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Data Ethics Debate

Who owns your data, who is to blame when an algorithm gets it wrong, and who owns an idea? Weigh up the ethical and legal issues of data, AI and intellectual property.

⏱️ 15 min 🎯 12 activities Teachers Not yet rated Students Not yet rated

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What you'll cover

The data ethics debate 🤖

Computers collect huge amounts of **personal data**, and increasingly make decisions using **AI**. That raises hard questions about what is **ethical** (right) and what is **legal** (allowed). This module weighs up the issues around **personal data**, around **AI, machine learning and robotics**, and how **intellectual property** is protected.

Key terms 🔑

Four ideas run through the whole topic:

What does consent mean? 🔒

In data protection, what does it mean for a person to give consent?

  • They have given clear permission for their data to be collected and used
  • A company has sold their data on to another business
  • Their data has been permanently deleted
  • Their data has been scrambled so no one can read it

Match each protection to what it covers 🔗

  • Copyright
  • Patent
  • Trademark
  • Licensing
  • Protects creative works such as music, writing and code
  • Protects a new invention or how something works
  • Protects a brand name, logo or symbol
  • Sets the terms under which others may use the work

AI: promise and problems ⚖️

AI, machine learning and robotics bring real benefits, but also raise serious issues.

Issues raised by AI ✅

Select the TWO genuine ethical or legal issues raised by AI and machine learning.

  • Algorithmic bias, where the system treats some groups unfairly
  • Legal liability, deciding who is responsible when AI causes harm
  • AI computers run slightly faster than older machines
  • AI software can be shown in any colour on screen

Be specific, not vague 🧭

In the exam, an AI answer that just says **"AI can be unfair"** earns little. The marks are for a **specific issue tied to a real situation**. For example: **"If a self-driving car uses a biased algorithm and causes a crash, who is legally liable: the owner, the manufacturer, or the programmer?"** Always name the issue AND link it to a scenario.

Complete the picture 🧱

The right to control who sees your data is called _____, and clear permission to use it is called _____. When an AI system treats some groups unfairly, this is called algorithmic _____. A new invention can be protected by a _____, while a song or piece of code is protected by _____.

privacy consent bias patent copyright trademark speed misuse licensing liability

Spot the strong points 🖍️

An interactive activity.

Plan a balanced answer 🪜

An interactive activity.

You decide 🔀

An interactive activity.

Make the case ✍️

An interactive activity.