Question

Debate the change made by Microsoft, Google and others to push patches without user acceptance or intervention. What are the technical and ethical implications

Answer 1

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Companies like Google and Microsoft have updated their policies wherein they can push updates on the systems used by their customers while essentially this is a feature for better outcome and performance by the system and for the inclusion of security patches and updates, pushing the updates on the system itself without the need to ask the user's consent can be thought of as unjustified or even unethical.

No matter how important the updates are, taking away the element of choice in any matter would not be deemed as appropriate by the people. Technologically, however, it is a different matter altogether. These updates are what the companies feel out systems require in order to be able to function properly, optimally and securely while constant upgrades to provide the benefits of all these technological factors, it is also a hindrance to the working habits of some people. In the case of Microsoft PC, the system shuts down and reboots to automatically install the updates, even during work hours and the process of installation. Is automatic and the user has no say in installing the updates.

On ethical grounds, the matter takes a different turn. While the system is secure and optimized, it is not according to the user that paid for it. If companies take away the right of people to be able to regulate when they want and feature and when they don't, they essentially raise the problems of an ethical dilemma. If they take away the user's autonomy, no matter the reason, they have committed an ethical misconduct which is why Microsoft and other companies should follow the principles of Utilitarianism and deontology and should allow people the choice of freedom to essentially regulate their systems themselves.