Deontology and professional ethics
Deontology is the set of duties a security officer owes to the public, the client, and the profession. In Belgium the code of ethics for private security emphasises integrity, discretion (professional secrecy), impartiality, courtesy, and proportionality. A guard is a representative of the client but also a citizen with legal limits; the tension between those roles is the source of most ethical exam questions.
Key concepts to master: professional secrecy (you do not disclose client information, incidents, or personal data outside the need-to-know chain); conflict of interest (no using the position for personal gain, no accepting gifts that could influence decisions); non-discrimination (selection and treatment cannot be based on protected grounds); data protection (GDPR and the Camera Act: minimal data, defined purpose, retention limits); and the duty to intervene proportionately (do only what is necessary and reasonable).
Traps: questions that present a legal action that is still unethical (e.g., legally permitted camera placement pointed at a neighbour's garden) or an ethical duty that is also legal (e.g., refusing to share a visitor's data). Another trap is confusing discretion with secrecy from the police - you must cooperate with judicial authorities. Also, accepting a small gift is not automatically prohibited, but must be declared and must not create obligation.
Worked example: A celebrity visits the site; a colleague asks for a photo of the visitor log. The correct answer: refuse, explain professional secrecy and GDPR, offer to escalate to the data controller if there is a legitimate request. Rule of thumb: if you would not want it published, do not share it; if in doubt, escalate.
Finally, know reporting duties: incidents are logged factually, without opinion or speculation.