Ethical, Legal, and Environmental Impacts of Digital Technology on Wider Society

Digital Divide

The gap between individuals with access to modern ICT and those without, leading to socioeconomic inequality and educational disparities.

Data Ownership and Control

Rights and responsibilities related to user-generated data, involving consent, exploitation, transparency, and user control.

Algorithmic Bias

Biases perpetuated by AI systems reflecting prejudices in training data, leading to discrimination and inequitable outcomes.

Mental Health

Impacts of digital technology on mental well-being, including addiction, anxiety, cyberbullying, and sleep disruption.

Digital Etiquette

Ethical behavior online, covering cyberbullying, respectful communication, privacy respect, and intellectual property rights.

Privacy Laws

Regulations safeguarding personal data, such as GDPR, CCPA, and HIPAA, ensuring consent, transparency, and data control.

Intellectual Property

Laws protecting creations of the mind, including copyrights, patents, and trademarks, to prevent unauthorized use and piracy.

Cybercrime

Illegal activities in the digital realm like hacking, identity theft, and online fraud, countered by legislation and security measures.

Net Neutrality

Principle of treating all internet traffic equally without discrimination or favoritism by service providers.

Throttling

Slowing down internet access by service providers, prohibited under net neutrality.

Paid Prioritization

Creating 'fast lanes' for content providers who pay extra, violating net neutrality principles.

E-Waste

Discarded electronic devices containing toxic materials, posing environmental risks.

Toxic Materials in E-Waste

Hazardous substances like lead and mercury found in electronic devices, harmful if not disposed of properly.

Landfill Issues

E-Waste ending up in landfills, leaching harmful chemicals into the ground.

Data Centers

Facilities consuming vast electricity for servers, contributing significantly to energy use.

Rare Earth Elements

Materials crucial for electronics like neodymium, extracted through environmentally damaging processes.

Data Collection

Gathering personal data for various purposes, raising privacy concerns in the digital age.

Surveillance

Monitoring activities and behaviors using collected data, potentially infringing on privacy.

Data Breaches

Unauthorized access to personal data leading to privacy violations and risks like identity theft.

Informed Consent

Users agreeing to data collection without full understanding, often due to complex privacy policies.

Right to be Forgotten

Individuals' right to request deletion of personal data from digital platforms for privacy protection.