Impacts of Digital Technology on Wider Society (AQA GCSE Computer Science)

Privacy Issues in Computing

What is a privacy issue?

• A privacy issue is an issue that comes from collecting, accessing or using personal information without consent or control

• Who controls the data and how it is used raises crucial questions as technology becomes a bigger part of everyday life

The argument

Examples of privacy issues in computing

Face recognition

• The increase in cameras and advances in technology means facial recognition is possible, whilst this can mean an advantage in crime prevention/detection, people are concerned about privacy.

• Privacy concerns include, what else is being watched? and who is watching?

GPS

• GPS is built in to most smart phones and brings with it a number of features that many see as a benefit, 'find my phone' for when it gets lost/stolen, location tagging in photos and for navigation software.

• Some users are concerned with where this data is kept? ,who might have access to it? and is it being used for any other purposes?

Internet monitoring

• Most schools and businesses use monitoring software to track their students' and employees' internet activity

• Social media companies also employ similar tools to detect and remove illegal or harmful content like hate speech, misinformation, or violent threats

• Arguments for, these measures promote responsible online behaviour and prevent cyberbullying

• Arguments against, concerns about limitations to free speech, potential abuse by authorities who control the monitoring systems, and biased algorithms leading to censorship

Legal & Ethical Issues in Computing

What is a legal issue?

• A legal issue is a problem or dispute concerning the interpretation, application, or violation of laws

• Examples of legal issues in computing are:

  • Copyright - The use of other people's content without permission

  • Cybersecurity - Protecting against hacking, data breaches and all other cybercrimes

  • Data protection - Responsible collection, storing and use of personal information

• These issues are covered in more detail here 'Legislation in Computer Science'

What is an ethical issue?

• An ethical issue is a situation that raises questions about what is right and wrong

• As technology advances and laws are slow to keep up, ethical issues are more prevalent

• Ethical issues call in a person's own morals and values as there is often a lack of an easy answer and decisions can have consequences for yourself and others

Examples of ethical issues in computing

Digital divide

• The increasing reliance on computers increases the digital divide, creating inequality between those who have access to technology and those who do not

• This can hinder opportunities for education, employment, and economic advancement for disadvantaged groups

Algorithmic bias

• Using algorithms in decision-making can unintentionally promote unfair biases, leading to discriminatory outcomes in areas such as:

  • Job seekers - Factors unrelated to qualifications such as postcode or social media activity

  • Loans - Denying lending to minority groups 

  • Criminal justice - Racial profiling, harsher sentences for certain groups

Intellectual property

• The ease of digital copying and distribution raises ethical questions about protecting intellectual property rights and fair compensation for creators

• Digital piracy can lead to significant revenue loss for creators. When consumers access pirated content instead of purchasing it legally, creators are deprived of the revenues they deserve

Automation

• The automation of tasks through computers raises ethical concerns about job losses and the potential loss of livelihood for workers

Environmental Issues in Computing

What is an environmental issue?

• An environmental issue is an issue caused by manufacturing and use of computers that has a negative impact on the environment

• As technology becomes a bigger part of everyday life, the number of devices being manufactured increases

Examples of environmental issues in computing

Natural resources

• A great amount of natural resources (metals/plastic) are used during the manufacturing and distribution of components

Energy consumption

• An increase in demand for 24/7 access to resources such as web servers and data centres means an increase in the energy needed to maintain them

Throw-away society

• As consumption of technology increases and competition in the market expands, the rapid disposal of devices becomes a problem

• Pollution caused by the production, distribution and disposal of technology gets higher

• The volume of waste in landfill causes environmental contamination

Impacts & Risks of Digital Technology on Society

• Exam questions will be taken from the following areas:

  • Cyber security

  • Mobile technologies: mobile phones, tablets, laptops etc.

  • Wireless networking

  • Cloud storage

  • Hacking: gaining unauthorised access to a network/service/device etc.

  • Wearable technologies: smart watches, fitness trackers etc.

  • Computer based implants: pacemakers, cochlear implants etc.

  • Autonomous vehicles: self-driving cars

• It is important when structuring a response to consider key stakeholders (not all are applicable to every question):

  • Customers

  • Staff

  • Shareholders

  • Community

• and consider the impacts on key stakeholders such as:

  • profits

  • productivity

  • job loss

  • reduced overheads

  • reduced personal service

  • 24/7 access

Example - Wearable technologies