Ethical, Legal, Cultural and Environmental Impacts

1 State the name of the legislation that protects the personal data an organisation holds about individuals. 1

One mark for each of the following, to a maximum of 1.

• Data Protection Act 2018

Model answer. The Data Protection Act 2018, which brings the General Data Protection Regulation into UK law.

2 Describe two offences created by the Computer Misuse Act 1990. 4

One mark for each of the following, to a maximum of 4.

• Unauthorised access to computer material
• Example or explanation of unauthorised access, such as using someone else's password
• Unauthorised modification of computer material
• Unauthorised access with intent to commit a further offence such as fraud

Model answer. The first offence is unauthorised access to computer material, which means gaining access to a computer system or the data on it without permission, for example by guessing or stealing another person's password in order to read their files. This is an offence even if nothing is altered or taken. The second offence is unauthorised modification of computer material, which covers changing or deleting data without permission, including deliberately spreading a virus or ransomware that alters files. The Act also creates the more serious offence of unauthorised access with intent to commit a further offence, such as breaking into a system in order to commit fraud.

3 Explain two advantages of using open source software rather than proprietary software. 4

One mark for each of the following, to a maximum of 4.

• It is usually free of charge, reducing costs
• The source code can be viewed and modified to suit specific needs
• A community of developers can fix bugs and add features
• There is no dependence on a single vendor continuing to support the software

Model answer. The first advantage is cost. Open source software is normally free to download and use with no per machine licence fee, which for an organisation deploying software to hundreds of computers represents a very large saving compared with proprietary licences that must be bought and often renewed annually. The second advantage is that the source code is made available, so the software can be examined and modified. This means an organisation can adapt the program to its own specific requirements rather than working around limitations, and a global community of developers can inspect the code, identify security weaknesses and contribute fixes and new features, often far more quickly than a single company could.

4 A local council is planning to move all of its services online, so that residents must use a website to report problems, pay bills and apply for support. Discuss the impacts of this decision. 8

One mark for each of the following, to a maximum of 8.

• Identifies a cultural impact such as the digital divide
• Names a specific affected group such as elderly residents or low income households
• Identifies an ethical impact, such as fairness of removing non digital options
• Identifies a legal impact, such as Data Protection Act obligations for personal data
• Identifies an environmental impact such as reduced paper and travel, or increased server energy use
• Gives benefits such as lower costs, 24 hour availability and faster service
• Presents both sides rather than only advantages or only disadvantages
• Reaches a supported conclusion with a recommendation

Model answer. Moving all council services online has substantial impacts across several areas. Culturally, the most serious is the digital divide. Not every resident has a reliable internet connection, a suitable device or the confidence to use one, and the groups most likely to be excluded are elderly residents, people on low incomes and those in rural areas with poor broadband. These are also, in many cases, precisely the residents who most need council support, so a digital only service risks making it hardest to reach for the people who depend on it most. Ethically, this raises a genuine question of fairness. The council has a duty to serve all of its residents equally, and while moving online is not unlawful, removing every alternative route to a service effectively withdraws it from a minority of the population who have done nothing wrong. Legally, the council will be handling large volumes of personal data including addresses, financial details and information about vulnerable people, so it is bound by the Data Protection Act 2018 to collect only what is necessary, keep it accurate, store it securely and retain it no longer than needed. A breach would expose residents to fraud and expose the council to significant fines. Environmentally the picture is mixed. Online services remove a great deal of printing, postage and travel to council offices, which reduces paper use and vehicle emissions, but the servers hosting the service consume electricity continuously and the devices residents need in order to use it carry their own manufacturing and disposal costs. There are clear benefits driving the decision. Online services are far cheaper to run than staffed offices, they are available at any hour rather than only during working hours, and requests can be tracked and processed more quickly, which improves the experience for the majority of residents and frees money for other services. Overall, the council is right to move services online, but wrong to make it the only option. The most defensible approach is to develop the digital service fully while retaining a telephone line and a staffed counter for those who cannot use it, and to fund community support to help residents get online. This captures most of the cost savings and convenience without excluding the residents least able to adapt.

5 Explain one environmental benefit and one environmental drawback of increased use of video conferencing by businesses. 4

One mark for each of the following, to a maximum of 4.

• Benefit: less travel to meetings
• Which reduces fuel use and carbon emissions
• Drawback: servers and networks consume electricity continuously
• Devices must be manufactured and eventually disposed of, using resources and creating e-waste

Model answer. The environmental benefit is a reduction in travel. Meetings that previously required employees to drive across the country or fly abroad can be held from a desk, which cuts fuel consumption and the carbon emissions associated with road and air travel, and also reduces the demand for large office buildings that must be heated and lit. The drawback is that video conferencing is not free of environmental cost. The data centres that host the service run continuously and consume very large amounts of electricity, both for the servers themselves and for the cooling systems that keep them at a safe temperature, and video is one of the most data intensive services on the internet. In addition, every participant needs a device with a camera and a reliable connection, and manufacturing those devices consumes rare earth metals extracted through environmentally damaging mining, while their eventual disposal adds to the growing volume of electronic waste.