Suppose Charlie had installed key logger software on all company computer systems and had made a copy of Peter’s encryption key. Suppose that Charlie had this done without policy authority and without anyone’s knowledge, including Peter’s. Would the use of such a tool be an ethical violation on Charlie’s part? Is it illegal? Suppose that Charlie had implemented the key logger with the knowledge and approval of senior company executives, and that every employee had signed a release that acknowledged the company can record all information entered on company systems. Two days after Peter’s call, Charlie calls back to give Peter his key: "We got lucky and cracked it early." Charlie says this to preserve Peter’s illusion of privacy. Is such a "little white lie" an ethical action on Charlie’s part?

Provided in the explanation section

Explanation:

We will follow this question carefully with a well precise answer.

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Answer to First part:

Here as Charlie has not taken any one's permission even policy authority so using such keylogger tool is completely ethical violation on charlie's part. Because any decession that has taken by a company its not an issue until everyone agreed to it. Because without knowledge of such software the people will not  be aware and they may get trap and also there is not any written document regarding the acknowledgement so its completely wrong or illegal to blame someone based on result of such softwares. And second illegal thing is to copy some else's encryption key because the policy should be equal to all the people and it should not be used for personal gain.

Answer to second part:

No it is still not ethical action on Charle's part because the policy should be same for everyone and as Charlie is the one who installed this software so he should keep this secrate and not to misuse as its not a matter how Peter came to know his encryption key from Charlie but why should Charlie in first place copy the encryption key for peter and share the encryption code with Peter,its completely unethical.

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