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GCSE · Computer Systems (Component 01)

P1.7 Ethical, Legal, Cultural and Environmental Impact

OCR J277 · Calculators not allowed · about 100 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.

Two of the four strands the OCR specification identifies for the impact of digital technology are 'ethical issues' and 'environmental issues'.

(a)Define what is meant by an 'ethical issue' relating to computer technology.(1)

(b)Define what is meant by an 'environmental issue' relating to computer technology.(1)

(Total for Question 1 is 2 marks)

Four scenarios below each relate to a different piece of UK legislation. For each scenario, write the letter of the act that applies most directly. Options: A) Computer Misuse Act 1990 B) Data Protection Act 2018 C) Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 D) Freedom of Information Act 2000

(a)A student guesses a teacher's password and looks at exam papers stored on the school network.(1)

A) Computer Misuse Act 1990
B) Data Protection Act 2018
C) Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
D) Freedom of Information Act 2000

(b)A company keeps a customer's home address on file for longer than needed and does not let the customer see or correct it.(1)

A) Computer Misuse Act 1990
B) Data Protection Act 2018
C) Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
D) Freedom of Information Act 2000

(c)A YouTuber uploads someone else's song in a video without permission or credit.(1)

A) Computer Misuse Act 1990
B) Data Protection Act 2018
C) Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
D) Freedom of Information Act 2000

(d)A journalist asks a local council for details of how public money was spent on a new road.(1)

A) Computer Misuse Act 1990
B) Data Protection Act 2018
C) Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
D) Freedom of Information Act 2000

(Total for Question 2 is 4 marks)

Under the Data Protection Act 2018, organisations that store personal data must follow a number of data protection principles.

(Total for Question 3 is 2 marks)

Ffion finds a spare staff login on a sticky note in her school's IT office. Out of curiosity, she uses it to look at other students' predicted grades stored on the school server. She does not change or delete anything.

(a)Identify which offence under the Computer Misuse Act 1990 Ffion's actions break.(1)

(b)Explain why Ffion is guilty of this offence even though she did not change or delete any data.(2)

(Total for Question 4 is 3 marks)

Tomasz downloads a film from a website without paying for it, then uploads his own commentary video that plays large sections of the film without permission.

(a)Explain why Tomasz's actions are illegal under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.(2)

(b)State one way in which a content creator could legally allow others to reuse their work for free.(2)

(Total for Question 5 is 4 marks)

Manufacturing new computer hardware, such as smartphones and laptops, has a significant impact on the environment.

(Total for Question 6 is 3 marks)

Millions of old phones and computers are thrown away by consumers and businesses in the UK every year.

(a)Describe two problems caused by the disposal of old computer hardware.(2)

(b)Describe one way manufacturers or governments try to reduce the environmental impact of e-waste.(2)

(Total for Question 7 is 4 marks)

Social media and instant messaging have changed the way people in the UK communicate and interact with each other.

(a)Describe two positive cultural impacts of social media.(2)

(b)Describe two negative cultural impacts of social media.(2)

(Total for Question 8 is 4 marks)

Software can be described as either open source or proprietary (closed source).

(a)State whether the source code of proprietary software is normally available for the public to view.(1)

(b)State whether the source code of open source software is normally available for the public to view.(1)

(c)Give one reason a business might choose proprietary software over open source software.(1)

(d)Give one reason a business might choose open source software over proprietary software.(1)

(Total for Question 9 is 4 marks)

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 gives members of the public certain rights regarding information held by public bodies such as councils and government departments.

(Total for Question 10 is 2 marks)

The term 'digital divide' describes the gap between people who have easy access to computers and the internet and those who do not.

(Total for Question 11 is 3 marks)

Many UK households now use smart speakers and other Internet of Things (IoT) devices that are always listening for a wake word.

(a)Identify one ethical concern raised by always-on smart speakers.(1)

(b)Explain why this is still a concern even if the manufacturer states the data is only used to improve the product.(3)

(Total for Question 12 is 4 marks)

Most websites use cookies to track visitors and target adverts based on their browsing habits.

(Total for Question 13 is 3 marks)

A small bakery buys one single-user licence for a piece of accounting software, then installs it on the till computer, the office computer and the owner's home laptop so that three people can use it at the same time.

