Technology and data are becoming increasingly influential in everyday life. Some of the innovative solutions simplify the routine, while others become indispensable for the operation. For example, the functioning of a warehouse is challenging without databases and equipment for moving goods. However, some companies or individuals use technology and data in an unethical way. One example is the professional baseball team Houston Astros, which was caught stealing pitch signs from catchers and, as a result, gaining illegal victories. It is biblical deception and misleading information in which one side wins an unfair advantage. Thus, unethical behavior regarding the use of technology is criticized by both the general public and religious teachings.
Houston Astros had a resounding success, winning the American League champions in 2019. Despite their athletic performance, the team faced conviction and investigation for violating competition rules. The fact is the Houston Astros were exposed to stealing pitch signs from catchers using the camera from above, which helped players or staff notice movement in their direction (Davenport, 2020). As a result, the unethical use of technology allowed the team to achieve more solid results. The author of the article also provides other examples of technology fraud that border on ethics. For example, collecting analytics data has ceased to be a way of studying the audience, but has become a tool for invading privacy. Companies use the technological potential and ecosystem structure of their services to continually record the online actions of users. Consequently, this information is used to tailor advertisements and, as a result, indirectly influence their decision making. The unethical use of data is becoming more common by increasing competitiveness, although it has signs of deception.
The unfair use of information, as well as the ways of obtaining it, border on lies and fraudulent schemes. Just like the Houston Astros and giant online companies, many vendors use innovative hardware and analytical applications to collect data illegally. Improving competitiveness and an advantageous position in the market is the primary goal of this process, although success is not guaranteed. The ethical problem covers the violation of the privacy of objects and their freedom of action in the global network. On the other hand, the Houston Astros have used off-regulations devices to track pitch signs, which disrupts sports discipline. While collecting data online and cheating rivals are fundamentally various processes, dishonesty towards the opposite side unites cases. Ethics crossing occurs when a competitor or buyer is unaware of how their information is obtained or analyzed. Thus, both cases violate the unspoken rules of interpersonal, corporate, and sports relationships, where one of the parties uses fraudulent schemes to gain an advantage.
The biblical worldview has been transformed and adapted to new social institutions over the centuries. However, commandments and teachings have remained unchanged and strongly condemn fraud and deception. On the other hand, technologies and information systems can be interpreted through a biblical lens, since they are not directly described. Researchers view technology as a tool for changing the world, a way to gain an advantage over other objects, and to abandon necessary human capabilities (Schuurman, 2017). In a broader perspective, innovation and digital development negatively impact social contact and roles, with people increasingly engaged in the race to make life easier. This argument correlates with the Houston Astros’ case where the team used screens and video footage to obtain information dishonestly. Biblically, this process has led to a violation of faithfulness and deceitful ways to change the natural contact between people, in this case, the players. Thus, the Houston Astros violate Christian values and promote lies as a way to achieve their goals.
Paradoxical is the statement that the truth is always shrouded in mystery. On the one hand, it is a rational belief that any concept or thing can be interpreted from various perspectives. However, truth is considered the only certainty that can be accepted in a given situation. Researchers point out that one of the derived biblical arguments is the duality of virtue and faith (Coyne, 2018). With this in mind, the Houston Astros and the online giants are violating the concept of a path to truth that does not accept dishonest tools. In other words, the team and companies received evidence that was meant to be part of healthy competition. Thus, while the truth may be an unattainable goal, using underhanded methods to obtain it is even more biblically dishonest.
Incorrect use of technology and information occurs to provide an advantage to the user. While business corporations use innovative software to collect data, sports teams go beyond the timeline to win. The Houston Astros used cameras for stealing pitch signs, which gave them an edge over their opponents. From a biblical point of view, these processes are dishonest on the way to the truth, since the other side is not aware of the deception. The collection of personal data violates privacy, since the object does not consent to the processing of information. Consequently, both the Houston Astros and global corporations use deception to dishonestly use information that should be kept private.
References
Coyne, J. (2018). Yes, there is a war between science and religion. The Conversation. Web.
Davenport, T. (2020). The Houston Astros and the ethical use of data and analytics. Forbes. Web.
Schuurman, D. (2017). Technology and the Biblical story. Pro Rege, 46(1), 4-8.