152-ethical-moral-and-cultural-issues

Question 1

Ethics and Morals of Digital Technology

Answer 1

Ethics and morals relate to community values and the impact of decisions on different groups in society.
As computers become more integrated into daily life, it’s crucial to consider the ethical, environmental, social, cultural, and moral implications of these changes.
Ethical issues of digital technology on wider society include:
Ill health, distractions, addiction
Digital divide
Social divide
Confidential data
Social pressure to buy and upgrade
High cost
Storing and accessing personal information
Rules and terms for joining
Consequences for misconduct, such as cyberbullying and plagiarism
Communication of inappropriate materials for students, school, and teachers
Backing up data for preservation
Gaining parental consent for online communication
E-safety
Acceptable use policy
Job loss and replacement
Ethics of algorithmic decision-making that could affect people’s lives
Censorship and propaganda

Question 2

Computers in the workplace

Answer 2

Automation in the form of robotics has almost completely removed the need for human workers

Question 3

Advantages of computers in the workforce

Answer 3

Machines can work faster, longer, and more accurately and reliably
Computing technology is increasingly allowing more lower skilled jobs to be automated
The skill sets required in a variety of sectors have shifted to hiring fewer, highly skilled technicians to run, support, monitor, and maintain robotic systems
Completing the same job more quickly
Reducing the need for humans to do repetitive tasks
Saving salary costs
Leading to innovative working practices and improved collaboration
Improving efficiency, productivity, and confidence
Lowering labour and wage costs and reducing strain on workers
Having potential to save lives
Providing more knowledge
Creating opportunities for online businesses
Ensuring greater security since fewer people view the data
Creation of new job roles
Computers can complete tasks more quickly than humans, increasing efficiency.
Repetitive and tedious tasks can be automated, allowing humans to focus on more interesting work.
Businesses can save money on salaries by using technology.
Innovative working practices and improved collaboration can be achieved through technology.
Improved productivity and knowledge can be gained from using computers.
Online businesses can offer opportunities for people.
With the Internet becoming accessible to almost everyone, there has also been a rise in the services being offered exclusively online.
reduced costs of renting a physcial place

Question 4

Disadvantages of computers in the workforce

Answer 4

Automation in the form of robotics has almost completely removed the need for human workers
Costing money to invest in computer systems
Causing people to lose their jobs - unemployment
Inability to improvise or think on their feet
Inability to program years of human experience
Job losses due to branch closures
Changes in work practices
Changes in required skill sets
Computerisation has contributed to high levels of structural unemployment, especially in middle-income manufacturing jobs.
A significant shift towards low-income service jobs has occurred due to computerisation.
A dependence on computers in the workplace can lead to a major loss of output if something goes wrong.
Investing in computer systems can be expensive.
People can lose their jobs due to automation.
Computers cannot improvise or think on their feet, and programming years of human experience is currently not possible.

Question 5

Computers in the workplace (online banking example)

Answer 5

Impact on customers: 24/7 access to banking services, instant decisions, less personal service, susceptible to hacking
Impact on bank staff: job losses due to branch closures, creation of new job roles, changes in work practices, changes in required skill sets
Impact on banks: fewer overheads, targeted marketing, data protection responsibilities
Impact on local communities: small businesses may see less revenue, elderly and vulnerable customers value local services

Question 6

Automated decision making

Answer 6

Computers are being used to make decisions that were previously left to humans.

Question 7

Pros of automated decision making

Answer 7

Decisions can be made instantly.
A computer can be trusted to follow a set of rules to the letter.
Computers are unaffected by emotion.
Computers don’t get tired or have bad days.
Algorithms have improved productivity and made certain processes more convenient.
Automated decision making in driverless cars has the potential to save lives.

Question 8

Issues with automated decision making

Answer 8

Ethical issues in healthcare where automated systems can recommend treatment, but technology should only augment or support qualified professionals’ decision-making.

Question 9

Examples of automated decision making

Answer 9

Stock market transactions carried out automatically via automatic trading.
Real-time price comparison sites often entirely automated.
Vineyards using remote sensors to track moisture, rainfall, and soil conditions to decide optimal harvest times.

Question 10

Artificial intelligence (AI)

Answer 10

Describes any machine programmed to think, behave, work and react like a human.
Two categories: Applied/weak/narrowed AI and Generalised AI.
Designed to manage a specific task.
Most common form of AI.
E.g., image recognition.
Can evolve and improve to handle other tasks.
Emerging and developing area of AI.
Closely linked to machine learning.

