CS5052NTProfessionalIssuesEthicsandComputerLaws 90156
CS5052NTProfessionalIssuesEthicsandComputerLaws 90156
CS5052NTProfessionalIssuesEthicsandComputerLaws 90156
Coursework Weight: This coursework accounts for 60% of the overall module
grades.
Warning:
London Metropolitan University and Itahari International
College take plagiarism very seriously. Offenders will be
dealt with sternly.
1
Plagiarism Notice
Section 2.3: “The following broad types of offense can be identified and are provided as
indicative examples:
2
Individual Coursework — 2023 (Weighting 60% of the module)
Write a minimum 3000 words report, in your own words, on the following case scenario. You
can exceed up to 3500 but not more than that.
Scenario
Ashley Madison is an online dating service catering to people who are married and seeking
extramarital affairs. It was founded in 2002 by Darren J. Morgenstern and is owned by Ruby
Life, Inc. The website promotes the slogan "Life is short. Have an affair." In addition to Ashley
Madison, the company also manages two other sites, "CougarLife.com" and
"EstablishedMen.com," which cater to specific demographics.
In 2015, Avid Life Media (now Ruby Life Inc.) faced a massive data breach, one of the largest
and most controversial in U.S. history. The breach resulted in the exposure of the personal
information of over 32 million users, comprising more than 60 gigabytes of data. The stolen
data included names, passwords, addresses, and phone numbers submitted by users of the
site, although some users may have provided fake information for anonymity.
The consequences of the breach extended until 2017. Despite the security incident, the
company rebranded as Ruby Life Inc. and continued its operations. The leaked data posed
significant risks due to the amount of personally identifiable information (PII) exposed, raising
concerns about privacy and security for the affected users.
The hack was carried out by a group of hackers calling themselves "The Impact Team." The
hackers released the stolen data online, including names, email addresses, home addresses,
credit card numbers, and sexual preferences.
The Ashley Madison hack had several legal, professional, and ethical implications. From a
legal standpoint, the hack led to investigations by law enforcement agencies in several
countries. The hack also led to lawsuits against Ashley Madison and its parent company,
Avid Life Media.
● Introduction and background of the scandal, include citations in the text (15%)
● Legal issues, include citations in the text (15%)
● Social issues, include citations in the text (15%)
● Ethical issues, include citations in the text (15%)
● Professional issues, include citations in the text (15%)
3
● Conclusion of the entire scandal, and what could be your choice or your perspective?
Explain according to the methodology of taking an ethical decision. (15%).
(Note: Relate to the Professional code of conduct that could be used for maintaining
smooth operations in the company.)
● The final 10 % of the marks will be awarded for: essay structure; grammar and
punctuations; proper header and footer; correct spelling; a consistent referencing style,
including stable citations in the text, pictures and an expanded reference section at the end
of the report; as well as the logic and clarity of the arguments (10%)
Note: The total word count (3000 words) should include all the paragraphs listed
above; excluding the referencing section.
--END OF PAPER—
5
Marking Criteria
Criteria Marks
Documentation and Formatting 6
Introduction 10
Background of the scandal 10
Legal Issue 15
Social Issue 15
Ethical Issue 15
Professional Issue 15
Personal reflection 14