(a)Explain why this breaches the software's licence agreement.(2)

(b)Suggest what the bakery should do instead to use the software legally on all three computers.(2)

(Total for Question 14 is 4 marks)

Large technology companies are under pressure to reduce the environmental impact of their data centres.

(Total for Question 15 is 3 marks)

'Ethical hackers' are employed by many organisations to test their computer systems for weaknesses.

(Total for Question 16 is 3 marks)

A logistics company plans to fit GPS trackers to all delivery vans and monitor drivers' keystrokes on their work laptops, without asking staff for their opinion first. Discuss the ethical and legal issues raised by this level of employee monitoring.

(Total for Question 17 is 6 marks)

Many UK supermarkets have replaced checkout staff with self-service tills, and some warehouses now use robots to pick and pack orders. Evaluate the impact of this increased automation on employees and wider society.

(Total for Question 18 is 6 marks)

Some UK police forces trial live facial recognition cameras in town centres, scanning the faces of everyone who passes and comparing them automatically to a database of people wanted by police. Discuss the ethical, legal and cultural issues raised by the use of live facial recognition in public places.

(Total for Question 19 is 8 marks)

Explain two ways in which digital communication (such as messaging apps and video calls) has changed UK culture compared with traditional communication methods (such as letters and landline phone calls).

(Total for Question 20 is 4 marks)

Smart home assistants (such as voice-controlled AI speakers) are becoming increasingly common in UK homes. Evaluate the ethical, legal, cultural and environmental impact of the widespread use of AI-driven personal assistants.

(Total for Question 21 is 9 marks)

Mark scheme · P1.7 Ethical, Legal, Cultural and Environmental Impact

Question 1

(a) B1 reference to a question of whether an action involving technology is morally right or wrong / fair (oe)
(a) Answer: An ethical issue is a question about whether the use of technology is morally right or wrong, e.g. whether it is fair, honest or respects people's rights.
(b) B1 reference to the effect of technology on the natural world, resources, energy use or waste (oe)
(b) Answer: An environmental issue is a question about how the manufacture, use or disposal of technology affects the natural world, e.g. energy use, pollution or waste.

Question 2

(a) B1 A - unauthorised access to a computer system
(a) Answer: A
(b) B1 B - storage limitation and right of access principles
(b) Answer: B
(c) B1 C - unauthorised reproduction of copyrighted work
(c) Answer: C
(d) B1 D - right to request information held by a public body
(d) Answer: D

Question 3

B1 any one valid principle, e.g. processed lawfully, fairly and transparently / for a specified purpose / limited to what is necessary / kept accurate and up to date / kept for no longer than necessary / kept securely
B1 a second, different valid principle from the list above
Answer: Any two of: data must be processed lawfully, fairly and transparently; collected for a specified and legitimate purpose; adequate and limited to what is necessary; accurate and kept up to date; kept for no longer than necessary; processed with appropriate security.

Question 4

(a) B1 unauthorised access to computer material (Section 1) (oe)
(a) Answer: Section 1: unauthorised access to computer material.
(b) B1 she knowingly used a login that was not hers to view data she was not authorised to see
(b) B1 the offence only requires intent to gain unauthorised access; it does not require any data to be changed, damaged or deleted
(b) Answer: She knowingly used a login that was not hers to access data she was not permitted to see; the offence is committed simply by gaining unauthorised access, regardless of whether any data is changed.

Question 5

(a) B1 downloading the film without paying is unauthorised copying/distribution of a copyrighted work
(a) B1 reusing large sections of the film in his own video, without a licence or permission, further infringes the copyright holder's right to control reproduction of their work
(a) Answer: Downloading the film without paying is unauthorised copying, and re-using large sections of it in his own video without permission or a licence further infringes the copyright holder's exclusive right to reproduce and distribute their work.
(b) B1 release the work under a Creative Commons licence (oe)
(b) B1 the licence sets out exactly what others may do, e.g. share, adapt, must credit the creator, non-commercial use only
(b) Answer: They could release the work under a Creative Commons licence, which clearly states how others may reuse, share or adapt the work (e.g. with attribution, non-commercially) without infringing copyright.

