Overview
This topic explores how computing technologies influence ethics, law, culture, and the environment — including data privacy, intellectual property, digital divide, e-waste, and sustainability.
Detailed content
Ethical considerations
- Privacy: collection, consent, and surveillance concerns.
- Intellectual property: plagiarism, piracy, licensing.
- Digital divide: unequal access to devices/connectivity.
- Wellbeing: cyberbullying, screen time, mental health.
Legal issues (UK examples)
- Data Protection Act / UK GDPR: lawful processing of personal data.
- Computer Misuse Act: unauthorised access & modification offences.
- Copyright, Designs and Patents Act: protects creators’ rights.
- Freedom of Information Act: access to public-sector information.
Environmental considerations
- E-waste: responsible disposal/recycling (e.g., WEEE).
- Energy use: efficient hardware, data-centre cooling, renewables.
- Green computing: power management, virtualisation, cloud efficiency.
- Paperless workflows: digital docs, e-signatures, archiving.
Cultural impacts
- Globalisation: collaboration vs. cultural homogenisation.
- Social media: discourse, movements, misinformation.
- Online communities: identity, inclusion/exclusion.
- Digital literacy: access to skills and training.
Open source vs proprietary
- Open source: transparency, cost, community innovation.
- Proprietary: support, polish, integration, licensing cost.
- Implications: customisation, security model, TCO.
AI & automation
- Employment: displacement vs. new roles; reskilling.
- Fairness: bias, accountability, explainability.
- Safety & risk: misuse, robustness, governance.
Diagram
Figure: Impacts of technology on society and the environment.
Interactive card sort
Match each term to the correct description.
Extended exam-style questions (8 marks)
Q1: Evaluate the environmental impacts of increased technology usage, including e-waste and energy consumption. [8 marks]
Q2: Discuss how cultural and ethical issues surrounding social media can impact different communities globally. [8 marks]
Worked example: smartphones (PEEL)
Digital divide & accessibility
Point: Smartphones widen access but can deepen inequality.
Explain (pros): Access to learning, jobs, services; social inclusion.
Explain (cons): Cost/infrastructure lock people out; literacy gaps.
Link: Policies/devices/training reduce the divide → fair participation.
Mental health & social interaction
Point: Connectivity helps support networks but may harm wellbeing.
Explain (pros): Stay in touch, communities, support resources.
Explain (cons): Anxiety, cyberbullying, screen-time effects.
Link: Digital wellbeing and moderation mitigate risks.
Surveillance & privacy
Point: Data enables useful services but raises tracking concerns.
Explain (pros): Fraud detection, safety, personalisation.
Explain (cons): Profiling, misuse; need for strong data laws.
Link: Regulation + ethics ensure rights while keeping benefits.