Revise Computingrevisecomputing.co.uk
Free student revisionSee questionsFor schoolsSchool enquiry
Free revisionSee questionsFor schoolsSchool enquiry
Knowledge/A Level/H446/01 Computer systems/Moral and Ethical Issues/Monitor behaviour

Monitor behaviour

1.5.2 Moral and Ethical Issues

Moral and Ethical Issues — Note 6 of 9

Candidates need to understand the moral, social, ethical and cultural implications of using computers to monitor behaviour (such as CCTV, tracking phone calls, GPS and monitoring emails).

What you need to know

Computers make it possible to monitor people's behaviour on a large scale, through CCTV, phone and location tracking, and monitoring of e-mails and online activity. This can improve safety but reduces privacy.

What to know

  • Examples: CCTV and facial recognition; GPS tracking of phones and vehicles; employers monitoring e-mails and internet use; websites tracking browsing with cookies.
  • Benefits: crime prevention and detection; safety (e.g. tracking a lone worker); ensuring employees follow rules; improving services.
  • Risks: loss of privacy; people may not know they are being monitored; data may be stored insecurely or misused; a feeling of being constantly watched.
  • Monitoring must comply with laws such as data protection legislation and RIPA.

Exam technique

  • Tip:Discuss whether monitoring is proportionate to the benefit, and whether the people monitored have consented.
← Previous noteCensorship and the Internet1.5.2 Moral and Ethical IssuesNext note →Analyse personal information1.5.2 Moral and Ethical Issues

Back to Moral and Ethical Issues

Moral and Ethical Issues

Note 6 of 9

  1. 1Computers in the workforce
  2. 2Automated decision making
  3. 3Artificial intelligence
  4. 4Environmental effects
  5. 5Censorship and the Internet
  6. 6Monitor behaviour
  7. 7Analyse personal information
  8. 8Piracy and offensive communications
  9. 9Layout, colour paradigms and character sets
Topic overview