OCR A Level CS 1.5.2 Moral and Ethical Issues

What is the difference between ethics and morals?

Ethics are community-based values, while morals are an individual's personal code of conduct.

How have computers improved the workforce?

Increased efficiency, reduced costs, and automated repetitive tasks (e.g., warehouse robots).

What is a major negative impact of automation?

Structural unemployment, as workers lose jobs to machines.

What new opportunities has computerisation created?

Demand for software developers, network engineers, and data analysts has increased.

What is automated decision-making?

Algorithms making decisions instead of humans (e.g., loan approvals, social media feeds).

What is a risk of automated decision-making?

Algorithms can be biased, leading to unfair treatment (e.g., job rejections based on flawed AI).

How does automation benefit stock markets and power systems?

Fast decision-making improves efficiency in trading and energy distribution.

What is AI?

The ability of a computer to replicate human intelligence and cognitive ability.

What are expert systems?

AI systems that use a knowledge base and inference engine to solve problems (e.g., medical diagnoses).

How are neural networks used?

AI learns from large datasets for applications like fraud detection and voice recognition.

What ethical concerns exist around AI?

Accountability (who is responsible if AI makes a mistake?) and privacy (AI-powered surveillance).

How does increased technology usage impact the environment?

More devices → More electricity consumption → Higher greenhouse gas emissions.

What is e-waste?

Old technology being thrown away, often containing toxic materials (e.g., mercury, radioactive isotopes).

How is technology being used to reduce environmental damage?

Smart home systems, energy-efficient sleep modes, and electric vehicles.

What is censorship?

Restricting access to online content by governments, schools, or companies.

Why do governments censor the internet?

To block extremist content but sometimes to suppress political opposition.

What is the debate around censorship?

Freedom of speech vs national security – Should everything be unrestricted?

How is technology used for surveillance?

CCTV, GPS tracking, website monitoring in workplaces.

What are arguments for surveillance?

Improves security, prevents crime, and monitors employee productivity.

What are concerns about surveillance?

Privacy invasion, government overreach, and potential misuse.

What is Big Data?

Large amounts of collected data used for predicting trends and targeted advertising.

How do companies use Big Data?

To target ads, adjust prices, and recommend products based on user behaviour.

What are ethical concerns with Big Data?

Privacy risks, potential data misuse, and discrimination (e.g., insurance prices based on personal health data).

What is digital piracy?

The illegal downloading or sharing of copyrighted content.

What is the Malicious Communications Act 1998?

Makes cyberbullying, harassment, and offensive messages illegal.

What are challenges in stopping online piracy?

Hard to track offenders, and some argue digital content should be free.

Why must websites be accessible?

The Equality Act 2010 makes it illegal to exclude people from using a service.

What design elements help accessibility?

Alt text for images, high-contrast text, and screen reader support.

How do cultural differences impact web design?

Colours and layouts vary across cultures (e.g., Arabic sites use right-to-left menus).