1.6 Ethical, Legal, Cultural and Environmental concerns Flashcards
(25 cards)
Term
Definition
Ethical issues
Issues about what is considered right or wrong by society and people.
Example of ethical issue
Can companies store and use personal data responsibly and securely?
Legal issues
Issues about what is legal or illegal, including how laws affect technology use.
Example of legal issue
Can the government access personal data to help keep us safe?
Cultural issues
How different cultures or social groups are affected by or interact with technology.
Example of cultural issue
Digital divide – not everyone can afford or access the latest technology.
Environmental issues
Concerns about the impact of technology on the environment.
Example of environmental issue
Increased energy use increases carbon footprint. E-waste may be sent abroad unsafely.
Privacy issues
Issues related to how personal data is protected and used.
Example of privacy issue
Are users aware of how their data is used and shared?
Open Source software
Free software that can be used, modified and shared by anyone.
Advantages of Open Source
Can be updated by a community, often free to use.
Disadvantages of Open Source
May lack full support, can be unreliable or not fully functional.
Proprietary software
Software developed by a company, requiring a license to use.
Advantages of Proprietary
Comes with support, fixes and is usually fully tested.
Disadvantages of Proprietary
Can be expensive, not modifiable or sharable.
Data Protection Act / GDPR
Law that governs how personal data must be stored and processed.
Key principles of GDPR
Data must be fair, accurate, secure, kept no longer than necessary.
Computer Misuse Act 1990
Defines illegal activities like hacking, data theft, and spreading malware.
Illegal actions under CMA
Accessing or altering data without permission, installing malware.
Copyright Designs and Patents Act
Protects creators’ rights over their content or software.
Breach of Copyright Act
Using, copying or distributing content without permission is illegal.
Software License
Gives users legal permission to use, edit or distribute software.
