Real-Life Decision Making -- Solution
You recommend your friend's company.
You tell yourself, "I am going to help my friend out. I will tell him
very plainly that he must never, ever sell our customers' private information.
I know he will agree to that."
As you had hoped, your friend is very grateful for the contract, and he
assures you that he will never, ever sell your customers' private information.
After a few months, the partnership is going well and your CEO is pleased.
However, some of your customers find out about your friend's activity in the
past. There are many complaints sent to your company. When your CEO finds
out, she is very angry with you.
"You did not tell us about this situation," she says. "You put our business
operations at risk because you wanted to do a favor for a friend. This is
not acceptable."
You don't get fired, but it is a long time before your CEO
trusts you again. You wish that you had not recommended your friend's company.
Telling your company or organization why they should not take certain actions
is part of a privacy officer's job, says chief privacy officer Merri Beth
Lavagnino.
"You're helping them (your employer) meet their business goals while balancing
it with the privacy expectations of your community," says Lavagnino.