Pass the WGU Courses and Certificates Ethics-In-Technology Questions and answers with ValidTests

The OECD Privacy Guidelines establish principles for protecting personal data, and Individual Participation is the principle that grants individuals the right to:

Access their personal data

Challenge incorrect data

Request corrections to inaccurate information

This ensures transparency and gives individuals control over their own information.

B. Purpose Specification – Requires data collection to have a clear, specific purpose, but does not grant individuals the right to review their data.

C. Use Limitation – Limits how collected data can be used but does not focus on individual rights.

D. Security Safeguard – Ensures data protection measures but does not relate to individuals reviewing their data.

Why Not the Other Options?Thus, the correct answer is A. Individual participation, as it upholds the right to access and correct personal information.

OECD Guidelines on the Protection of Privacy and Transborder Flows of Personal Data (1980, updated 2013).

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (2018), Articles 15-16.

Solove, D. J. (2020). Understanding Privacy. Harvard University Press.

References in Ethics in Technology:

A Denial-of-Service (DoS) attack is a cyberattack in which a hacker floods a target system with an overwhelming amount of requests, causing it to crash, slow down, or become unavailable. In this scenario, the hacker takes over multiple computers and forces them to flood a target site, which is a Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack, a more advanced form of DoS.

Cybersecurity Ethics (ACM & IEEE Codes of Ethics) – DoS attacks violate ethical and legal principles, causing harm to organizations and users.

Hacking Ethics (White Hat vs. Black Hat Ethics) – Ethical hackers prevent DoS attacks, whereas malicious hackers exploit vulnerabilities.

Cybercrime Laws (Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, GDPR, CFAA) – DoS attacks are illegal and punishable under international cybersecurity laws.

Utilitarian Perspective on Cybersecurity – Defending against DoS attacks protects public and private digital infrastructure, benefiting society.

Relevant Ethical References in Technology:Thus, the correct answer is C. Denial-of-service (DoS), as the hacker floods the target site with excessive data queries.

Workplace monitoring refers to the collection and analysis of employee data to improve workflow efficiency, productivity, and business operations. It involves tracking metrics such as work hours, system usage, and productivity patterns—all while ensuring the data is used strictly for business purposes.

Workplace Privacy Ethics – Ethical monitoring should balance business needs with employee privacy rights.

Surveillance Ethics (Foucault, 1975) – Excessive monitoring could violate employee autonomy, making ethical boundaries crucial.

Corporate Governance & Employee Rights (ISO 27001, GDPR) – Transparency and consent are required when monitoring employee data.

Deontological Ethics (Kantian Ethics) – Treats employees as ends rather than means, ensuring fair workplace practices.

Relevant Ethical References in Technology:Thus, C. Workplace monitoring is the correct answer since the organization collects aggregate employee data to improve workflow.

Since the U.S. military contract explicitly requires new parts, using refurbished parts violates the contract and potentially U.S. federal regulations. The engineer ethically and legally must report this violation because it could:

Compromise national security

Violate contract law

Lead to safety risks in military operations

Reporting to a government agency (such as the Department of Defense or an inspector general) ensures that the issue is properly investigated and addressed.

Whistleblower Protection Act (1989) – Protects employees who report unethical or illegal activities.

Defense Contracting & Ethics (False Claims Act) – Companies must comply with military contract specifications.

Deontological Ethics (Moral Obligation to Report Violations) – Engineers have a duty to act responsibly when ethical violations occur.

ACM & IEEE Engineering Ethics – Require professionals to prioritize honesty, safety, and compliance with regulations.

Relevant Ethical References in Technology:Thus, the correct answer is A. Report the activities to the government, as the engineer must expose contract violations involving military equipment.

Contingent workers (temporary employees, contractors, or freelancers) can help fill workforce gaps, but they lack deep familiarity with internal business processes, which can be a disadvantage.

Why Internal Business Process Understanding is a Concern?

Contingent workers are not deeply integrated into company culture, workflows, and long-term strategies.

They require time to adapt to internal systems, which can slow productivity initially.

Unlike full-time employees, they may not retain or transfer institutional knowledge to future projects.

A. Any skills gained during employment will be lost to the company at the project's completion. – While true, documentation and knowledge-sharing can mitigate this loss.

C. The company may require the same worker for other projects. – This is a potential benefit, not a disadvantage.

D. The company does not have to provide benefits throughout the project's lifecycle. – This is an advantage, not a disadvantage.

Why Not the Other Options?Thus, the correct answer is B. Internal business process understanding will be minimal given the temporary nature of the workers.

