Stretch tasks Ethical, Legal and Environmental Impacts

Round 1: Quiz Blitz

1. Computer Misuse Act 1990 It is the first of the Act's three offences.
2. Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 Software is protected as a literary work.
3. Data must be kept secure; Data must be accurate and kept up to date Data must also be kept no longer than necessary, and used only for its stated purpose.
4. False It means the source code is available. Some open source software is sold.
5. Read and modify the source code Open source licences permit modification and redistribution.
6. Unauthorised modification of computer material Deleting files and spreading malware are unauthorised modification.
7. The gap between those with good access to technology and those without Poorer and more rural areas often get worse coverage.
8. True That is one of technology's biggest environmental costs.
9. To see the data held about them They may also have inaccurate data corrected, and ask for data to be erased.
10. unauthorised It is why penetration testing with permission is lawful.
11. Video calls remove journeys Smart systems and digital documents can also save energy and paper.
12. A justified conclusion A conclusion is a judgement that follows from what you wrote.

Round 2: Quick Fire

1. • Open source comes with its source code, which may be modified and shared
   • Proprietary software has no source code, and its licence forbids changes
   Model answer

   Open source software comes with its source code, under a licence that lets anyone modify and redistribute it. Proprietary software is supplied without its source code, and its licence forbids modifying or redistributing it.

2. • The data is held by another company, maybe abroad under different laws
   • It is unreachable without a connection, or could be breached
   Model answer

   The records would be held by another company, possibly in another country under different laws, so the hospital loses direct control of sensitive data. They would also be unreachable without an internet connection, which could stop staff treating patients during an outage.

3. • It monitors health and can motivate exercise
   • It keeps a continuous record of the body, raising privacy concerns
   Model answer

   It monitors the user's heart rate and steps, which can motivate them to exercise and spot health problems early. However, it keeps a continuous record of their body, raising privacy concerns about who can see that data and what happens if it is breached or sold to insurers.

4. • Manufacturing uses rare metals, mined at a high cost
   • Electronic waste is dumped or dismantled unsafely, releasing toxic material
   • Data centres use huge amounts of electricity
   Model answer

   Manufacturing devices uses rare metals, which are mined at a high environmental and human cost. When devices are thrown away, electronic waste is often exported and dismantled unsafely, releasing toxic material.

Round 3: Big Think

1. • Fewer collisions caused by human error
   • Drivers would lose their jobs
   • Unclear liability when one crashes
   • Vehicles must be programmed for situations where harm is unavoidable
   • They could be hacked, and they collect tracking data
   • Efficient driving and electric power could cut emissions
   • Making them uses rare metals, and batteries become e-waste
   • A justified conclusion weighing the stakeholders
   Model answer

   Autonomous vehicles could reduce collisions caused by human error, such as tiredness, making roads safer. However, the van drivers would lose their jobs, an ethical cost to them and their families. Legally, it is unclear who is liable when one crashes: the company, the manufacturer or the programmer. The vehicles must also be programmed in advance for situations where harm is unavoidable, and they could be hacked. Environmentally, they could drive more efficiently and are likely to be electric, cutting emissions, but making them uses rare metals and their batteries become e-waste. On balance, the company gains most while the drivers lose most, so it should only go ahead with a plan to retrain its staff.

2. • Data must be processed lawfully, fairly and transparently, with consent
   • Used only for the specified purpose
   • No more data than is necessary
   • The data must be kept secure
   • Customers have the right to see, correct or erase their data
   • Customers benefit from relevant offers and savings
   • Profiling can reveal sensitive information and intrude on privacy
   • A justified conclusion, such as never selling data to third parties
   Model answer

   Under the Data Protection Act, the supermarket must process the data lawfully, fairly and transparently, telling customers what it collects and getting their consent. It must use the data only for the specified purpose, sending offers, and collect no more than is necessary. The data must be kept secure, for example encrypted, so a breach does not expose customers' habits. Customers have the right to see the data held about them and to have it corrected or erased. Ethically, customers benefit from relevant discounts and savings, but profiling can reveal sensitive information, such as a pregnancy or a health condition, before the customer has told anyone. On balance, it is acceptable if customers consent and the data is never sold to third parties.

This or That

1. Computer Misuse Act Unauthorised access to computer material is the first Computer Misuse Act offence.
2. Data Protection Act Personal data must be kept no longer than necessary.
3. Copyright, Designs and Patents Act Copying or distributing protected work without permission is infringement.
4. Open source software Proprietary software is supplied without its source code.
5. The community Proprietary software comes with vendor support. Open source relies on its community.
6. No: free and open are different Open source means the code is available. Much free software keeps its code closed.
7. Benefit: journeys removed The electricity for a call is tiny compared with the fuel for a flight.
8. No: a judgement is required Evaluate means reach a justified judgement. One committed sentence starting On balance is enough.

Memory Match

• A 5 Data Protection Act 2018: Rules for handling personal data
• B 6 Computer Misuse Act 1990: Makes unauthorised access an offence
• C 2 Copyright Act 1988: Protects creators' ownership of their work
• D 3 Open source: Code supplied, free to modify and share
• E 4 Proprietary: Code withheld, licence restricts changes
• F 1 Digital divide: Gap between those with and without good access

Sort It

1. Copyright Act Installing one software licence on fifty computers Licence terms have legal force under copyright law.
2. Data Protection Act A company passes your data to a marketing firm without telling you Data must be used only for the purpose it was collected for.
3. Copyright Act Copying a game and selling the copies Software is protected as a literary work.
4. Computer Misuse Act Logging in to the school system to change your grades Unauthorised access and modification of computer material.
5. Copyright Act Using a photographer's picture on a website without permission Images are protected, so permission is needed.
6. Copyright Act Uploading a whole film to a video site Distributing protected work without permission.
7. Computer Misuse Act Writing a virus that deletes files Spreading malware is unauthorised modification.
8. Data Protection Act A clinic leaves patient records unprotected on a shared drive Personal data must be kept secure.
9. Computer Misuse Act Guessing a colleague's password to read their email Unauthorised access.
10. Computer Misuse Act Breaking into a server to steal card details for fraud Unauthorised access with intent to commit a further offence.
11. Data Protection Act A shop keeps ex-customers' details for ten years for no reason Personal data must be kept no longer than necessary.
12. Data Protection Act A bank refuses to correct a wrong address it holds about you You have the right to have inaccurate data corrected.