Impacts of TechnologyKey Facts

Key Ethical Issues

Part of Ethical IssuesGCSE Computer Science

This key facts covers Key Ethical Issues within Ethical Issues for GCSE Computer Science. Revise Ethical Issues in Impacts of Technology for GCSE Computer Science with 15 exam-style questions and 12 flashcards. This topic appears regularly enough that it should still be part of a steady revision cycle. It is section 2 of 5 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.

Topic position

Section 2 of 5

Practice

15 questions

Recall

12 flashcards

Key Ethical Issues

1. Privacy

The right to control personal information. Concerns include social media tracking, facial recognition, and data selling.

  • Social media platforms tracking browsing habits
  • Facial recognition in public spaces
  • Companies selling user data to third parties
  • Location tracking through mobile devices

2. Surveillance

Monitoring people's activities raises questions about freedom vs security.

  • CCTV cameras in public spaces
  • Workplace monitoring of employees
  • Government surveillance programs
  • Smart home devices recording conversations

3. AI Decision Making

Algorithms making important decisions about people's lives.

  • Credit scores determined by AI
  • Job screening and hiring automation
  • Criminal sentencing recommendations
  • Insurance premiums based on data analysis

4. Digital Divide

The gap between those with and without technology access creates inequality.

  • Rural areas with poor broadband access
  • Developing countries lacking infrastructure
  • Elderly people struggling with digital services
  • Low-income groups unable to afford devices

5. Automation and Jobs

Machines replacing human workers raises questions about employment and economic fairness.

  • Self-checkout replacing cashiers
  • Autonomous vehicles threatening driver jobs
  • Chatbots replacing customer service roles
  • Factory automation reducing manufacturing jobs

6. Bias in AI

Algorithms reflecting societal prejudices from training data.

  • Facial recognition less accurate for certain ethnicities
  • Biased training data leading to discriminatory outcomes
  • Gender bias in job recommendation systems
  • Socioeconomic bias in credit scoring

Keep building this topic

Read this section alongside the surrounding pages in Ethical Issues. That gives you the full topic sequence instead of a single isolated revision point.

Practice Questions for Ethical Issues

Which of the following best describes an ethical issue in computing?

  • A. A technical bug in a program that causes it to crash
  • B. A question about whether a technology is used in a morally right or wrong way
  • C. Breaking a law by hacking into a computer system
  • D. The cost of purchasing new computer hardware
1 markfoundation

Explain what is meant by the digital divide and describe two ways it can affect people who do not have access to technology.

3 marksstandard

Quick Recall Flashcards

What does PADS-B stand for in ethical issues?
Privacy, Automation, Digital divide, Surveillance, Bias in AI
What is an ethical issue?
A question about what is morally right or wrong

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