Question 11

Robotics:

Answer 11

A machine that carries out work by itself by following a set of programmed rules.
Dumb robot: Simplify repeats the same task over and over - no AI involved.
Smart robot: Trained to learn, adapt and carry out progressively more complex tasks.

Question 12

AI uses

Answer 12

recruitment: Put possible candidates through an automated set of tests designed to assess their personality, intelligence and risk tolerance.
Those who pass are then invited to an interview with a human recruiter.
Claim that software fairly and accurately measures cognitive and emotional attributes in a quick time.
Ethical to judge people based on an entirely computer-controlled process?
Self-driving cars - The AI algorithm behind self-driving cars will massively reduce the number of road traffic-related deaths.
The AI algorithms behind self-driving cars will cause unavoidable deaths.
Adapting revision content based on a student’s prior success and failures.
Predicting when to make stock market trades.
Suggesting products a user might want to purchase.
Alerting an operator about fixes and errors in manufacturing.

Question 13

AI cons

Answer 13

Leading figures believe that the threat of computers “taking over” is very real indeed.
Automated decision making is used to determine what users should be displayed on their social media feeds.
Algorithms can be used to make decisions that have life-changing consequences.
Relying entirely on these algorithms could result in people being treated unfairly.
Algorithmic decision-making in driverless cars raises ethical questions about how to decide who should be harmed if a scenario arises.
Algorithmic Bias:
Designing an algorithm to prioritize certain outputs or favor one group of users over another, which can lead to unfair treatment
Accountability.
Legal liability.
Safety.
Algorithmic bias.
Safety:

How can we ensure safety with the implementation of an algorithm that can choose, learn and adapt?
What rules should be programmed to make sure it does no harm, and what it should do when harm is unavoidable?
Accountability:

The choices the AI makes will have consequences.
Who should be held accountable for the actions carried out by a smart AI algorithm?
Legal liability:

In the case of loss of life/injuries, who should be held legally responsible - the person who purchased the car, the programmer, the manufacturer, or the government?

Question 14

Machine learning:

Answer 14

The ability to learn without being explicitly programmed.
Subset of AI and one way to achieve artificial intelligence.
Achieved by feeding it data, information and scenarios so it can learn over time.

Question 15

expert systems (AI)

Answer 15

Expert systems, also known as knowledge-based systems, replicate the knowledge and experience an expert in a particular subject would have. They are made up of a knowledge base which consists of a set of facts and rules. This is interrogated to find diagnoses.

Question 16

neural networks

Answer 16

One of the most common uses of AI is neural networks which ‘learn’ from a set of data that they are given. This knowledge can be applied to new data sets and is used in pattern detection and picking up on financial fraud

Question 17

Environmental effects of computing technologies:

Answer 17

Manufacturing computing technologies demand natural finite resources
Disposal of computing technologies exposes poor people to dangerous chemicals
Energy consumption of computing technology contributes to global warming - especially in storing data online in huge cloud data centres
Natural resource management, energy consumption and technology disposal are environmental concerns

Question 18

What are the pros of the environmental effects of computers?

Answer 18

Digital documents save paper
Emailing is more environmentally friendly than using the post
Speeding up industrial processes with computer automation can help reduce waste
Digital items require less plastic, paper, raw materials, and packaging

Question 19

What are the cons of the environmental effects of computers?

Answer 19

Computers go obsolete quickly and old components are often left to landfill
Computers need electricity and making electricity causes pollution
Computers contain many noxious chemical components
Modern phones are poorly designed for durability and not upgradable/replaceable
Toxic waste released into land, ground water, air, contaminating it
Waste of resources
Precious metals in phones
Excessive landfill
E-waste is often shipped to third world countries with lower environmental standards

Question 20

What are the environmental-friendly technologies?

Answer 20

Smart home systems which use temperature sensors and motion sensors
Personal computers and laptops with ‘Sleep’ and ‘Stand-by’ features.

Question 21

censorship and the internet

Answer 21

Different countries have different levels of internet censorship, and censorship is the act of suppressing the content that people are able to view, publish, and access on the internet.

Question 22

Censorship and the internet  pros

Answer 22

Censoring indecent content is seen as common sense, especially for issues like drugs, guns, and child pornography.
Workplace censorship can help maintain high productivity and prevent distractions.
ISPs in the UK block websites associated with terrorism and extremist political beliefs.
Many people believe that some censorship is necessary for national security and to filter offensive comments and extremist propaganda.

