impacts of digital technology

• ethical impacts

  • if there is an accident, who is to blame?
  • can you trust technology?
  • what happens to people whose jobs are replaced by technology?
• legal impacts

  • unauthorised access to data (for purpose of threat/theft)
  • identity theft
  • software piracy
  • fraud
  • harassment
• cultural impacts

  • widespread use of 'disposable' technology
  • people's interactions through social media etc
  • changes in workplace
  • changing/replacing human roles within organisations
  • widespread data collection about individuals
  • access to entertainment
  • workforce monitoring
• positive environmental impacts

  • working from home reduces need to travel, which reduces CO2 emissions
  • increase in on-screen documents, which reduces paper use
  • enables scientific research for environmentally friendly technology
• negative environmental impacts

  • large energy consumption to run computers + data systems
  • use of rare + non-renewable resources (e.g. metals + minerals)
  • toxic chemicals are hazardous if not disposed of correctly
• impact on privacy

  • companies can monitor computer use
  • use of CCTV + facial recognition
  • automatic number plate recognitions
  • websites track internet activity (location, search history etc) to target advertisements
  • mobile phone companies can track location at all times
  • mobile phone records stored + can be accessed by law enforcement
  • people can see your social media activity, dependent on your settings
• what is the digital divide?

  • gap between those with access to modern digital technology and those with limited access
  • technology has lead to many international benefits: improved product delivery, enhanced communication + economic growth
  • unfair as mainly Western countries have this positive impact
  • countries with limited digital infrastructure + govt instability don't feel this positive impact: poor internet speeds, high costs + limited resources
• changes to work

  • internet, cloud storage + video communication: can work collaboratively from different locations; don't have to be in an office setting
  • people in underdeveloped countries willing to do same workload for lower wages + longer hours: companies move certain freelancer jobs abroad (e.g. help centres)
  • low-skilled workers replaced by technology; also introduced jobs in developing, maintaining + operating machines
• pollution + waste

  • computers are difficult to recycle
  • discarded components lead to air, water + land pollution due to toxic chemicals (e..g mercury) being leaked into environment
• pros of AI

  • processes completed quicker: computers can analyse data quicker than a human
  • can be used when a human is unavailable (e.g. checking symptoms online as opposed to booking a doctor)
  • can complete repetitive/time-consuming tasks
  • can generate original ideas from a prompt
• cons of AI

  • stores + processes personal data (e.g. Alexa/Siri always listening for certain phrases)
  • data can be viewed by companies; can be hacked/leaked
  • programmed by humans; may be mistakes in code
  • can have disastrous consequences if used to make important decision (e.g. military deployment)
  • AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT) may provide misinformation + copyrighted material in their response; plagiarism when submitted by student
• online crime

  • unlawfully obtaining personal info + using for threat/fraud
  • harassment + blackmailing
  • cyber attacks are more common
  • sharing copyrighted material
  • distributing prohibited material (drugs/weapons)