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/Piracy and offensive communications

Piracy and offensive communications

1.5.2 Moral and Ethical Issues

Moral and Ethical Issues — Note 8 of 9

Candidates need to understand the moral, social, ethical and cultural implications of piracy and offensive communications. This includes the impact on creators, victims and organisations, and how these issues are made easier by digital technology.

What you need to know

Digital technology makes it easy to copy and share content, and to communicate instantly with very large audiences. This has led to widespread piracy and to new forms of offensive and harmful communication.

What to know

  • Piracy is made easier because digital copies are perfect, cheap to make and can be shared instantly through file sharing and streaming sites.
  • Impacts of piracy: lost income for creators and companies, less money for new work, and a risk of malware in pirated files.
  • Offensive communications include cyberbullying, trolling, hate speech, harassment and threats sent online.
  • Anonymity and the speed and reach of online communication can make harmful messages more common and harder to remove.
  • Laws such as the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act and legislation on malicious communications apply online.

Key terms

Piracy

Illegally copying or distributing copyrighted material such as software, music, films or games.

Exam technique

  • Tip:Consider the impact on creators, victims and platforms, and the responsibilities of each.

Moral and Ethical Issues

Note 8 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
← Previous noteAnalyse personal information1.5.2 Moral and Ethical IssuesNext note →Layout, colour paradigms and character sets1.5.2 Moral and Ethical Issues

Back to Moral and Ethical Issues