Patricia Dunn, Hp, and the Pretext Scandal
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to examine both the utilitarian and deontological considerations behind Patricia Dunn’s decision to have private investigators check the telephone records of the board members of Hewlett-Packard, and the method they used to acquire the information. In addition, these same ethical considerations will be applied to the private investigators who acquired the telephone records, the website that published the information, and the person who leaked information. The author will then offer his opinion as to whether or not Patricia Dunn should have been dismissed for her actions.
Patricia Dunn, HP, and the Pretext Scandal
Hewlett-Packard is without a doubt a successful company. With products ranging from computers, to servers, to electronic test equipment, they are truly giants in the electronics industry. Unfortunately, they have had their share of scandals in the past few years. First, its’ former CEO, Carly Fiorina, was dismissed in the wake of missed profit projections and a not altogether popular decision to merge with computer rival Compaq. Then it pleaded guilty to acquiring the phone records of some of its board of directors, at the behest of chairwoman Patricia Dunn, through questionable means. Although she admitted she knew that the phone records were being obtained, she claimed she did not know what methods were being used to acquire them.
The method used is called pretexting. According to an article appearing on www.securityfocus.com, pretexting can be explained as follows; “Pretexting is essentially lying to get information that you want, or to get someone to do something you want them to do. In this case, it is likely that the investigator called the telephone companies pretending to be the customer (or a close relative) and asked for a copy of the telephone toll records - records of calls made and received.” http://www.securityfocus.com/columnists/417/4 The reason Patricia Dunn
The purpose of this paper is to examine both the utilitarian and deontological considerations behind Patricia Dunn’s decision to have private investigators check the telephone records of the board members of Hewlett-Packard, and the method they used to acquire the information. In addition, these same ethical considerations will be applied to the private investigators who acquired the telephone records, the website that published the information, and the person who leaked information. The author will then offer his opinion as to whether or not Patricia Dunn should have been dismissed for her actions.
Patricia Dunn, HP, and the Pretext Scandal
Hewlett-Packard is without a doubt a successful company. With products ranging from computers, to servers, to electronic test equipment, they are truly giants in the electronics industry. Unfortunately, they have had their share of scandals in the past few years. First, its’ former CEO, Carly Fiorina, was dismissed in the wake of missed profit projections and a not altogether popular decision to merge with computer rival Compaq. Then it pleaded guilty to acquiring the phone records of some of its board of directors, at the behest of chairwoman Patricia Dunn, through questionable means. Although she admitted she knew that the phone records were being obtained, she claimed she did not know what methods were being used to acquire them.
The method used is called pretexting. According to an article appearing on www.securityfocus.com, pretexting can be explained as follows; “Pretexting is essentially lying to get information that you want, or to get someone to do something you want them to do. In this case, it is likely that the investigator called the telephone companies pretending to be the customer (or a close relative) and asked for a copy of the telephone toll records - records of calls made and received.” http://www.securityfocus.com/columnists/417/4 The reason Patricia Dunn
References: Rasch, M. (2006, 19 September) Liar, Liar, and Pretexting. Retrieved July 27, 2008 from the World Wide Web: http://www.securityfocus.com/columnists/417/4 Kaplan, D. (2006, September 18) Suspicions and Spies in Silicon Valley [U.S. Edition Edition] Retrieved July 27, 2008 from Newsweek via the World Wide Web. New York: Sep 18, 2006. Vol. 148, Iss. 10; pg. 40