Ethical, Legal & Environmental Impacts is a core part of GCSE Computer Science. Revise the key concepts and common mistakes below, then lock them in with the free games.
Key concepts
Data protection lawRules for handling personal data fairly and securely.
Computer Misuse ActMakes unauthorised access to computers illegal.
PrivacyProtecting individuals' personal information.
Environmental impactEnergy use and e-waste from computing.
Intellectual propertyCopyright and licensing of software and content.
Digital divideUnequal access to technology.
CensorshipRestricting access to information.
AI biasUnfair AI decisions due to flawed training data.
SurveillanceMonitoring people's activity or data.
Open sourceSoftware whose code anyone can view and edit.
E-wasteDiscarded electronic devices and components.
Data centreBuilding housing servers — uses lots of power.
Carbon footprintTotal CO2 emitted by an activity or product.
RecyclingReclaiming materials from old devices.
Common mistakes to avoid
Questions where students often pick the tempting wrong answer — make sure you know the right one:
Is content on the internet free to copy and reuse?✗ Yes, anything online is free to use. ✓ No — most is protected by copyright; reuse usually needs permission.
What does the Data Protection Act / GDPR require?✗ Companies can use personal data however they like. ✓ Personal data is handled fairly, kept secure and used only for stated purposes.
Can a variable's value change while a program runs?✗ No, a variable keeps one value throughout. ✓ Yes — variables can be reassigned; constants stay fixed.
Practise Ethical, Legal & Environmental Impacts — free games
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