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Quiz Entry - updated: 2026.10.15

How do deontology and utilitarianism approach the question of surveillance differently?

Deontology (duty ethics) focuses on human rights, dignity and autonomy and asks "Is this permissible at all?" Utilitarianism focuses on security, benefit and harm reduction and asks "Does it lead to better outcomes?"

Deontology (Pflichtethik) Utilitarianism (Nutzethik)
Focus (Human) rights, dignity, autonomy Security, benefit, minimising harm
Key question May we do this at all? Does it lead to better results?
On a camera at a station Filming innocent people treats them as suspects and infringes their privacy, whatever it achieves Justified if the prevented crimes outweigh the loss of privacy

Surveillance debates are usually a clash between these two lenses. Supporters count crimes prevented and solved. Critics point to rights that may not be traded away for a better total, however large the benefit.

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From Quiz: ETHIK / Surveillance in Public Space: Ethics and Law | Updated: Oct 15, 2026