Make Good Choices: Digital Phronesis and the Canadian Women's Soccer Olympic Drone Scandal

When my daughter calls from university, she often shares stories of parties and beach trips. As a parent, I’m tempted to warn her about potential dangers, but knowing she would ignore those, I simply say, “Make good choices!”

Recently, I wished I could offer the same advice to the coaching staff of the Canadian women's soccer team at the Paris 2024 Olympics. They made a poor decision: using a drone to spy on another team's practice. This incident underscores the value of digital phronesis, as it illustrates a clear lack of digital literacy, digital leadership, and digital ethics.

Digital Literacy is the first pillar of digital phronesis. The coaches had access to advanced technology—drones—that can offer new perspectives but also pose serious ethical and legal issues. In this case, they used the drone to gain a competitive advantage by spying on a team ranked 28th in the world, while Canada is ranked 8th. Misusing technology, especially in a country like France with strict security concerns due to past terrorist attacks, was a glaring oversight. The coaches failed to grasp the broader implications of their actions, from legal consequences to ethical violations.

Digital Leadership involves guiding teams and organizations responsibly through the digital landscape. The coaching staff’s decision lacked this foresight. They not only jeopardized the team's reputation but also neglected the importance of setting a moral example. Good leaders understand that technology should be used ethically and responsibly, especially in high-stakes environments like international sports.

Digital Ethics is crucial for making well-informed decisions. The Canadian Soccer Federation's response, promising ethics training, is a step in the right direction. However, ethics training after an ethical violation and stand alone ethics training isn't enough. Leaders need practical wisdom—phronesis—to apply ethical principles in real-world situations. This includes understanding the broader consequences of their actions, not just in their immediate context but also considering the larger community. By providing education in the three pillars of digital phronesis, the coaches would have better chance to make good ethical decisions when faced with a dubious digital proposition like spy drones.

Most Canadians have an opinion on this incident, many seeing it as a blemish on Canada’s international reputation and a surprisingly naive move by the coaching staff to fly a drone in a high-risk security environment. As technology becomes increasingly accessible, the ethical use of such tools becomes more crucial, as the ramifications of poor choices can be significant. Leaders at all levels must cultivate a deeper understanding of digital tools' potential and pitfalls. They must also model responsible behavior, ensuring their actions align with ethical standards and societal norms.

The misstep by the Canadian women's soccer coaching staff serves as a reminder: making good choices in the digital landscape is critical. Developing digital literacy, leadership, and ethics is essential for improving decision-making in the modern era. Make good choices!