← VCE Data Analysis

Analysing an ethical issue in a data scenario

Name the issue, identify the stakeholders affected and the harm done, link it to an APP, then recommend an action to fix it.

Part of: VCE Applied Computing - U1O1 - Data analysis — Module 54, VCE Data Analytics - U4O2 - Cyber Security: Data Security — Module 146, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Privacy Principles and Digital Footprints — Module 59, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 4 — Digital Methods for Exchanging Data — Module 78, WA Computer Science ATAR Year 11 — Data Management — Module 117, WA Computer Science ATAR Year 11 — Cyber Security — Module 172

Understanding Analysing an ethical issue in a data scenario in VCE Data Analysis

What it does: Linking to an APP shows which rule is broken. APP 6 covers using or sharing personal information only for its primary purpose unless the person consents. A recommendation is a practical fix that deals with the cause of the harm. Deleting unneeded data and getting consent addresses the breach of APP 6. Start by naming the issue. Then identify who is affected and the harm, link it to an APP, and finish with a recommended action. Stakeholders are everyone affected by the issue. Here that includes the students whose data is exposed, their parents and the school responsible for the records.

Common mistakes: Sharing personal information without consent breaches APP 6 (use and disclosure), not APP 2 (anonymity and pseudonymity). The line should be APP: APP 6 (disclosure). Lower server costs is not a harm to the people affected by a leak. The harm should describe what happens to students and parents, such as identity theft risk.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 38–54) and word search (Modules 25–54).

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Learning

Duo

A fitness app sells users' location data to advertisers without telling them. Which is the best first step when analysing this ethical issue?

Name the issue (misuse of personal data and lack of transparency)Recommend deleting the whole app straight away

Matches

Harm: the issue is unethical

↓

This does not describe the harm. It only repeats that the issue is bad instead of saying what damage happens to the stakeholders, such as identity theft or loss of trust.

Applying

Meanings

Term

Ethical issue analysis

Meaning

Name the issue, identify the stakeholders affected and the harm done, link it to an APP, then recommend an action to fix it.

Practice

Issue: App shares health data without consent

Testing

Gaps

: customers, the business

Check Answer

Spots

3Harm: Strangers see location

4APP: APP 2 (anonymity)

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Quick Questions

1. A fitness app sells users' location data to advertisers without telling them. Which is the best first step when analysing this ethical issue?

A. Name the issue (misuse of personal data and lack of transparency) ✓

B. Recommend deleting the whole app straight away

Start by naming the issue. Then identify who is affected and the harm, link it to an APP, and finish with a recommended action.

2. A school collects student health records. Who are the stakeholders affected if the records are leaked?

A. Students, parents and the school ✓

B. Only the person who found the leak

Stakeholders are everyone affected by the issue. Here that includes the students whose data is exposed, their parents and the school responsible for the records.

3. Which statement describes the harm in an ethical issue analysis?

A. The data was stored in a spreadsheet file

B. Students could face identity theft or embarrassment after a data breach ✓

Harm is the negative effect on stakeholders, such as identity theft, embarrassment, or loss of trust. How the data is stored is not a harm by itself.

4. A company keeps customer emails for years after they close their accounts. Which APP does this issue link to most closely?

A. APP 11: security and destruction of personal information ✓

B. APP 2: anonymity and pseudonymity

APP 11 requires organisations to destroy or de-identify personal information they no longer need. Keeping it for years breaches this.

5. A survey collects names for a sports club but the data is later used for marketing. Which APP is most relevant?

A. APP 11: security of personal information

B. APP 6: use or disclosure of personal information ✓

APP 6 says data should only be used for the purpose it was collected for. Using it for marketing breaks this rule.

Match the Pairs

Issue: lack of transparency → Names the ethical issue: people are not told how their data is collected, used or shared

Stakeholders: customers, staff, company → Identifies the people or groups who are affected by the issue or who have an interest in it

Link the issue to an Australian Privacy Principle that has been breached → APP 6: data used for a different purpose without consent

Recommend an action that fixes the issue and prevents the harm → Recommendation: delete unneeded data and ask for consent

Harm: the issue is unethical → This does not describe the harm. It only repeats that the issue is bad instead of saying what damage happens to the stakeholders, such as identity theft or loss of trust.

Recommendation: the issue is a problem → This is not a recommendation. It does not give an action to fix the issue, such as encrypting the data or telling users how their data is used.

Key Term

Ethical issue analysis

Name the issue, identify the stakeholders affected and the harm done, link it to an APP, then recommend an action to fix it.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Issue: data shared without consent Stakeholders: customers, the business

Hint: Type the analysis step label that names the people affected.

2. Issue: wrong marks stored for students Harm: students get an unfair result

Hint: Type the analysis step label that describes the damage done.

3. Issue: data kept when no longer needed Link: APP 11 (security of information)

Hint: Type the APP number about protecting and destroying or de-identifying personal information.

4. Issue: data used for a new purpose Link: APP 6 (use and disclosure)

Hint: Type the APP number about using or disclosing information only for its primary purpose.

5. Issue: identifiable data is being shared Recommend: anonymise the data first

Hint: Type the action word for removing identifying details as the fix.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A Issue: Shared without consent

B Who: App users

C Harm: Strangers see location

D APP: APP 2 (anonymity)

E Fix: Require opt-in consent

Line D — Sharing personal information without consent breaches APP 6 (use and disclosure), not APP 2 (anonymity and pseudonymity). The line should be APP: APP 6 (disclosure).

Question 2

A Issue: Student data was leaked

B Who: Students and parents

C Harm: Lower server costs

D APP: APP 11 (security)

E Fix: Encrypt stored records

Line C — Lower server costs is not a harm to the people affected by a leak. The harm should describe what happens to students and parents, such as identity theft risk.

Question 3

A Issue: Data encrypted twice

B Who: Customers

C Harm: Parcels sent astray

D APP: APP 10 (data quality)

E Fix: Check and update records

Line A — The issue named does not match the harm and fix. Parcels going astray come from outdated or inaccurate data, so the issue should be Outdated address data.

Question 4

A Issue: Hidden AI decisions

B Who: Bank's cleaning staff

C Harm: Cannot challenge outcome

D APP: APP 1 (transparency)

E Fix: Explain how AI decides

Line B — The stakeholders must be the people actually affected by the hidden AI decisions. The cleaning staff are not affected, so the line should name the loan applicants.

Question 5

A Issue: Company controls data

B APP: APP 7 (direct marketing)

C Who: Wearable users

D Harm: Cannot view own data

E Fix: Let users download data

Line B — The problem is that users cannot access their own data, which links to APP 12 (access). APP 7 is about direct marketing, so the line should be APP: APP 12 (access).

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