Ethical, legal and environmental impacts of computing
Technology changes how people live and work, and the law tries to keep up. Questions here are usually extended answers about a scenario, so you need the laws by name and a range of points on both sides.
Part 1 of 3: Learn it
In short
- The Data Protection Act 2018 controls how personal data is collected, stored and used.
- The Computer Misuse Act 1990 makes unauthorised access to computers a crime.
- Open source software can be viewed and changed; proprietary software cannot.
Where this is in your specification
Spec points: AQA 3.8, OCR 1.6.1, Edexcel Topic 5
| Board | Topic: Ethical, legal and environmental impacts |
|---|---|
| AQA 8525 | 3.8 |
| Edexcel 1CP2 | Topic 5 (including 5.2.2 and 5.2.3) |
| OCR J277 | 1.6.1 |
| Eduqas C500 | 11 Impacts of digital technology on wider society |
| Cambridge IGCSE 0478 | 6 Automated and emerging technologies |
| National 5 C816 75 | Computer systems: environmental impact; Database design and development: legal implications |
The laws
| Law | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Data Protection Act 2018 (with UK GDPR) | personal data must be used fairly and lawfully, for a stated purpose, kept accurate, secure and no longer than needed; people can see the data held about them |
| Computer Misuse Act 1990 | three offences: unauthorised access to computer material; unauthorised access with intent to commit a further crime; unauthorised modification of data or programs |
| Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 | protects creative work, including software, music and images, from being copied or shared without permission |
Software licences
- Open source: the source code is available to view and modify, often free, supported by a community.
- Proprietary: the source code is kept secret, usually paid for, with official support and updates.
Ethical and cultural issues
- Privacy: tracking, data collection and surveillance.
- The digital divide: people without devices, skills or a good connection miss out on services and opportunities.
- Jobs: automation replaces some jobs and creates others.
- Bias: decisions made by algorithms can be unfair if the data they learn from is biased.
- Online behaviour: cyberbullying, misinformation and the effects of social media.
Environmental issues
Making devices uses energy and scarce metals; running data centres uses large amounts of electricity; and e-waste is often shipped abroad and dumped. On the other side, technology can cut travel through video calls, and smart systems can reduce energy use in buildings.
Which law makes it illegal to copy and share software without permission?
Show the answer
The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act (1988) protects it.
Part 2 of 3: See it worked
Worked examples
Example 1
A student guesses a teacher's password, logs in and changes their own grades. Which law has been broken, and which offences?
- Logging in without permission: unauthorised access
- Changing the grades: unauthorised modification of data
- Both are offences under the Computer Misuse Act 1990
Answer: The Computer Misuse Act 1990: unauthorised access and unauthorised modification of data.
Example 2
A shop keeps customers' addresses for marketing for ten years after their last purchase, on an unencrypted laptop. Explain two ways this may break the Data Protection Act.
- Data should be kept no longer than necessary for its purpose
- Data must be kept secure, and an unencrypted laptop is easily lost or stolen
Answer: Keeping the data for longer than needed, and not keeping it secure.
Common mistakes
- Naming the wrong law, such as the Data Protection Act for hacking.
- Writing one-sided answers to discussion questions.
- Saying open source means the software has no copyright. It is still licensed.
- Listing points without linking them to the scenario in the question.
Give one advantage of open source software.
Show the answer
Any one of: usually free, can be changed to suit your needs, many people can check and improve the code.
Part 3 of 3: Test yourself
Check yourself
Answer each one in your head or on paper first, then open it to check.
Which law makes it illegal to copy and share software without permission?
The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act (1988) protects it.
Give one advantage of open source software.
Any one of: usually free, can be changed to suit your needs, many people can check and improve the code.
What is the digital divide?
The gap between people who have access to technology and the skills to use it, and people who do not.
Jobs that use this
- Solicitor (se abre en otra pestaña)
- IT security co-ordinator (se abre en otra pestaña)
- Systems analyst (se abre en otra pestaña)
Each link opens the job profile on the National Careers Service (England). In the rest of the UK: My World of Work (Scotland), Careers Wales, nidirect careers (Northern Ireland).
Estos apuntes están en inglés porque siguen los programas de examen del Reino Unido.
Full lessons and marked practice for this course are coming soon to Brainlag Learn. See courses