Chapter 9 Ethical, Legal and Environmental Impact Of Digital Technology On Wider Society

Question 1

What is the legislation that states the rights of customers when shopping online?

Answer 1

Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013

Question 2

What are 5 features of Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013?

Answer 2

Online traders must provide customers with full descriptions of products being sold.

All costs must be made available, such as product prices and delivery and return charges.

A customer has the right to cancel an order, and be given a full refund, for physical products (up to 14 days from the date received).

Customers who purchase downloaded products containing digital content are not entitled to cancel their order.

Products sold online that include digital content must contain details on hardware and software compatibility.

Question 3

How is personal data stored?

Answer 3

Personal data is stored on a wide range of computers owned by different organisations.

Question 4

What is the act that controls how personal data can be used by organisations?

Answer 4

Data Protection Act 1998

Question 5

What are the 8 principles of the Data Protection Act 1998?

Answer 5

Personal data should be:

Processed fairly and lawfully with the consent of the data subject;

Be used only for the purpose specified;

Be adequate and relevant for its intended purpose;

Be accurate and up-to-date;

Not be kept for longer than necessary;

Be processed in accordance with the rights of the data subject;

Be held safely and securely;

Not be transferred outside the European Union without adequate protection.

Question 6

Who is the data subject in the Data Protection Act?

Answer 6

The individual who is the subject of the personal data.

Question 7

Who is the Information Commissioner in the Data Protection Act?

Answer 7

They’re responsible for enforcing the Act, promoting good practice by those responsible for processing personal data and making the general public aware of their rights under the Act.

Question 8

Who is the Data controller in the Data Protection Act?

Answer 8

The person within an organisation who is responsible for controlling the way in which personal data is processed.

Question 9

What is the law that protects the property rights individuals and organisations that create and produce material based on original ideas?

Answer 9

Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988

Question 10

What are the 4 principles of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988?

Answer 10

1. The Act states that its illegal to copy (or download) and distribute software without permission.
2. When an organisation purchases a software package to install on their network, they must also purchase a software license to cover the number of users (or computers) using the software.

An organisation distributing software without a proper license is breaking the law under this Act.

Software producers can subscribe to organisations such as FACT (Federation against Copyright Theft) to protect against illegal use of their software.

3. This legislation requires organisations to have policies ensuring employees are aware of the terms of the Act and the consequences of being in breach of it.
4. Organisations are responsible for monitoring which employees have access to licensed software.

Question 11

What is the act that is designed to protect users against computer misuse, including unauthorised access to computer systems?

Answer 11

Computer Misuse Act 1990

Question 12

What are the 2 principles of the Computer Misuse Act 1990?

Answer 12

1. The Act states that its illegal to hack computers to plant viruses or install malicious software such as spyware.
2. It further states that its illegal to gain unauthorised access to change passwords and computer settings (to prevent users from accessing their accounts), or modify software and data stored on a computer system.

Question 13

What is the description of the computer misuse?

Usernames and passwords hacked and stolen:

Answer 13

Used illegally to make online transactions, e.g. purchasing goods and stealing money from bank accounts.

Question 14

What is the description of the computer misuse?

Software piracy.

Answer 14

Users illegally download copyrighted materials from the Internet.

Question 15

What is the description of the computer misuse?

Phishing.

Answer 15

Hackers use official-looking online adverts or emails to trick users into providing personal details.

Question 16

What is the description of the computer misuse?

Using websites to promote violence and negative behaviour in society.

Answer 16

Using images and videos to encourage young people to participate in anti-social behaviour.

Question 17

What is the description of the computer misuse?

Plagiarism.

Answer 17

Pupils copy and paste materials for coursework assignments and sign it off as their own work.

Question 18

What is the description of the computer misuse?

Misuse of the Internet in the workplace.

Answer 18

Employees spend too much time using the Internet for personal use, e.g. booking holidays, resulting in the creation of ‘acceptable use of the Internet’ policies that employees must agree to in their employment terms and conditions.

Question 19

What is the description of the computer misuse?

Sharing of personal data between companies without prior permission.

Answer 19

Personal data is then open to misuse.

Question 20

What are 4 examples of how personal data can be often collected and analysed without us being fully aware of it.

Answer 20

Loyalty cards used by supermarkets allow organisations to collect data about our shopping habits. This data can be used to inform their marketing and advertising departments.
Mobile phones can transmit our geographical location at any point and time so users’ movements can be monitored when making or receiving phone calls.

CCTV cameras monitor our activity in cities and shopping centres.

By analysing credit or debit card transactions, customer information on shopping patterns can be sold on to 3rd parties to target direct advertising or promote special offers.

Question 21

What is social networking?

Answer 21

Social networking involves subscribing to websites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and so on to connect with others to share photos, videos and personal messages. Some individuals misuse these platforms.

People may search for profile pages to gain access to personal information such as addresses or phone numbers.

Some users communicate racial and religious hatred (even though social networking sites discourage this in their terms and conditions).

Criminals can create an account with the intention of stealing someone’s identity to commit a crime.

Question 22

What does GPS stand for?

Answer 22

Global Positioning System

Question 23

What are 3 moral and ethical issues GPS can raise?

Answer 23

When a user makes a mobile call or is driving a car with a GPS system, data about their location can be tracked. If this is done without consent it is an infringement on an individual’s right to privacy.

When tracking individuals who need to be monitored through an electronic tracking device, e.g. offenders who are on ‘home arrest’ or vulnerable patients such as dementia sufferers, this can be a positive use of GPS.

Tracking of buses, taxis and company vans by organisations can be positive for customers as they are aware of arrival and departure times, but also track employee activity.