Ethical, environmental and legal considerations questions and answers
Q1. Describe an example of an ethical issue raised by computer use.
A1. Issues related to employment e.g. the disappearance of low-skilled jobs abroad. One country’s laws may not be enforceable in another country, or may go against another country’s values. Using cheap labour in one country to produce goods that will be sold in another, which they could never afford themselves.
Q2. Describe some of the environmental issues related to the production of computer equipment.
A2. Use of toxic chemicals, fossil fuels and water in production (limited quantities in the world). Too many products not built to last so need to be replaced, which leads to issues with recycling. Can be hazardous to recycle, both to humans and in land fill sites because of toxic chemicals. Use of paper in printers – the dream of a paperless society never materialised.
Q3. State three of the principles of the Data Protection Act 1998.
A3. Any three from: Personal data shall be processed fairly and lawfully, Personal data shall be obtained only for one or more specified and lawful purposes, Personal data shall be adequate, relevant and not excessive, Personal data shall be accurate and, where necessary, kept up-to-date, Personal data ... shall not be kept for longer than is necessary, Personal data shall be processed in accordance with the rights of data subjects, Appropriate technical and organisational measures shall be taken against unauthorised or unlawful processing of personal data and against accidental loss, Personal data shall not be transferred to a country or territory outside the European Economic Area, unless that country or territory ensures an adequate level of protection.
Q4. Which law makes hacking illegal?
A4. The Computer Misuse Act 1990
Q5. What is meant by the word 'ethics'?
A5. Ethics is the term we give to the moral principles we follow, our values of what is right and wrong. Professional groups such as doctors, teachers, vets and so on all have professional bodies that agree a set of ethics for their members that they are expected to follow. So for example, a doctor cannot treat a close family member, a teacher is not allowed to have a relationship with a pupil and so on. As a society, we get our ethical values from places such religious organisations and our families.
Q6. Do some research on the Internet. Who owns the Internet?
A6. The Internet isn't owned by anyone, although that is a very simplified answer! You could say that it is owned by everyone as it is made up of many smaller systems. The building blocks of the Internet are organised and structured by various organisations but they don't actually have any control over who uses them and how they are used. It is an interesting question to Google!
Q7. Explain why it is impossible to prevent access to very violent videos on the Internet.
A7. Countries have different laws about what is acceptable and what isn't. One country cannot impose its values on another.
Q8. What is a 'call centre'?
A8. A call centre is a place which handles phone calls and live chat from the customers of large companies like water companies, telephone companies, ISPs and so on.
Q9. Why do some companies set up call centres in e.g. India or Malaysia rather than the UK?
A9. Cost! It's cheaper to employ people and set up an infrastructure in countries such as these than in the UK. The companies will argue they can provide a 'better' service by having them abroad. Lots of surveys are done about call centres abroad, with a range of interesting opinions!
Q10. How can the environmental damage caused by computers be reduced?
A10. Governments can encourage recycling, give tax breaks so computers are used longer, encourage upgrading rather than replacing equipment, encourage online rather than paper communication, discourage sending computer equipment to far away countries for recycling and so on.