In response to Alex Meisner blog about sex in advertising, I don’t really understand the issue or why some companies should be considered unethical for using ads campaigns which they may find helpful in their marketing strategy. The whole issue about sex ads does not make much sense to me. There are basically no laws that prevent ads that depict half naked or completely naked people.

It is true that some posters display sexual content that may be sensitive to parts of the population but personally I think this can be only judged in terms ethics if the host country has laws that prohibit such activities and the country’s culture is overall against explicit display of such contents. This could be true in nations such Saudi Arabia. One may interpret it as showing more respect to women but personally I would like consider it solely based on traditions, rules and regulations established by the country’s institutions.

I say so because for example, in markets were the movie industry can use sexual content in whatever ways including sex and rape in movies, in porn businesses and Hollywood stars that show off their naked body parts in music video and concerts; I would see no reason whatever to criticize a company that chooses to use sex to sell its products.

If sex sells as they say so, and the company in question finds it profitable, it’s up to the government to set laws and regulations that can be used to control what it wishes the population should be exposed to, otherwise it would be unfair to allow other industries such as the movie industry to use it and make large profits when others are restricted to do what seems to be even less psychologically impacting.

https://blogs.ubc.ca/alexmeisner/

Coming from Africa, I have obviously realized a lot of changes in my environment. However, one key thing that has attracted my attention is the way most of shopping centers and various businesses uses  tools to collect vast amount of data about their customers without  their awareness.

Reading through the net, I landed on an a news video that shows how a San Francisco retail store uses sophisticated cameras to collect very detailed information about its customers; everything they do inside the store and even more their facial expressions and age of each customer.

Gathering as much information as possible about customers do improve business results by designing more appealing products and improving customer services  but I believe that this should be done in way that satisfy both parties; the business and the consumers. Mostly, government seem to have the power of gathering information on a large scale about its population but the later understands to a considerable degree that it is for security reasons and also good governance.

Since the power of technology has increased, I think it would be preferable if these technologies are not used to invade the privacy of its customers without them knowing. It makes sense for retailers to use security tools or tools that improve customer service but using sophisticated technologies to collect all types of information that could be sold to other parties or used in malicious activities and worryingly without customers awareness; If feel this could be considered as a stretch by businesses involved which I judge to be questionable since ones privacy has to be respected. The fact is these practices would expand as businesses grow around the world; it is up to the local government to keep in check of the increasing power of big businesses over its citizens.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/assignment_7&id=9131638