Harvard Business Review (2022). Managing Contingent Workers Effectively.

Kalleberg, A. L. (2000). Nonstandard Employment Relations: Part-time, Temporary, and Contract Work.

References in Ethics in Technology:

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) refers to the ethical obligation of organizations to go beyond legal requirements in improving societal and employee well-being. In this scenario, the organization is voluntarily offering additional parental leave benefits, which demonstrates a commitment to the welfare of its employees beyond what is legally mandated.

CSR involves initiatives that benefit various stakeholders, including employees, customers, communities, and the environment. By offering enhanced parental leave benefits, the organization acknowledges its responsibility to promote work-life balance, employee satisfaction, and overall social welfare, which are key principles of CSR.

Utilitarianism (Greatest Good Principle) – Providing extended parental leave benefits leads to greater well-being for employees and their families, fostering a more positive and productive workforce.

Deontological Ethics (Duty-Based Ethics) – The company recognizes its ethical duty to care for employees beyond legal obligations, emphasizing moral responsibility rather than mere compliance.

Virtue Ethics (Moral Character of the Organization) – The decision reflects virtues such as empathy, fairness, and social responsibility, reinforcing an ethical corporate culture.

Corporate Social Responsibility Frameworks – Organizations like the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and ISO 26000 emphasize the importance of CSR in areas such as labor practices, human rights, and community involvement.

Relevant Ethical References in Technology:By integrating CSR principles into employee benefits, the organization fosters a more ethical and socially responsible business environment.

The Financial Privacy Rule of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) allows consumers to control how their personal financial information is shared through an opt-out mechanism.

Why is "Opt-Out" a Threat to Data Privacy?

The opt-out model assumes that consumers consent to having their data shared unless they take action to refuse.

Many consumers may not be aware of their right to opt-out, leading to widespread data sharing without explicit consent.

This is less privacy-protective than an opt-in model, where consumers must actively give permission before their data is shared.

A. Opt-in – This would enhance privacy, not threaten it.

B. Safeguard – Refers to data security, not data-sharing policies.

D. Pretexting – Involves fraudulent access to financial data, which is a different issue.

Why Not the Other Options?Thus, the correct answer is C. Opt-out, as it weakens consumer privacy protections by allowing data sharing unless the consumer takes action.

Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (1999), 15 U.S.C. §§ 6801-6809.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Guide to GLBA Opt-Out Provisions.

Nissenbaum, H. (2010). Privacy in Context: Technology, Policy, and the Integrity of Social Life.

References in Ethics in Technology:

The missing records in the device database indicate that the store needs to improve the accuracy of its data management processes.

Why Accuracy?

Data accuracy ensures that all records are correctly entered, complete, and reliable.

Manual data entry is prone to errors, including missing or incorrect records.

Implementing automated data entry or validation checks can reduce human error and ensure the integrity of the database.

A. Encryption – Protects data from unauthorized access but does not ensure correct data entry.

B. Collection – Refers to gathering data, but the issue here is with missing or incorrect entries.

C. Availability – Ensures data can be accessed but does not guarantee its accuracy.

Why Not the Other Options?Thus, the correct answer is D. Accuracy, as it directly addresses the issue of missing records.

Redman, T. C. (1998). The Impact of Poor Data Quality on the Typical Enterprise.

Tavani, H. T. (2016). Ethics and Technology: Controversies, Questions, and Strategies for Ethical Computing.

Data Management Body of Knowledge (DMBOK) (2020).

References in Ethics in Technology:

Industrial espionage refers to the unauthorized theft or copying of trade secrets, proprietary information, or intellectual property from one company to another, often for competitive advantage.

Why is this Industrial Espionage?

The sibling stole proprietary source code from Employee A’s unattended laptop.

This act provides unfair competitive advantage to the sibling’s company.

Unauthorized access to trade secrets is illegal under the Economic Espionage Act (1996).

A. Nepotism – Favoring family members in hiring or promotions, but this case involves theft of intellectual property.

B. Conflict of Interest – Would apply if Employee A voluntarily shared information, but here, it was stolen.

D. Corruption – Involves bribery or unethical business practices, but this is corporate theft.

Why Not the Other Options?Thus, the correct answer is C. Industrial Espionage, as it involves theft of confidential trade secrets.

Economic Espionage Act (1996), 18 U.S.C. §§ 1831-1839.

OECD Guidelines on Corporate Ethics and Intellectual Property Protection.

References in Ethics in Technology: