Mobile Devices, Social Media, and

Ethical Lapses

Catherine SlagleFrederick S. Lane

Ontario College of Teachers, Toronto, Canada

27 May 2016

A Pan-Professional Educational Challenge

Section OneINTRODUCTION

TOETHICS

ANDCYBERETHICS

Ethics & Cyberethics• Ethics – About 2,500 years• The study and discussion about

the choice between “virtuous” and “vicious” behavior.

• Cyberethics – About 40 years• “The field of applied ethics that

examines moral, legal, and social issues in the development and use of cybertechnology.”

Common Cyberethical Issues

• Downloading “free” music or movies

• Using a neighbor’s open WiFi connection

• Uploading a photo or tagging someone without permission

• Posting snarky messages when someone leaves their social media unlocked

Elements of Ethics• Empathy• Family/Comm. Values• Personal Moral Codes• Codes of Professional

Ethics• Codes of Conduct

Threats to Ethical Conduct

• Lack of Empathy• Stress / Substance Abuse• Infatuation / Obsession• Group or Mob Behavior• Rapidly Shifting Cultural

Mores• Low Barrier to Misbehavior

Section TwoTECHNOLOGICAL

INNOVATIONSTHAT HAVE CREATED

ETHICAL CHALLENGESAND

MORAL DILEMMAS

Evolution of Hardware

Evolution of Mobile

A Mobile & Social Future

Our Digital Future

Section ThreeHOW FOUR

ONTARIO PROFESSIONSHAVE RESPONDEDTO THE ETHICAL

CHALLENGESOF SOCIAL MEDIA

Teachers/Educators• Four Ethical Standards• Care• Respect• Trust• Integrity

Lawyers• Key Concepts• Integrity• Relationship to Clients• Practice of Law• Relationship to the Administration of

Justice• Relationship to Students,

Employees, and Others• Relationship to the Law Society and

Other Lawyers

Nurses• Key Concepts• Client Well-Being• Client Choice• Privacy and Confidentiality• Respect for Life• Maintaining Commitments

Physicians & Surgeons• Values of the Profession• Compassion• Service• Altruism• Trustworthiness

• Principles of Practice and Duties• Individually to the Patient• As a Member of the Profession,

Collectively to the Public• To Themselves and Colleagues

Section FourREGULATORY RESPONSESFOR THESE PROFESSIONS AROUND ETHICAL LAPSES

AND THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Lawyers• New Jersey Supreme Court opinion holds that

lawyers accused of improper Facebook access can be charged with ethics violations

• Louisiana Lawyer disbarred for social media campaign with “false, misleading and inflammatory statements” to influence custody case

• Illinois lawyer charged in disciplinary complaint with violating client confidences in response to unfavorable client review on the legal referral website AVVO

• Illinois Hearing Board recommends 5 month suspension for lawyer who posted undercover video related to client on Youtube and alleged that the drugs were planted

Nurses/Nursing Assistants• Nursing assistant admits to taking video

of a 93 year old female patient sitting on her bed in a bra and no underwear or pants

• Nursing assistant charged with felony and misdemeanor counts for posting video of a naked patient in the shower as staff sprayed her with water

• Certified Nursing assistant indicted for allegedly conspiring to post photo of a nursing home resident’s genitalia on Facebook

Teachers/Educators• Former Kelso teacher sentenced

for arranging sex through Facebook

• Students bust Voyeur Teacher at Evergreen High School in Washington State

• Teacher develops romantic relationship with student using contact through various social media sites

Mobile Devices, Social Media, and

Ethical Lapses

Catherine SlagleFrederick S. Lane

Ontario College of Teachers, Toronto, Canada

27 May 2016

A Pan-Professional Educational Challenge