Ethical, Enviromental, Legal Issues

Question 1

Name some laws around computers

Answer 1

-The Data Protection Act (1988)
- protection of personal
data
- The Computer Misuse Acts (1990)
- stops the illegal
activities involved with a
computer
- Copyright Act (1998)
- protecting creators
content

Question 2

Give some examples of ethical impacts of computers/technology

Answer 2

Privacy, ensuring public safety, digital divide, working conditions, cyber security, etc

Question 3

Why is privacy an ethical issue?

Answer 3

• terms and conditions are never read so unsure of where their data goes
• users need to trust their company for info to be secure

Question 4

Legal Issues

Answer 4

• Allowing someone to illegally share personal data
• help steal financial data
• help illegally copy / distribute films
• getting info by blackmailing

Question 5

What is hacking

Answer 5

Gaining access to a system by finding its weaknesses

Question 6

What is open source software

Answer 6

users allowed to download and modify source code

Question 7

What is cracking?

Answer 7

illegally modifying software to bypass features

Question 8

What is DRM

Answer 8

Digital rights management - helps prevent unauthorised use of software

Question 9

Ethical issues behind smart phones

Answer 9

• easier to keep in touch with people

- neglect face to face interaction

Question 10

Ethical issues behind wearable technology

Answer 10

• wireless headsets helps people stop using phones while driving
• fitness trackers promotes healthy lifestyle
• smart glasses invade privacy

Question 11

Environmental issues

Answer 11

-Any creation, use or disposal of technology.

Question 12

Creating devices

Answer 12

• Raw materials used to make devices
• Plastics come from crude oil and precious metals are mined and used.
• Extracting metals uses energy, creates pollution and depletes natural resources.

Question 13

Using devices

Answer 13

• Devices consume energy (electricity).
• Energy made using non-renewable resources.
• Extracting causes pollution.
• Devices waste energy so more has to be used up, depleting resources.

Question 14

How can we reduce energy use?

Answer 14

• Switching off devices overnight

- Using wired connections or disabling searches for wireless connections.

Question 15

Disposing devices

Answer 15

• Creates E-waste
• Modern tech has short life
• Manufacturers provide short warranties and advertise to convince people to upgrade devices.
• Can be cheaper to replace than repair.

Question 16

E-waste disposal

Answer 16

• Promotes reusing and recycling
• Waste sent to Africa and Asia where rules less strict.
• Here, waste is left in landfill where toxic chemicals pollute air and nearby water sources, etc (harms wildlife)

Question 17

What is the digital divide

Answer 17

a gap between people who are at a disadvantage to new technology

Question 18

What are packet sniffers?

Answer 18

help monitor data to search for illegal activities

- invades peoples privacy and data

Question 19

How is censorship an ethical issue?

Answer 19

• helps block out any inappropriate sites

- restricts peoples freedom