided by TISPs through a public desktop computer, personal desktop computer, laptop, mobile
devices, tabs, smart watches, etc. These different devices can in-turn have their own Operating Systems,
but eventually the data access and data service is provided in the form of data packets (data traffic in bits)
by the TISPs.
This output can be in various forms. For example, it can be in the form of monthly package or limited
type or unlimited type, or immediate momentary access to promotional material, or emergency services,
or data packages on mobiles, etc. But each one of the modes are managed and controlled by the TISPs.
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Group 6B
Given Environment:
The implications of the power exercised by the TISPs and the effect of the Inputs and Outputs on the end
user is highly variable and dependent on the entire socio-economic environment in which this ecosystem
of Internet is functioning. The need and the utility of the output i.e. the Internet Data Access is different
for each end user. Similarly, the need for free access or greater speeds also is highly dependent on the
economic and development conditions of the end users.
6. A
7. Table 1.3 Basic Moral Rule-Based Reasoning for Analyzing Ethics of Corporate Decisions and
Actions (G16112)
Ethical Theory
Teleology
(Consequences)

Deontology
(Inputs and
Processes)

Distributive Justice
( Inputs, Processes
and Outputs (IPO))

Corrective
Justice(IPO)

Ethics of Human
Dignity(IPO)

Ethics of
Virtue(Inputs and
Processes(IP))
Ethics of Trust(IP)

Moral Rule-based Reasoning

The benefit from this market phenomenon is the rights of the end users to compete
against the market leaders thus giving a fair chance to all the participants.
The improvement in the infrastructure that the cable and wireless companies are
claiming that they could bring in by utilizing this extra cost gained from charging the
users is the cost of this phenomenon. Also, on a long term, these extra infrastructure
could help in telemedicine by using techniques like remote surgery and so on.
Nobody can ever own the internet. It is the right of every content provider to have equal
share of the internet and it is the duty of every ISP to make sure that every content
provider is treated equally without biasing any of them. These rights are defined by
people who use the internet and must be respected because the civilians can make or
break the organisations. The end user deserves to know the contents specified by each
and every content provider and the ISPs cannot show bias towards any of them for the
additional costs.
The content providers, the ISPs and the end users are the IPOs in this case. The Equality
is determined by the abilities of the inputs to make sure their content is available to the
world without any disruption. The ISPs are the distributors in this case who control
which inputs have higher bandwidth and whose contents loads faster. The goal of the
distribution should be opportunity equality where in the inputs and the outputs are
linked together by the ISP and every output can access every input based on their
requirements.
Corrective procedures in this case are the laws and regulations that can help bring in net
neutrality. The law, as mentioned before, has been brought in thus making all the input
entities equal. These processes/laws were brought in after multiple debates and petitions
from the common people and low end content users.
It is the responsibility of every organisation to be independent and also ensure that they
do not hinder the growth of other organisations. In this sense, the practice of creating
multiple lanes for network connectivity only discriminates the firms with more power
to look down upon the other companies and impede their growth.
There is an act of fairness that each of the companies must practice and making the
internet neutral is a step towards this. By giving an equal chance to the other smaller
players in the business, the firm can improve its integrity and encourage innovation and
growth.
The idea of net neutrality that each individual and content provider has an equal access
and share of the bandwidth is the trust that is bestowed on the ISP and that the ISPs are
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Group 6B

Ethics of
Responsibility(IPO
)

Ethics of
Compassion(IPO)

not making any bandwidth changes to compromise the efficiency of the internet.
It is the responsible citizens that have realised the importance of a free and neutral
internet system and have thus made sure that the law and regulation with respect to Net
Neutrality is passed. It is the ISPs who are now accountable to make sure that each
content provide is given equal importance and all contents are transmitted equally on
the internet.
The ethics of compassion is this case is more towards the start-ups and smaller
organisations who need the internet to be available with the same bandwidth which is
provided to other big players so that their products are showcased with the same
importance. For example: When Google was formed, Yahoo was the internet giant. IT
was the innovative search algorithm whose efficiency was better than Yahoo that made
Google what it is today. Hence a free and fair chance is always necessary and deserved.

8. Hence, synthesize results from (2) to (7) and judge which methodology best explains and predicts
the morality and ethicality of the market phenomenon under study (G16080)
As per our group analysis unit of ethical and moral analysis best explains and predicts the morality and
ethicality of the market phenomenon. We have chosen unit of ethical and moral analysis as best guide
due to the following factors:
i)

ii)

iii)

It considers inputs/outputs/processes and the entire ecosystem of the internet space, because
of its widened scope of coverage all the aspects it becomes an overall indicator for ethical and
moral analysis of the entire situation.
As per unit of analysis we can take anything/anyone as our point of analysis whether it is an
individual, groups, artifacts, social interactions, any property or even an event can be basis of
our unit of analysis.
Unit of ethical and moral analysis provides a holistic approach instead of singling out any one
factor.

Due to the above reason we as a group feel that Unit of Analysis is the best option for us to consider while
synthesizing the results.

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