1.5.2 Moral and Ethical Issues

• What are ethics and morals concerned with?


  Values as a community and the impact of decisions on different groups
• Why is it important to consider the implications of computers in our lives?

  Because they affect moral, ethical, environmental, social, and cultural aspects
• What is one advantage of involving computers in the workforce?


  Improved efficiency
• How do computers improve customer satisfaction in businesses?


  By reducing delivery times and speeding up manufacturing processes
• What is a downside of computerization in the workforce?


  It has contributed to high levels of structural unemployment
• What types of jobs have been affected by computerization?

  Middle-income manufacturing jobs
• What has increased due to the accessibility of the Internet?


  Services offered exclusively online
• What is a major downside of a highly computerized workplace?


  High dependence on computers, leading to loss of output if they fail
• What has increased the demand for computing-related occupations?


  Increased computerization in the workplace
• What is automated decision making used for?


  To determine what users should see on their social media feeds
• What is a potential danger of reinforcing people's interests through automated decision making?


  It creates a dangerous bubble where beliefs are never challenged
• How can algorithms impact life-changing decisions?


  They can determine suitability for mortgages, loans, and jobs
• What is a risk of relying entirely on algorithms for decision making?


  People may be treated unfairly due to lack of contextual consideration
• What is one benefit of algorithmic decision making in hiring?


  It allows companies to hire workers faster
• How does algorithmic decision making in driverless cars potentially save lives?


  It allows for faster decision-making than human reactions
• What ethical question arises from algorithmic decision making in driverless cars?


  Who should be harmed in an unavoidable accident?
• Why is fast decision-making important in power distribution systems?


  It allows for instant responses to changes in demand
• What is artificial intelligence (AI)?


  The ability of a computer to replicate human intelligence
• How is AI used in medicine?


  In expert systems to draw connections between illnesses for diagnoses
• What are expert systems also known as?


  Knowledge-based systems
• What is the function of a knowledge base in expert systems?


  It consists of a set of facts and rules used for diagnosis
• What is a common use of AI in pattern detection?


  Identifying financial fraud
• How do voice recognition systems relate to AI?


  They provide convenience but raise privacy concerns
• What accountability questions does AI raise?


  Who is responsible when things go wrong?
• What is a downside of cheap and widely produced technological devices?

  They contribute to environmental damage through e-waste
• What is e-waste?


  Discarded electronic devices that can be toxic
• How does increased electricity demand from devices affect the environment?


  It leads to the use of non-renewable fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions
• What is the impact of our consumption on future generations?

  It will affect their environment and biodiversity
• What are examples of environmentally-friendly technologies?


  Smart home systems that use sensors to save energy
• What does the Equality Act introduced in 2010 address?


  It makes it illegal to discriminate against providing a service to certain groups
• What is censorship?


  The act of suppressing content that people can view, publish, and access
• How do ISPs in the UK use censorship?


  They block websites associated with terrorism and extremist beliefs
• What is a concern regarding censorship in relation to ideology?


  It may be misused to push a certain ideology
• What is the general consensus about censorship for national security?


  Some extent of censorship is necessary
• How can censorship exist in schools and workplaces?


  To prevent access to unsuitable material and maintain productivity
• How do employers monitor productivity in the workplace?


  By tracking websites and applications accessed by workers
• What is the purpose of surveillance systems like CCTV?


  To enhance security and detect crime
• What is data mining?


  The process of analyzing large amounts of data to make inferences
• What ethical concerns arise from data mining personal information?


  Whether companies have a responsibility to inform users about risks
• What legislation was developed in 1998 to protect public welfare regarding data?


  The Data Protection Act