Question 6

B1 extraction/mining of rare or precious metals damages landscapes and habitats
B1 manufacturing processes use large amounts of energy, often from fossil fuels, releasing greenhouse gases
B1 toxic chemicals used in production can pollute water, soil or air; accept transporting components/devices globally produces further emissions
Answer: Any three of: mining rare metals destroys habitats and landscapes; manufacturing uses large amounts of energy and releases greenhouse gases; toxic chemicals used in production can pollute water, soil or air; global transport of parts/devices adds further carbon emissions.

Question 7

(a) B1 toxic materials (e.g. lead, mercury) can leach into soil/water if sent to landfill
(a) B1 second distinct point, e.g. valuable/rare materials are wasted rather than recovered; or e-waste is often shipped abroad with poor safety standards, harming workers' health; or it takes up landfill space and does not biodegrade
(a) Answer: Any two of: toxic materials such as lead or mercury can pollute soil and water in landfill; valuable rare materials are wasted instead of being recovered; e-waste shipped abroad can expose workers to harmful conditions; it fills landfill space and does not break down.
(b) B1 identifies a scheme, e.g. take-back/recycling schemes, WEEE regulations, refurbishment or reselling of old devices
(b) B1 explains how it reduces impact, e.g. recovers valuable/rare materials for reuse, keeps toxic parts out of landfill, or extends the useful life of the device
(b) Answer: For example, manufacturer take-back and recycling schemes (regulated by WEEE rules) collect old devices so that valuable materials can be recovered and toxic components are kept out of landfill, reducing the need for new raw materials.

Question 8

(a) B1 keeps people connected with friends/family regardless of distance
(a) B1 second distinct point, e.g. allows communities/campaigns to organise and share information quickly; gives a platform for diverse voices to be heard; supports access to learning/information
(a) Answer: Any two of: keeps people connected with friends and family over long distances; lets communities and campaigns organise and share information quickly; gives a platform for a wider range of voices and cultures to be heard.
(b) B1 can spread misinformation/fake news quickly
(b) B1 second distinct point, e.g. can enable cyberbullying/online harassment; can create pressure to present an idealised life, affecting mental health; can reduce face-to-face interaction
(b) Answer: Any two of: misinformation/fake news can spread very quickly; it can enable cyberbullying or harassment; it can pressure users to present an idealised life, affecting mental health; it can reduce face-to-face interaction.

Question 9

(a) B1 no, it is kept private/hidden by the company that owns it
(a) Answer: No, the source code is kept private by the company that owns it.
(b) B1 yes, it is published so anyone can view, use and change it
(b) Answer: Yes, it is published so that anyone can view, use and change it.
(c) B1 e.g. comes with dedicated technical support/guaranteed updates from the vendor (oe)
(c) Answer: It often comes with dedicated technical support and guaranteed updates from the company that sells it.
(d) B1 e.g. usually free to use/licence and can be customised to the business's exact needs (oe)
(d) Answer: It is usually free to licence and can be customised or adapted to suit the business's exact needs.

Question 10

B1 the public has the right to request information held by public sector organisations, which must normally respond within a set time limit
B1 its purpose is to increase the transparency/accountability of public bodies (oe)
Answer: It gives the public the right to request information held by public sector organisations, which must normally respond within 20 working days; its purpose is to make public bodies more transparent and accountable.

Question 11

B1 identifies an issue, e.g. some students lack a suitable device or reliable broadband at home
B1 gives a direct consequence, e.g. they cannot complete online homework, research topics or access learning resources as easily as classmates
B1 gives a wider impact, e.g. they may fall behind academically or have fewer chances to develop the digital skills needed for further study or work
Answer: Students without a suitable device or reliable broadband at home cannot complete online homework or access learning resources as easily as classmates, which can make them fall behind academically and limits their chances to develop digital skills needed later in life.

Question 12

(a) B1 the device may record/store private conversations without the user fully realising, or data could be shared with third parties without full consent
(a) Answer: The device may record and store private conversations that users are not fully aware of, or share this data with third parties.
(b) B1 users may not have given informed/explicit consent to constant recording, even if they accepted general terms and conditions
(b) B1 recorded data could later be accessed by hackers, employees, or shared with advertisers/law enforcement beyond its stated purpose
(b) B1 users cannot usually verify what is actually collected or how securely it is stored, so they must simply trust the manufacturer's word
(b) Answer: Even with a stated purpose, users may not have given fully informed consent, the data could later be accessed by hackers or shared beyond its original use, and users have no practical way to check what is really collected or how securely it is stored, so they must simply trust the manufacturer.

