Abstract:

This paper examines the ways in which firms use the internet and its contents to conduct competitive intelligence. Due to the increased access to competitive data and the elimination of geographic boundaries, the internet raises new concerns about corporate privacy and corporate espionage. To investigate these issues, the competitive intelligence process, the internet as a research tool, and laws on privacy in Europe and North America are reviewed to understand the benefits and challenges of conducting competitive intelligence in a global context. Guidelines for evaluating the ethical status of internet competitive intelligence practices and protecting corporate secrets in a digital world are proposed.