1.5 Legal, moral, cultural and ethical issues

Data protection act

Personal data has to be kept up to date, only for however long it is needed and has to have a valid reason for storing it.

Computer misuse act

Stop access of unauthorised materials.

Regulation of investigatory powers act

Enforces ISP and mobile companies to give information to government so that they can use surveillance to stop things such as terrorists.

Computers in the workforce

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Increase efficiency
Reduce delivery times, manufacturing processes
Reduces labour costs, lower prices for consumers

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Unemployment
Services can be offered only online, business that rent things out lose out

Automated decision making

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Used in social media, keeps people interested

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Can be dangerous as it controls what is shown to people

AI

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Reduces workload for businesses
More relaxed life such as voice recognition systems

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Remove need for more jobs
Privacy may be breached

Environmental effects

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Growth in environmentally friendly tech, such as smart home systems to reduce waste of heating and lighting

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Computer components are toxic and contaminate water supplies
Electricity uses fossil fuels and emit greenhouse gases
Impact future generations and harm biodiversity

Censorship

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Block terrorism and extremist beliefs
Maintain productivity and prevent distractions

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Pushes certain beliefs and ideology

Monitor behaviour

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Monitor productivity
Surveillance systems to detect crime

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Unethical and doesn't meet basic human rights

Analyse personal info

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Reveal key insights about people behaviours
Data mining and big data allow businesses to use personalised marketing

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Unethical as business have access to huge amounts of private data