Ethical, Legal and Environmental Impacts
Technology has consequences
Every piece of technology has impacts beyond how it works — on people, society, the law and the planet. You need to discuss ethical, legal, cultural, privacy and environmental issues, usually by weighing benefits against drawbacks.
Ethical issues
Questions of right and wrong in how technology is used:
- Privacy — companies collecting and using huge amounts of personal data.
- AI and automation — job losses, biased algorithms, who is responsible when AI makes a mistake.
- Digital divide — not everyone has equal access to technology, creating unfairness.
- Surveillance — CCTV, tracking and monitoring vs personal freedom.
Legal issues and key laws (UK)
| Law | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Data Protection Act 2018 / UK GDPR | Controls how organisations store and use personal data; gives people rights over their data |
| Computer Misuse Act 1990 | Makes unauthorised access (hacking), unauthorised modification and spreading malware illegal |
| Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 | Protects creators' work (software, music, images) from being copied/used without permission |
Software licences also matter: proprietary software is paid/closed-source; open source software is free to use and its code can be viewed and modified.
Privacy issues
- Data collected by apps, smart devices and websites can be misused, sold or leaked.
- Cookies and tracking follow users across the web.
- People often trade privacy for convenience (free services funded by data).
Cultural issues
- Social media effects on wellbeing, misinformation and screen time.
- Changes to how we work, shop and communicate.
- Accessibility — technology can include or exclude people with disabilities.
Environmental issues
- Manufacturing uses raw materials and energy, and mining for metals can harm the environment.
- Energy consumption — data centres and devices use large amounts of electricity.
- E-waste — discarded devices contain toxic materials; much is not recycled.
- Positives: technology can reduce environmental impact too (video calls cut travel, smart systems save energy, paperless working).
Worked example
Give one benefit and one drawback of a company storing customer data.
- Benefit: it can personalise services and improve the customer experience.
- Drawback: if breached or misused, customers' privacy is harmed — and it must comply with the Data Protection Act. ✓
Common mistakes
- Only giving negatives — good answers weigh benefits and drawbacks.
- Mixing up the laws: hacking = Computer Misuse Act; personal data = Data Protection Act; copying work = Copyright Act.
- Forgetting the environmental positives of technology, not just the harms.
Exam tips
- Learn the three key laws and exactly what each covers — a common 1–2 mark question.
- For discussion questions, structure it as benefits vs drawbacks and reach a short conclusion.
- Use the right category word (ethical, legal, privacy, cultural, environmental) that the question asks for.
Key facts to remember
- Impacts are ethical, legal, cultural, privacy and environmental — usually weigh benefits vs drawbacks.
- Key laws: Data Protection Act 2018/UK GDPR (personal data), Computer Misuse Act 1990 (hacking/malware), Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (creators' work).
- Environmental impact covers manufacturing, energy use and e-waste — but tech can also reduce impact.