Apple Inc. Current Issue
Apple Inc. Current Issue
Ethical Issues in Apple Inc.
Apple success is based on “creating innovative, high-quality products and services and on demonstrating integrity in every business interaction.” According to Apple, four main principles contribute to integrity: honesty, respect, confidentiality, and compliance.
Although Apple has consistently won first place as the World’s Most Admired Company, it has experienced several ethical issues within recent years. Among are privacy, sustainability, product quality, intellectual property and patents.
Product Quality
Apple’s product quality problem started when the company introduced the iphone 4, customers began to complain of reception problems. The problems were caused by antenna interference that occurred when users held the phone a certain way.
Privacy
In 2011 Apple and Google disclosed that certain features on the cell phones they sell collect data on the phones’ locations. Consumers and government officials saw this as an infringement on user privacy. The companies announced that users have the option to disable these features on their phones. This was not entirely true for Apple as some of its phones continued to collect location information even after users had disabled the feature. Apple attributed this to a glitch that it remedied with new software. Both Google and Apple defend their data-collection mechanisms, but many government officials disagree.
The government is considering passing legislation on mobile privacy, actions which could have profound effects on Apple and other electronic companies.
Sustainability
Apple has taken steps to become a greener company, such as reducing its environmental impact at its facilities. However, the company admits that the majority of its emissions come from its products. In 2009 Apple stated that its operations contributed to 9.6 million metric tons of metric gases being released. While 3 percent came from its facilities, 97 percent came from the life cycle of
Ethical Issues in Apple Inc.
Apple success is based on “creating innovative, high-quality products and services and on demonstrating integrity in every business interaction.” According to Apple, four main principles contribute to integrity: honesty, respect, confidentiality, and compliance.
Although Apple has consistently won first place as the World’s Most Admired Company, it has experienced several ethical issues within recent years. Among are privacy, sustainability, product quality, intellectual property and patents.
Product Quality
Apple’s product quality problem started when the company introduced the iphone 4, customers began to complain of reception problems. The problems were caused by antenna interference that occurred when users held the phone a certain way.
Privacy
In 2011 Apple and Google disclosed that certain features on the cell phones they sell collect data on the phones’ locations. Consumers and government officials saw this as an infringement on user privacy. The companies announced that users have the option to disable these features on their phones. This was not entirely true for Apple as some of its phones continued to collect location information even after users had disabled the feature. Apple attributed this to a glitch that it remedied with new software. Both Google and Apple defend their data-collection mechanisms, but many government officials disagree.
The government is considering passing legislation on mobile privacy, actions which could have profound effects on Apple and other electronic companies.
Sustainability
Apple has taken steps to become a greener company, such as reducing its environmental impact at its facilities. However, the company admits that the majority of its emissions come from its products. In 2009 Apple stated that its operations contributed to 9.6 million metric tons of metric gases being released. While 3 percent came from its facilities, 97 percent came from the life cycle of