The article poses the question, "Is it ethical for casinos to gather so much information?" I think it is ethical as long as the customers are aware. I don't think it is fair to monitor someone's phone calls during their stay at the hotel if the person doesn't know about it. I think it should become common knowledge that you consent to sharing personal information when you enter the casino. I would feel violated if I found out my license plate number, phone calls and facial features were not just recorded but being shared with other casinos.
However, if the customer is aware, then I think it is completely fine to monitor their activity. It obviously works, considering Las Vegas' crime rate is so low. The people going to casinos no perfectly well that there are cheaters there, and if you aren't breaking any rules, than why would you be worried? It is hard to say it is ethical to invade someone's privacy to this extent to improve Homeland Security. Airplanes, taxes, credit cards and drivers' licenses are American necessities, it isn't fair to monitor someone just for living, these are all unavoidable. Where as if you have a problem with being watched in casinos you can avoid it by not going to them. How do you avoid being monitored by the government? You honestly can't. I understand that it would be helpful but in this case I don't think it is worth it.
Casinos are interesting in that they have some of the worst business practices and customer relations. I think it's unethical for any body to monitor and collect data about an individual without his or her consent, but that's just the way America works. In most European states, they have an opt-in policy. Wherever there is a system, however, people will seek a way to break it. There are some very interesting programmers who physically tamper with slot machines and the like.
ReplyDeleteWith the amount of money being made in Las Vegas there is no limit to the technology they have access to. As long as the information is being used responsible I don't see a problem with it. Once they mis-use it the people can stop going if they don't like it to send a message
ReplyDeleteI think Ashley has a point. With the amount of money coming in to that city and specifically the casino's, they are going to have access to alot of new technology, things that other casino's around the country may not have. As to this blog though, I agree with you that people should not be watched and monitored just for living, but that's Big Brother for you. There isn't any way around it and it's just something people are going to have to learn to deal with. There isn't much an individual can do. They can stop going to that casino but that one persons money or being there isn't going to be losing the casino any money. I don't think it's right that our conversations and phone calls, etc. get recorded but I mean, that's how the government works. That is how they look out for our safety. We dont know the people who are actually listening to us, and they don't know us so it shouldn't really matter or be a big deal. It's not like were ever going to really meet them and there going to bring up "oh I listened in on you talking to so and so the other night" It's not like that, if anything I'm sure some phone calls bring amusement and fun to their job if anything. Overall though, that's how they pick up on things and how they get leads to any possible crimes or attacks. Just a fact of life we have to deal with.
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