GCSE Computer Science/Impacts of Digital Technology on Society

Ethical Issues

Less real interaction
Wearable technology – less phones when driving, fitness trackers improve health, smart glasses are an invasion of privacy due to cameras
Implants – health monitoring, convenient, expensive, privacy issues
Digital divide – poor/rich, rural/urban, old/young – disadvantaged due to lack of access
Global divide – access in HICs has provided opportunities for development – increased inequality

Anonymity allows cyber bullying (intimidation and insults à distress and suicide) and trolling (comments to cause arguments and frustration)
Use of internet for banking and shopping means organisations store our personal data – responsibility of cyber security to prevent identity theft
Businesses providing Wi-Fi have responsibility to restrict sites to protect children

Streaming – Cheap and convenient for users but can be illegal if the service doesn’t own content and access lost at end of subscription or if sites closed
Apps such as ‘Uber’ have been successful on smart phones
These are cheap and convenient but traditional services are losing business. Risk due to less strict regulations on new types of services.
Partial access to cloud storage for free helps to reduce digital divide
Mobile games may exploit impulsive spending, children may accidentally spend money

They expect employees to apply for jobs online and have computer skills – some disadvantaged
Work phones can invade free-time as companies can always contact workers
Implants in workers can increase security and convenience but can be unethical
Adverts swamp social media – if blocked free services cannot be funded
Codes of conduct to show commitment to ethical use of technology

Personal information is no longer private – held by websites and social media encourages people to post these details
Users don’t read or are forced to accept privacy agreements
Companies can sell details and habits to advertising companies etc.
Privacy can be increased in settings
We must trust companies to keep data secure however data is often leaked

Surveillance – monitoring use of internet
Security services do this to act against terrorism
Internet service providers store our history
Censorship – control over what people can access (e.g. by governments)
China – No sites can be critical of government, no foreign sites; Cuba – government access points to web only
Restricted access to pornography and gambling sites to protect children
Controversial – some are for, many are against this as an invasion of liberty and privacy

Data must be used fairly for specified purpose. It shouldn’t be excessive but it must be accurate. It must remain in this country unless heavily protected. It should be secured and only kept for the necessary time. Rights must be observed.
Organisations must register what data they will collect with the government
They must have good cyber security – hard for small businesses – expensive
Cloud storage must be reliable – must understand where data is stored

Unauthorised access is illegal
Intention of using access for crime is illegal
Deleting and changing files; making, supplying and obtaining malware are all illegal

Illegal activity on computers – Hacking is exploiting security weaknesses to gain unauthorised access to access data or spread malware
Passive – monitoring data on a network; active – malware to attack a system; brute-force – automated software to crack passwords by trial and error; denial-of-service – floods a network with traffic to prevent use
Criminals have good computing knowledge so can easily avoid capture

Copyright act protects intellectual property (created) from being copied or stolen
Patents cover ideas, inventions and concepts (e.g. hardware)
Copyright doesn’t need to be applied for including code but not algorithms unless they are specific enough for a patent
Difficult to prove copying – coincidence if same problem, if source code is secret, it cannot be compared
Internet file sharing has made this harder – activation keys and online confirmation used (DRM)
Software with DRM is cracked to remove these unwanted features (illegally modified)
This software is distributed online
Cracking can also cause loss of income to a creator

Non-renewable fuels used, pollution and greenhouse gases released
Large servers require lots of air con and power; this air con also requires energy
Wasted energy – very little used by processor, they are left on often also
Virtual servers can reduce number of servers and energy used, switching off saves power, wired connections require less power as it is used searching for connection

20-50 million tonnes every year due to short life-times
Caused by short warranties and marketing of upgrades
WEEE has rules for disposal, encourages reuse and recycling
E-waste is dumped in Africa and Asia due to less regulation – hazard as toxic chemicals pollute groundwater and harm wildlife