Question 23

Censorship and the internet  cons

Answer 23

Some people believe that freedom of the internet should be absolute.
Some governments use restricted internet access to control their populations.
Censorship can be used to block out other political opinions in some countries.
There is concern that censorship may be misused to promote a certain ideology that some consider unethical.
Many people believe in the concept of a “Free Internet” with no filtering.

Question 24

Censorship in Schools and Businesses

Answer 24

Schools and businesses use filtering software to censor or restrict access to inappropriate content during school or work hours.
Schools have a legal and moral obligation to safeguard students by blocking access to inappropriate material.
Some schools and businesses also block access to social media and video streaming services as they can be considered distracting.
Blocking sites can prevent access to educational materials.
Employers have the right to monitor staff productivity, but policies on social media use during work hours are debatable.
The question of whether employers should monitor staff’s social media use during breaks or personal emails sent via company systems is open to debate.

Question 25

Censorship on a national level

Answer 25

Governments require ISPs to block access to certain websites, such as extremist politics, extreme pornography, copyright infringement, and file sharing.
In extreme cases, such as North Korea, governments control internet access tightly to prevent access to materials that contradict the social message of the ruling administration.
The line between protecting the public and infringing on their freedom of speech and human rights is debatable.

Question 26

monitoring behavior

Answer 26

Computers are used to monitor people’s behavior in different settings.
Employers use computer technology to track the productivity of workers.
Tracking includes monitoring websites and applications used by employees and the time spent on them.
The purpose of monitoring behavior is to increase productivity and efficiency.

Question 27

Pros of monitoring behavior

Answer 27

Monitoring behavior helps bosses to ensure workers are always working.
Surveillance systems, such as CCTV cameras and ankle monitors, help to detect crime and punish criminal activity.
Some people believe monitoring behavior is a necessary measure to deter criminal activity.

Question 28

Cons of monitoring behavior

Answer 28

Monitoring behavior adds stress to workers who feel constantly under pressure.
A “surveillance society” may emerge where privacy no longer exists.
Some people argue that monitoring behavior contravenes basic human rights.

Question 29

Technologies used to track and monitor behavior

Answer 29

Deliberately chosen by the user (e.g., wearable devices like smartwatches and fitness trackers).
Passive monitoring (e.g., CCTV cameras, speed cameras).
Forced tracking (e.g., GPS tagging criminals, internal monitoring systems that log employees’ online activities).

Question 30

Profiling

Answer 30

Profiling is the gathering of information about an individual or group of individuals to place them into a certain category or make predictions or assessments about their behavior.
People have the right to object to profiling, including profiling used for direct marketing purposes.
Companies must inform individuals of their right to object at the point of first communication, as outlined in their privacy notice.

Question 31

Analyse personal information

Answer 31

Personal information can be analysed using computers.
Data can reveal key insights about people and their behaviours.
Big data refers to large amounts of data from multiple sources.
Data mining can identify previously unknown connections between two variables.
Companies are becoming more aware of the value of data.

Question 32

Analyse personal information pros

Answer 32

Your online habits can be analysed to provide you with useful recommendations and offers.

Question 33

Analyse personal information cons

Answer 33

Analysing personal information can lead to spamming by adverts.
Personal information falling into the wrong hands can lead to fraud.
Insights from personal information may reveal sensitive information that could work against certain individuals.
Ethical questions arise on whether companies have a responsibility to feed back certain trends and information to users.
Large firms are under pressure to be more transparent about the data they collect.
The Data Protection Act of 1998 is no longer sufficient for protecting public welfare, leading to the implementation of GDPR in May 2018.

Question 34

data mining

Answer 34

Computer technology collects vast amounts of personal information about the general public every day.
Data collected includes social media interactions, online chats, gaming patterns, travel plans, internet search history, website journeys, shopping habits, and banking transactions.
Big data refers to extremely large datasets that can be analysed computationally to reveal patterns, trends, and associations in human behaviour and interactions.
Data mining is the process of analysing large datasets to find anomalies, patterns, correlations and predict outcomes.
Data mining is related to the collection and analysis of big data.

Question 35

data mining

Answer 35

Computer technology collects vast amounts of personal information about the general public every day.
Data collected includes social media interactions, online chats, gaming patterns, travel plans, internet search history, website journeys, shopping habits, and banking transactions.
Big data refers to extremely large datasets that can be analysed computationally to reveal patterns, trends, and associations in human behaviour and interactions.
Data mining is the process of analysing large datasets to find anomalies, patterns, correlations and predict outcomes.
Data mining is related to the collection and analysis of big data.

