Ethical Use of CC and BCC

The use of Cc and Bcc in emails facilitates fast inter-office or inter-group e-mailing of
important matters that are relevant to work or professional development. But
sometimes, these are abuse for different reasons and intentions.
Cc means “carbon copy” and is use when one wants to copy an email or message to
others publicly. Sometimes, it is understood to mean “courtesy copy,” which aptly
describes the purpose and intention of the person sending the email. You use Cc when
you want someone else to receive a copy of an email, but they are not one of the
primary recipients, and when you want the recipients of the message to know who else
have been sent the message.
Bcc, on the other hand, means “blind carbon copy” and is use when one wants to copy
messages or emails to others privately. While recipients of the Cc are visible to
everyone, Bcc is not – the recipient is not aware that the message was sent also to
others. But if someone requested that his or her email should not be made public or
known to others but need to receive the email, then you can put his or her name in the
Bcc to keep her personal email private.
The use of Cc and Bcc are governed by general ethical principles in communication. For
the use of Cc, the following principles must be kept in mind:
1. Privacy – when using Cc, make sure that the recipients are acquainted with each
other since you are revealing their email addresses to others. Also, before using
Cc, you may ask all members of your team or group if they agree that their emails
will be revealed to others. Besides, do not worry others of your personal issues
and problems. Respecting privacy is a moral mandate of human dignity.

2. Confidentiality - Do not Cc a message you want someone to received it only, or

else your motivation in using Cc will be questionable, especially if the message is
meant to be personal, a complaint against the person, a problem with individual
communication, or inquiry that can be asked personally. Remember, privacy is a
human right, and it must be respected all the time. You may be charged in court
for violation of privacy or penalized with disciplinary punishment for violation of
confidentiality. Do not Cc a supervisor about a complaint that can be settled
privately, it is unethical to do so. On the first place, why should you want your
supervisor or superiors know it also if not to tarnish the reputation of the other or
bring down someone. No good intention can ever justify a violation of
confidentiality, unless it is a matter of grave danger to security, life, or property.

For example, when you are asking a question about something you cannot
understand from an instruction or memo that was given by someone, do not Cc
others or your superiors. That can be asked or settled privately, and others do not
have the privilege or even business to know it. One cannot reason that you are
asking the question for the sake of others, on the first place, nobody asked you to
 ask it anyway, nor anyone appointed you to speak on their behalf. If others have
problems with the memo or instructions, them let them ask personally. Again, Cc
is meant only for corporate or group messages or information and not for
grandstanding or self-righteousness peddling.

3. Justice – it is unjust to put down someone or destroy someone else’s reputation

using Cc. before sending message via Cc, check your motivations and intentions.
You may be unjustly maligning someone for a position or fame, or for other
ulterior motives like privileged attention, personal recognition, etc. Justice
demands that you give what is due to a person and maligning someone else’s
reputation or subliminally doing so is unjust.

4. Subsidiarity – the subsidiarity principle demands that when problems arise, it

ought to be handled by the smallest, lowest or least centralized competent
authority first before involving the higher ups. Do not busy higher authorities with
petty things that can be settled in the department or personally. An issue
between two departments can be settled without involving the Vice President or
Supervisor. This is the key to good inter-office or inter-departmental good
relationship. Unless otherwise you want to grandstand or destroy someone from
the other department.

5. Beneficence and nonmaleficence – the first principle of ethics is do good and

avoid evil. The primary motivation for using Cc must always be the good. No
amount of good intention can ever justify a bad act, and no good can ever come
from evil intentions. We must always seek the good in our communication and
dealings with others.

6. Respect for persons- over and above the principles mentioned above is the
principle of respect for persons. This is basic requirement of the principles of
human dignity and personal integrity. Besides Cc is supposed to be done out of
courtesy to others.

Bcc, on the other hand, is more disturbing in intention and purpose. The fact that you
are sending a message meant for someone to another in secret makes the act suspicious
in terms of intention and motivation, except in situations of personal request for privacy
or email address. While the principles mentioned above also applies to Bcc, ethical
principles specific to Bcc are explained below:
1. Due process - If you’re having a problem with a fellow employee, or received a
complaint against someone, do not send them an email about it and Bcc the
human resources department, the Vice President, the Dean, the Supervisor, or
President. This is not due process, and it is unjust and disrespectful. It is a
qualified poisoning the well. Let the other know about the complaint first,
 institute a dialogue between the complainant and the person involved, then, if not
settled privately, then, following subsidiarity, the case proceeds to the immediate
head/supervisor, etc. Due process rest on the principles of respect for persons
and justice and prevents trial by publicity and unwarranted assumption of guilt.

2. Prudence – Prudence is a cardinal virtue that demands one to govern or himself by

the use of reason. In a more practical understanding, it is doing or saying the right
act or thing in the right place, in the right time or situation, right manner, right
means, and to the right person. Be prudent when using Bcc, use it only when
other recipients requested that their email address be kept confidential or private,
or when a higher authority requested that you inform him or her that you have
relayed a message that they want you to send to someone. It can also be used
when the matter is so sensitive that it may endanger lives, security, and property,
or the freedom of another. The use of Bcc is also ethical when communicating
results of investigation or inquiry. You do not use Bcc when your intention or
purpose is to inform others or your superiors that you are doing your job well by
informing them that you are correcting others or are fixing problems, etc. That is
grandstanding and selfish. Again, no amount of good act can make evil intentions
good. And when intentions are evil or bad, the whole action, no matter how good
the consequences are, is considered bad or evil.

3. Care and Concern – Corporate care and concern makes an institution familial and
humane. The inordinate use of Bcc destroys the climate of trust and confidence
within an institution and does not promote communal care and concern. Sending
a personal note or email secretly to someone else promotes a climate of suspicion
and animosity, scandal and hate.
While the use of Cc and Bcc is beneficial to an institution or a group, they must be used
prudently, caringly, and ethically or morally. Keep in mind these are electronic means of
communication, and even if you have erased them, they are kept in perpetuity
somewhere in the cloud, and anyone who has the wrong intentions and motives and
with the right means and skills can hack your electronic communications/mails and may
compromised someone without your knowledge.