Ethics of Computing CS Thinking Example 1
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Example 1
easyGive three examples of ethical issues in computing and explain why each is a concern.
Solution
- 1 Step 1: (1) Digital divide — not everyone has equal access to technology. Those without access miss out on education, jobs, and services, widening inequality.
- 2 Step 2: (2) Algorithmic bias — AI systems trained on biased data can discriminate. Example: a hiring algorithm that favours men because it was trained on historical data where men were hired more often.
- 3 Step 3: (3) Environmental impact — data centres consume massive amounts of electricity. Manufacturing electronics requires rare minerals, often mined under poor conditions.
Answer
Ethical issues: digital divide (unequal access), algorithmic bias (AI discrimination), environmental impact (energy use, e-waste).
Computing is not ethically neutral. The choices developers make about who can access technology, how algorithms work, and what data is collected have real-world consequences for people's lives.
About Ethics of Computing
The study of moral issues and responsibilities that arise from the development and use of computing technology. Computing ethics examines questions of fairness, bias, privacy, intellectual property, environmental impact, and the societal consequences of automation and artificial intelligence.
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