Question 13

B1 users often click 'accept' without reading or understanding what data will be collected, so consent may not be fully informed
B1 detailed profiles of a person's interests, habits or location can be built up and used or sold without them realising the extent of it
B1 raises the question of whether consent obtained this way is genuinely meaningful, since accepting cookies is often required to use the site at all
Answer: Users often click accept without reading what is collected, so consent may not be fully informed; detailed profiles of a person's habits can then be built up and used or sold without them realising, and since accepting cookies is often required to use the site at all, the consent given may not be genuinely free or meaningful.

Question 14

(a) B1 a single-user licence normally permits installation/use on only one device (or by one user) at a time
(a) B1 installing and running it on three devices simultaneously exceeds the terms agreed to when the software was purchased, breaching the licence/contract
(a) Answer: A single-user licence normally only permits use on one device at a time; installing and running it on three devices simultaneously goes beyond the terms agreed to at purchase, breaching the licence agreement.
(b) B1 buy additional licences, or a multi-user/site licence covering three simultaneous installations
(b) B1 development, e.g. contact the software company to purchase the correct number of licences, or upgrade to a licence tier that permits multiple simultaneous users
(b) Answer: The bakery should contact the software company and buy additional licences, or upgrade to a multi-user/site licence, so that legitimate use on all three computers is covered.

Question 15

B1 use renewable energy sources (e.g. solar/wind) to power the data centre
B1 use more energy-efficient hardware/cooling systems to reduce electricity use, or locate data centres in cooler climates to reduce cooling energy needed
B1 reuse waste heat from servers to heat nearby buildings, or virtualise servers so fewer physical machines are needed
Answer: Any three of: use renewable energy to power the data centre; use more energy-efficient hardware and cooling, or site the centre somewhere cooler; reuse waste server heat to warm nearby buildings; virtualise servers so fewer physical machines are needed.

Question 16

B1 both use the same technical skills/methods to find weaknesses in a computer system
B1 ethical hackers have the permission/authorisation of the system owner and report weaknesses so they can be fixed
B1 black hat hackers act without permission and exploit weaknesses for personal gain or harm, which is illegal under the Computer Misuse Act 1990
Answer: Both use the same technical skills to find system weaknesses, but ethical hackers have the system owner's permission and report the weaknesses so they can be fixed, whereas black hat hackers act without permission and exploit weaknesses for personal gain or harm, which is illegal under the Computer Misuse Act 1990.

Question 17

Level 1 (1-2): A basic, largely one-sided answer with limited or no reference to the scenario. Little use of relevant terminology (e.g. privacy, consent, Data Protection Act).
Level 2 (3-4): Some relevant ethical and/or legal points are made, with limited development or balance. Some reference is made to the specific scenario.
Level 3 (5-6): A well-balanced discussion covering both ethical and legal issues, clearly applied to the scenario, leading to a reasoned conclusion.
Indicative content:
- Monitoring can be seen as intrusive/an invasion of privacy, especially keystroke logging, which may capture personal messages typed during breaks.
- Staff have not been consulted or informed in advance, so may not have given meaningful consent, which could breach the fairness/transparency principle of the Data Protection Act 2018.
- The company could argue monitoring improves safety (locating vans in an emergency) and protects productivity/company data.
- GPS tracking of company vehicles during work hours is generally seen as more justifiable than keystroke logging, since it relates directly to the job role.
- Under the DPA 2018, employers must have a lawful reason for monitoring, should inform staff what is collected and why, and should keep monitoring proportionate to its purpose.
- A balanced conclusion weighs the business's legitimate interest in security/productivity against employees' right to privacy, and might recommend consultation and greater transparency rather than banning monitoring outright.

Question 18

Level 1 (1-2): A basic, largely one-sided answer with limited or no reference to the scenario and little evaluative comment.
Level 2 (3-4): Some relevant points on the impact of automation, with limited development or balance between benefits and drawbacks.
Level 3 (5-6): A well-balanced evaluation of the impact on employees and wider society, clearly applied to the scenario, with a reasoned overall judgement.
Indicative content:
- Automation can lead to job losses for roles that are easily automated, e.g. checkout staff and warehouse pickers, causing unemployment or loss of income for affected workers.
- Automation can also create new jobs in different areas, e.g. maintaining or programming the robots and IT support, so some workers may be able to retrain.
- Businesses may benefit from lower staffing costs and more consistent efficiency, which could lower prices for customers.
- Workers without digital or technical skills may struggle to find new employment, widening inequality between digitally skilled and unskilled workers.
- Reduced human interaction at checkouts may disadvantage vulnerable customers who rely on staff for help, showing a cultural/social cost.
- An overall judgement should weigh economic benefits (efficiency, lower costs, new tech roles) against social costs (job losses, inequality, reduced human contact).

