Mottos and Ethical Statements of Internet-Based Organizations

Abstract

Many Internet-based businesses have emerged and gained prominence in past decades; growing numbers of them have developed moral declarations in the form of mottos or ethical statements. For example, the corporate motto “don't be evil” (linked with Google) has generated considerable controversy, and Twitter and Facebook have comparable ethical pronouncements. The article analyzes how these ethical expressions have played roles in discourse on organizational activities, exploring their use in discussions of particular research, marketing, and operations situations. After addressing the origins of these mottos and statements, this article positions them in contrast with the more finely-detailed ethical codes and related initiatives that have been associated with some high-tech organizations over past decades. The article analyzes the potential influences of ethical expressions generated by organizations on corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. It projects the future of such ethical manifestations in light of critically-important privacy, security, and economic concerns faced in high-tech arenas.