"We know that how we present data often can affect the audience’s conclusions about the data. In a recent article from Travel Weekly on the Department of Transportation’s on-time stats for airline arrivals, the argument is made that the airline industry pads its own statistics in order reap cost benefits, which may or may not be passed on to consumers. Is the reporting difference an ethical breach of confidence between the consumer and the industry?"

The reporting difference is not an ethical breach of confidence between the consumer and the industry.

Explanation:

The information being presented is not confidential information.  As a result, there is no ethical breach of confidence.  Usually, such a lawsuit for breach of confidence is an action originating in common law concerning information between the airline and the consumers, when one of these parties decides to use the available confidential information for an unfair gain or advantage.  This is not the case here between the airlines and the consumers of its services.  Therefore, the case for breach of confidence should deal with the restriction of the dissemination of commercially viable information.

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