The purpose of sobriety checkpoints that are set up by community and state police is to deter drunk driving and ultimately save lives.While not mandated,the makers of Blackberry™ have complied with the public request of several legislators and have obediently removed apps that permit smartphone users to navigate around the checkpoints.Google™ and Apple™ have elected not to honor such requests.Google said the apps do not violate the company's content policy.After studying about ethics and social responsibility,which of the following statements applies to this situation?
A)Laws represent the minimum guidelines that companies must follow,whereas a firm's ethical stance may venture beyond the minimum level of compliance.
B)Google and Apple are showing corporate social responsibility because they demonstrate concern for their investors,which is exactly where their focus should be.
C)Blackberry is acting philanthropically toward government.
D)Google and Apple are showing their distrust for big government,and their avoidance of contributing toward philanthropic causes.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This situation highlights the distinction between following laws and adhering to ethical principles. While the apps may not violate any laws, there is an ethical responsibility to contribute to public safety and discourage drunk driving. Blackberry's decision to comply with legislators' requests can be seen as an ethical stance that goes beyond the minimum level of compliance required by law. Similarly, Google and Apple's decision not to remove the apps highlights their focus on maximizing shareholder value rather than prioritizing ethical responsibilities to society.

The Purpose of Sobriety Checkpoints That Are Set Up by Community