Working for a large agency, Hank is responsible for tracking the progress of numerous clients engaged in programs that help them recover from various alcohol and drug problems. Hank also has access to the company’s database and is accountable for making the reports that contain clients’ confidential information, including names, addresses, and even criminal histories. The deontological theory asserts that individuals should observe their direct duties when they make particular decisions requiring ethical considerations. Thus, since Hank is entrusted with confidential information, its protection from accidental disclosure or unsanctioned access is his primary obligation to clients.
It is also worth noting that clients are the main stakeholders in this case. When Hank takes this critical data home, he puts the confidentiality and privacy of people at significant risk since this data becomes accessible to any of his relatives, friends, or other unauthorized persons.
Hank violates item 1.6 of the ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, stating that computing professionals should assume necessary precautions to avert accidental disclosure. He also severely breaks item 1.7 indicating the crucial importance of honoring confidentiality and defending it in all cases except for those where the law is violated. Besides, this paragraph states that the contents and nature of the data can be disclosed only by appropriate authorities.
Considering these points, home is a hazardous context that threatens the confidentiality of clients. In this regard, Hank should not have brought this information home but should complete his tasks connected with reports at work. Now, he needs to return the CD to the workplace and make sure that the information on the disk is not discovered. Furthermore, it is worth emphasizing that the company where Hank works also violates the code because it should have established the system inhibiting its employees from using the data outside the company.