Transcript The Ethics of Covert Investigations

The Ethics of Covert
Investigations
Arguments for Covert
Investigations
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Citizens grant to government the right to
use exceptional means.
Undercover work is ethical when used for
a good and important end.
Enforce the law equally.
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Convict the guilty
Investigations are ethical when they are
non-intrusive as possible.
When citizens use questionable means,
government agents are justified in using
equivalent means.
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Undercover work is ethical when there are
reasonable grounds for suspicion.
Special risks justify special precautions.
Undercover work is ethical when done by
persons of upright character in
accountable organizations.
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Undercover work is ethical when the
decision to use these techniques has been
announced publicly.
Undercover work is ethical when it is
undertaken with the intentions of
eventually being made public and judged
in court.
Arguments against Covert or
Undercover Investigations
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Truth telling is moral; lying is immoral.
The government should neither participate
in , nor be a party to crime nor break the
law to enforce it.
The government should not make deals
with criminals.
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The government should not offer
unrealistic temptations or tempt the weak.
Do not harm the innocent.
Respect the sanctity of private places.
Respect the freedom of expression and
action.
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It is wrong to discriminate in target
selection.
The government should not do by stealth
what it is prohibited from doing openly.