Question 36

Advantages of Data Mining:

Answer 36

Ability to quickly and automatically analyse large datasets and discover hidden connections.
Predict future trends and make advances in fields such as medicine, science and technology.
Discoveries made through data mining may not have been possible using manual analysis techniques.

Question 37

Disadvantages of Data Mining:

Answer 37

Moral and ethical concerns around the collection and processing of personal information.
Issues with privacy, ownership, consent, misuse, and data protection arise when personal data is collected and used.
Concerns around who has access to personal information and how it is controlled.
Uncertainty around ownership of personal data and the right to erasure.
Questions around how personal data is collected, whether through positive consent or without the knowledge of the user.
The risk of misuse of personal data by hackers and phishing scams, and the need for adequate data protection laws to safeguard user rights.

Question 38

Piracy

Answer 38

Piracy takes money away from the industries which produce the content
Piracy is the unauthorised copying of content, such as software or media
It is a form of theft and is illegal
The Internet has made it easier than ever before to source these types of content online
We benefit from digital content, without money, these industries would cease to exist
People should be compensated for the content they create
In an interconnected world, it is difficult to formulate a global set of standard rules and enforcement mechanisms
Copyright design and patents act and computer misuse act, copyright, trademarks, patents, licensing

Question 39

Offensive Communications

Answer 39

Cyberbullying can negatively affect all concerned
Offensive communication refers to any sort of online harassment, including cyber-bullying or stalking
Online is a platform for self-expression
The ability to remain anonymous online allows people to say things or voice opinions they would never in the real world
Social media platforms, chat rooms and online forums can quickly become a hotbed of hate speech and propaganda
Internet trolls are a person who actively sparks or fuels arguments online by posting abusive content or comments
Freedom of speech in Offensive communications
The right to hold our own opinions and express them freely without government interference
The law protects our freedom to receive information from other people e.g reading a magazine and being part of an audience
Although we have freedom of expression, we also have a duty to behave responsibly and respect other people’s rights
Public authorities may restrict this right if they can show their action is lawful, necessary and proportionate
Restrict freedom of speech to protect national security/public safety, prevent disorder or crime, protect health or morals, protect rights and reputation of other people, prevent disclosure of information received in confidence, maintain the authority and impartiality of judges

Question 40

Cultural Implications in Technology and Society

Answer 40

Culture reflects a country’s identity and social message
UK cultural values include fairness, free expression, rule of law, democratic processes, press freedom, and right to protest
Technology must consider diverse cultural values of different countries
Software may be associated with moral and cultural values
Social media upholds western principles of free speech, expression, and protest
Cultural issues in digital tech include desire/need to own newest devices, job demands in tech fields, exclusively online services, high dependence on technology, and communication online versus in real life.

Question 41

Layout

Answer 41

Different cultures have different layout expectations, such as reading from right to left and from bottom to top.
Web developers must consider who will be viewing the website and design it to accommodate for all users, in accordance with the Equality Act introduced in 2010.
Websites should be easy to navigate and menus should be displayed on the appropriate side depending on how the language is read.
Websites must be accessible to people with visual and hearing impairments, such as by providing alternative text for images and transcripts of audio files.
The software interface’s layout and the internet and software used have global audiences, which have cultural implications.
Key items like logos, menus, and buttons may need to be repositioned for other audiences to make the viewing experience more natural.

Question 42

colour paradigms

Answer 42

Different cultures have different interpretations of colour
Web developers must consider the meaning of colours when designing websites for a global audience
Using colour to convey meaning can be problematic for users with colour vision deficiency
Developers should choose a colour palette that is accessible to all users with sufficient contrast
Anywhere that colour is used to convey meaning, it should also be conveyed in another way, such as through text or icons
Applications and websites should offer alternative high contrast colour schemes for users with dyslexia or limited vision

Question 43

Privacy issues of digital tech on wider society

Answer 43

Tracking of IPs/devices
Social media
Unwanted images and videos of people may be out online
Risk of threats e.g phishing/pharming/virus
-stealing/copying/transmission of private data
-not all countries subjected to same privacy laws, data could be stored somewhere there

Question 44

Character sets implications

Answer 44

Different cultures have different expectations of character and use different alphabets.
Websites need to be accessible to a wide audience, so content must be translated into multiple languages.
Unicode is the preferred character set as it can represent over a million characters.
Character sets have cultural implications and considerations should be taken when choosing a character set for a specific audience.
Data representation can affect accessibility for different groups, and the ability to express oneself in one’s own language is an important aspect of inclusivity in the digital world.