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Edexcel 1CP2 · Topic 5 · 5.1

Ethical, Legal &
Environmental Issues

Impact of Technology on Society, Jobs and the Environment

CSZoneEdexcel GCSE Computer Science 1CP2
Ethical Issues

Right vs Wrong in Computing

Privacy: social media, cookies, surveillance cameras and apps collect vast amounts of personal data — raising concerns about who has access and how it is used
Automation and jobs: robots and AI can replace manual and cognitive tasks — some jobs disappear, others are created
Bias in algorithms: AI systems trained on biased data can make discriminatory decisions (e.g. facial recognition, hiring algorithms)
Digital divide: unequal access to technology widens inequality between rich and poor
Legal Issues

Law and Technology

Computer Misuse Act 1990: makes hacking, introducing malware, and unauthorised access illegal
Data Protection Act 2018 / GDPR: organisations must store and process personal data lawfully, transparently, and securely
Copyright: digital content (music, images, software) is protected by copyright law — copying without permission is illegal
Organisations that fail to comply with data laws face fines, legal action, and reputational damage
Environmental Issues

Computing's Carbon Footprint

Data centres consume enormous amounts of electricity for servers and cooling. Global ICT accounts for roughly 2–4% of global CO₂ emissions. Manufacturing hardware uses rare earth metals and generates electronic waste (e-waste).
E-waste: old devices contain toxic materials; recycling is essential but rates remain low
Green computing: energy-efficient hardware, renewable energy data centres, device repair programmes
Exam Practice

Have a go at this question

Edexcel-style question
Describe one ethical and one environmental issue caused by the growth of cloud computing.
4 marks
Ethical: data stored in the cloud is held by third-party companies [1] who may use or sell it without users' knowledge, raising privacy concerns [1]. Environmental: cloud data centres require large amounts of electricity to run and cool servers [1], contributing to CO₂ emissions if powered by fossil fuels [1].
Key Takeaways

What to Remember

Ethical: privacy, digital divide, algorithmic bias, automation replacing jobs
Legal: CMA 1990 (hacking), DPA 2018/GDPR (data), Copyright (digital content)
Environmental: data centre energy use, e-waste, manufacturing impact
Edexcel expects you to evaluate these issues in context — always consider both benefits and harms