The Equifax Data Breach affected millions of people. In the article by Lieber, he states that people felt a sense of helplessness and that they were at mercy with an industry who makes money off their own data. Customers’ information was sold for their own profit and millions of people are vulnerable to these types of attacks. The article shows frustration of the data breach. Showing that there is not a way to step out of the system unless you think you can live your life completely free of the need for credit, mobile phones, and many jobs. And if your information was wrong to an employer, you were not able to get it fixed. Resentment was felt as they felt trapped in Equifax’s vast web of data with no ability to opt out. There was plenty of fear about losing your own money and reputation. This breach made people more vulnerable to identity theft more than ever. In this case Analysis I will argue that the ethics of care tool shows us that the Equifax breach harmed consumers by exposing their personal information and leaving them vulnerable to many emotional, financial, and personal problems and that this was morally bad because Equifax failed to care for and protect those who depended on them.

Friedman states that a corporate executive is an employee of the owners of the business. They have direct responsibility to act on behalf of the owners of the business. That responsibility is to do business in accordance with their desires which will be to make as much money as possible while conforming to the basic rules of the society. This will be embodied in ethical custom and those embodied in law. But other people might have a different plan or objective. A group of persons might create a corporation for a purpose of relief without the thought of money. This includes hospitals or a school. The manager will not be thinking about profit but the rendering of specific services provided. Friedman’s argument does not mean that businesses are absolutely free to do whatever they want to increase the amount of money they make, but he says that businesses should increase the amount of money that comes in but by remaining with the “rules of the game.” The rules of the game mean open and free competition without deception or fraud. This ties into the Equifax breach incident that the company made money off of data from their consumers. The business of Equifax depended solely on gathering and maintaining consumers’ financial information. In order for people to have access to credit, mobile phones employment, they had to participate in their system. In ways of doing business, Equifax had to hold the information from their consumers and protect it. The breach harmed their consumers by exposing their own sensitive personal information. This information that was exposed could be used primarily for identity theft and financial fraud. This automatically makes the consumers afraid of losing their money and all they had ever worked for. It puts the consumers in a terrible position without being able to do anything about it. Consumers felt helpless and vulnerable to this breach and absolute distrust from this organization. 

The ethics of care tool goes deep into the way we can look at Equifax’s actions. Ethics of care focuses on relationships, connections and interdependence. Ethics of care applies to things about social services and in terms of what people are owed, what they deserve, and how they should be cared for. Consumers felt trapped and helpless because they had no way to exit the credit-reporting system. The ethics of care tool makes Equifax solely responsible for the way these consumers feel emotionally and financially. This company was given the trust from these consumers with their personal sensitive information. Because they were trusted and responsible for the information given, they should have taken the correct steps into providing security to protect it. Instead of Equifax making the situation better, they continued to add to consumers’ concerns. Equifax continued to charge fees for credit freezes even after the breach. These consumers felt many emotions that were negative, especially with the possibility of financial losses. Lieber explains that people worried about their money and their credit that they probably worked their whole lives for. These actions from Equifax show the failure to demonstrate a lack of attention to those who were affected and vulnerable. Equifax had their own responsibility to ensure stronger security measures, providing the necessary assistance to those who needed help, and not charging credit fees for their own mistakes.

In the reading from Anshen, the “social contract” is consistently stated throughout the article. The phrase the “social contract” is a central concept that is used between business and society. The social contract is made up of broadly accepted duties and obligations that can help create relationships between individuals, private institutions, and also the government. The social contract shows economic growth and it allowed businesses to focus on creating profits as long as the rules were followed as they should be. Changing the social conditions increasingly requires businesses to consider the social consequences of the decisions they may have made. The quality of life should always be considered. Businesses must also adapt to changing expectations. The concept from Anshen shows the changing social contract is relevant to Equifax because the organization was operating in an environment where their consumers were extremely dependent on businesses to manage their personal information. In this case, personal information was highly sensitive and should have been protected properly. The people had little to no control over how their data was being used, and did not have the ability to pull it out of it. It is not like they were able to reject or accept the product. This type of relationship that was created made responsibilities that are more than just making money. Equifax should have recognized that their own decisions would have affected millions of people and their quality of life. 

The Equifax breach shows that the breach shows exactly what could happen if a company fails to meet their own expectations and responsibilities and it shows the consequences of what happens as a result. The breach showed the vulnerability of their own consumers and it opened up many dangerous avenues as a result. Identity theft and financial harm were quickly created and put millions of people in danger. Businesses must be aware and recognize the social costs that are tied to their own actions. The security of personal information should have been accounted for. Strong security measures could have prevented this from happening, and the idea from Anshen shows that businesses must adapt to changing social expectations. 

The ethics of care tool makes this analysis focus on the relationship between the consumers who were affected. The Equifax consumers trusted them and were also dependent on them but had zero to no ability to protect themselves. This was a result of the company’s own decisions. The feeling of hopelessness in the hands of a business like this is the result of Equifax’s actions. The communication was minimal as those who were affected were not told if they were or not. Many consumers were scared to even revisit their websites or emails solely due to the mistrust that occurred during the breach. The correct thing that should have been done in reference to ethics of care is to acknowledge that its responsibilities were more than just protecting their own profits. Stronger investments should have been made for a stronger security. Consumers should have been directly notified if they were affected by the breach. Assistance should have been given.

The Equifax breach harmed consumers who trusted them with their sensitive personal and financial information. This type of information is information that could leave a person vulnerable to many negative consequences. These consequences were created by the organization due to their own actions. Lieber’s argument states that consumers had no control over the credit-reporting system. They were solely dependent on Equifax to be able to manage their information the way they should be, which is responsible. Friedman discusses how businesses must operate within the ethical and legal rules of society. Anshen also argues that the social contract between businesses and society changes as social expectations change throughout time. The ethics of care tool focuses on the consumers’ dependence and vulnerability in this situation and should have been better protected by Equifax. This breach made people more vulnerable to identity theft more than ever. Businesses are able to operate because of their consumers, and consumers should be protected from any breaches. Consumers should be protected by any means necessary.