Question 19

Level 1 (1-2): A basic or generic answer referring to at most one strand (ethical, legal or cultural), with little detail or link to the scenario.
Level 2 (3-4): A small number of relevant points are made, with limited development and limited balance between different strands or viewpoints.
Level 3 (5-6): A range of ethical, legal and/or cultural issues are discussed with good development and some balance between viewpoints.
Level 4 (7-8): A well-balanced, detailed discussion across ethical, legal and cultural strands, clearly applied to the scenario, with a reasoned evaluative conclusion.
Indicative content:
- Ethical: the system scans everyone in the area regardless of suspicion, which some see as treating the public as suspects and an invasion of privacy.
- Ethical: facial recognition systems have been shown to be less accurate for some groups, raising concerns about unfair or biased outcomes.
- Legal: because faces are biometric personal data, use must comply with the Data Protection Act 2018/UK GDPR, requiring a lawful basis, proportionality and safeguards.
- Legal: without clear regulation there is a risk the technology is used beyond its original purpose, or without proper oversight and accountability.
- Cultural: constant scanning could change public behaviour, with people feeling watched and altering how they act in public spaces.
- Cultural: some communities may lose trust in the police if they feel unfairly targeted or watched more than others.
- Counterpoint: supporters argue the technology helps catch dangerous criminals quickly and can improve public safety.
- A reasoned conclusion weighs public safety benefits against privacy, accuracy/bias and public trust concerns to reach a justified overall judgement.

Question 20

B1 point 1: communication is now near-instant
B1 development: people now expect immediate replies, changing social norms/etiquette around response times compared with letters, which could take days
B1 point 2: video calls allow cheap, easy face-to-face contact with people overseas
B1 development: this strengthens long-distance family/friendship ties in a way that was expensive using traditional landline calls
Answer: Communication is now near-instant, so people expect immediate replies, changing etiquette compared with letters which could take days; video calls also allow cheap, easy face-to-face contact with people overseas, strengthening long-distance family ties in a way that was expensive with traditional landline calls.

Question 21

Level 1 (1-2): An isolated, generic comment or comments, referring to at most one strand, with no real evaluation.
Level 2 (3-5): Some relevant points made across at least two strands, with limited development and little balanced evaluation.
Level 3 (6-7): Points made across most or all strands with clear development and some balanced evaluation building towards a conclusion.
Level 4 (8-9): A well-balanced, detailed and coherent evaluation covering ethical, legal, cultural and environmental strands, with clear links between points and a well-reasoned overall judgement.
Indicative content:
- Ethical: devices are always listening for a wake word, raising concerns about privacy and whether users fully understand or consent to what is recorded.
- Ethical: assistants could unintentionally record and act on data from vulnerable users, e.g. children, without proper safeguards.
- Legal: voice recordings are personal (and potentially biometric) data, so companies must comply with the Data Protection Act 2018/UK GDPR, including telling users what is collected and why.
- Legal: recordings stored in the cloud could be requested by law enforcement or exposed in a data breach, raising questions about who is liable.
- Cultural: voice control can be easier than typing, which may narrow the digital divide for some users, but could also exclude people without home broadband or a compatible device.
- Cultural: reliance on AI assistants may reduce person-to-person interaction within a household or change children's communication habits.
- Environmental: manufacturing millions of new devices uses raw materials and energy and adds to e-waste when devices become obsolete.
- Environmental: constant listening and cloud processing requires data centres to run continuously, increasing energy consumption, although some companies offset this with renewable energy.
- A reasoned conclusion draws together strands and gives an overall judgement on whether the benefits (convenience, accessibility) outweigh the ethical/legal/cultural/environmental costs.

Ethical, Legal, Cultural and Environmental Impact - Worksheets, Questions and Revision