Lesson Objective
- Be able to explain what an ethical issue is.
- Discuss some current ethical topics in Computing.
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KS3, GCSE, A-Level Computing Resources
Lesson 2. Privacy and Censorship
Lesson Notes
Privacy
There are laws in place to govern the use of computers and the internet. However, legal issues are not always straightforward. Technology and the internet are evolving rapidly and this throws up new ethical and legal dilemmas.
Legal and ethical questions affect many areas of computing including privacy, sharing, hacking and the environment.
Privacy - Topics to consider
China's Social Credit System
China have currently adopted a similar style of scoring people. If government officials observe someone acting in a “positive” way, they get awarded points. Points dictate what people are allowed to do.
Investigatory Powers Act (2016)
- This sets out rules on the use of investigatory powers by law enforcement and the security and intelligence agencies.
- Under the act, phone companies and internet service providers are required to keep copies of users' emails and browsing histories for a period of time.
- It also gives the police and security services the authority to access computers and phones to search for data. This act has proved controversial, with opponents concerned over how it impacts citizens' right to privacy.
Censorship
The suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films, news, etc. that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security.
Google (2020)