Ethics in Computing
Technology raises questions of fairness, privacy and responsibility.
About this topic
Computing ethics asks how technology should be designed and used so it is fair, safe and respectful. Issues include privacy and surveillance, bias in algorithms, intellectual property and copyright, the digital divide between people with and without access, cybercrime, misinformation, environmental impact of data centres and the effects of automation on jobs.
Laws set minimum rules, but ethics goes further by asking what is right. A key idea is that technology is not neutral: choices made by designers shape outcomes. For example, a face recognition system trained mostly on one group of people may perform worse for others, causing unfair results. Professional codes, such as those of the ACM and BCS, urge computing professionals to avoid harm, be honest and respect privacy.
When facing a dilemma, consider who is affected, the benefits and risks, what laws apply and whether you would accept the rule if you were the person affected. A common misconception is that something is acceptable just because it is legal or technically possible. Another is that responsibility belongs only to someone else. Everyone who builds or uses technology shares responsibility for its effects.
Key ideas
- Bias in algorithms
- Copyright and licences
- Accessibility
Quick check
Use cases: where Ethics in Computing helps
- Homework: review the key idea behind Ethics in Computing before you start a problem set.
- Exam revision: use the quick check to test whether you can recall Ethics in Computing without notes.
- Visual learning: play with the interactive lab to see how Ethics in Computing changes when you adjust its inputs.
- Teaching a friend: explain Ethics in Computing in your own words, then compare your version with the key ideas.
Computing ideas run phones, search engines, games and the wider internet.
Frequently asked questions
What is Ethics in Computing?
Technology raises questions of fairness, privacy and responsibility.
What will I learn in Ethics in Computing?
Bias in algorithms. Copyright and licences. Accessibility.
Is Ethics in Computing part of Computer Science?
Yes. It is one of 80 Computer Science topics on LearnViz HighSchoolEdu, with 3 key ideas, a live animation and a quick check.
Does the Ethics in Computing lab work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The animation resizes to fit your screen and supports touch, so you can drag, tap and slide with your finger.
How should I study Ethics in Computing?
Read the summary and key ideas first, play with the interactive lab to see the idea in motion, then answer the quick check. If you get a question wrong, go back to the key idea it tests.
Do I need an account, and is my progress saved?
No account is needed. Marking a topic as learned is saved in your own browser, so it stays on that device and is not sent to a server.