New technology changes society

Every new technology brings both benefits and drawbacks. AQA wants you to discuss and evaluate these impacts — not just list them. Impacts fall into several areas:

• Ethical — is it morally right? (e.g. tracking people, algorithmic bias)
• Legal — does it break the law? (there are specific UK laws)
• Cultural — how does it change the way groups of people live?
• Environmental — energy use, raw materials, e-waste.
• Privacy — control over your own personal data.

Exam skill: the best answers give a balanced argument — a benefit and a drawback — then reach a conclusion. Marks are for evaluation, not for a list.

Which type of impact?

Data Protection Act 2018

The Data Protection Act 2018 (which brings UK GDPR into UK law) controls how organisations collect, store and use your personal data. It gives individuals rights over their own data. Under the Act, data must be:

• collected and used fairly and lawfully, only for the stated purpose;
• kept accurate and up to date;
• kept secure (protected from loss or theft);
• not kept for longer than necessary.

Individuals' rights: you can ask to see the data an organisation holds about you and ask for mistakes to be corrected or data to be deleted.

Computer Misuse Act 1990

The Computer Misuse Act 1990 makes unauthorised access to computer systems illegal — this is the law that makes hacking a crime. It defines three main offences:

• Unauthorised access to computer material (basic hacking).
• Unauthorised access with intent to commit a further offence (e.g. hacking to steal money).
• Unauthorised modification of data (e.g. deleting files, spreading a virus).

Key idea: the word unauthorised is what makes it an offence — accessing a system you have no permission to use.

Your turn — how many offences?

Which law bans hacking?

Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 protects people's original work — software, music, films, images and writing — from being copied or used without permission.

• The creator automatically owns the copyright to their work.
• Copying, sharing or selling a copy without permission is piracy, and is illegal.
• This is why you need a licence to use most software legally.

Everyday example: illegally downloading a film, or selling copied software, breaks this law — it is theft of someone's protected work.

Which law is broken?

Privacy, surveillance & the digital divide

Digital technology raises big ethical and privacy questions:

• Surveillance & tracking — CCTV, phone location and companies tracking your online activity to build a profile of you.
• Use of personal data — companies collect huge amounts of data and use it (or sell it) for targeted advertising.
• Digital footprint — the trail of data you leave online can be hard to remove and may affect your future.
• Censorship — governments or companies deciding what information people can see.
• Digital divide — the gap between those who do and do not have access to technology and the internet, which can create unfairness.

Balance it: tracking can improve services and safety, but it reduces privacy — a good answer weighs both sides.

Protecting personal data

Energy, raw materials & e-waste

Digital technology has a real environmental cost:

• Energy consumption — devices and huge data centres use enormous amounts of electricity, much of it still from fossil fuels.
• Finite raw materials — making devices uses rare metals and other resources that will eventually run out.
• E-waste — electronic waste from old, discarded devices. It contains toxic materials that can pollute land and water if dumped, so devices should be recycled.

Balance it: technology can also help the environment (e.g. video calls cut travel, smart systems save energy) — evaluate both sides.

Artificial intelligence & automation

AI and automation (machines and software doing jobs once done by people) bring major impacts — both good and bad:

• Benefits — greater efficiency, lower costs, machines can do dangerous or repetitive work, and new types of job are created.
• Drawbacks — job losses as roles are automated, and over-reliance on systems that can fail.
• Algorithmic bias — an AI trained on biased data can make unfair decisions (e.g. in hiring).
• Responsibility — if an automated system (like a self-driving car) causes harm, who is to blame?

Exam skill: AI questions almost always want a balanced answer — a clear benefit, a clear drawback, then a judgement.

Which type of impact is it?

Tap a description, then tap the impact type it belongs to.

Match term to meaning

Tap a description on the left, then its matching term on the right.

The big ideas to know

You've covered all of AQA 3.8 — ethical, legal and environmental impacts of digital technology. Press Finish to see your score.