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Paper 2

Ethics, Legal, and Environmental Issues

Both
Practice this
Business documents and a laptop

Ethics and law shape how technology is used.

Key Facts

  • Data must be processed securely and for specific purposes.
  • Copyright protects software and digital content.
  • Open source allows modification and sharing.

Topics Covered

Legal

What you need to know

  • Data Protection Act controls personal data use.
  • Computer Misuse Act covers unauthorised access and malware.

Exam Tips

  • State the law and link it to a real example.

Ethical Issues

What you need to know

  • Automation affects jobs and skills.
  • AI can introduce bias in decision making.

Exam Tips

  • Balance pros and cons in evaluation answers.

Environmental Impact

What you need to know

  • E-waste and energy use are major concerns.
  • Use recycling and efficient hardware to reduce impact.

Exam Tips

  • Mention carbon footprint and sustainability.

Key Terms

DPA

Data Protection Act controlling personal data use.

CMA

Computer Misuse Act on illegal access and damage.

copyright

Legal protection for creative work and software.

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Common Exam Questions

Explain one ethical risk of AI in decision making.

4 marksmediumPaper 2

Model Answer

AI can be biased if trained on biased data, leading to unfair outcomes.

What examiners want to see

  • Risk
  • Explanation

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