WGU C961 Exam– Ethics in Technology Test Exam
(C961) | Accurate Questions and Detailed Answers
for Effective Preparation
These questions are LONG, SCENARIO-BASED, ANALYTICAL, and written at the highest WGU
objective-assessment level. They reflect what C961 actually tests: ethical frameworks, privacy,
AI bias, intellectual property, professional responsibility, risk analysis, and emerging
technology ethics.
WGU C961 – Ethics in Technology
MOST DIFFICULT & MOST TESTED QUESTIONS (LONG FORM)
1. UTILITARIANISM vs DEONTOLOGY (CORE EXAM THEME)
A technology company deploys facial recognition software for public safety. The software
reduces crime but has a documented higher false-positive rate for certain minority groups.
Executives argue the overall benefit to society outweighs the harm.
Which ethical framework BEST supports the executives’ argument?
A. Deontological ethics
B. Virtue ethics
C. Utilitarianism
D. Rights-based ethics
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Utilitarianism evaluates actions based on overall outcomes and greatest good for the greatest
number, even if some individuals are harmed.
,2. DATA PRIVACY + INFORMED CONSENT (VERY TESTED)
A mobile app collects user location data continuously but only mentions data collection in a
lengthy terms-of-service document that most users do not read.
Which ethical principle is MOST violated?
A. Confidentiality
B. Transparency and informed consent
C. Professional competence
D. Non-maleficence
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Ethical data use requires clear, understandable, informed consent, not buried legal language.
3. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (COMMON TRAP QUESTION)
A software developer copies open-source code into a commercial product without reviewing
the license terms.
Which ethical and legal issue is MOST relevant?
A. Privacy violation
B. Copyright infringement
C. Data minimization failure
D. Conflict of interest
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Open-source software is still protected by copyright and licensing requirements.
4. PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (ACM / IEEE CODES)
An IT professional discovers a critical security vulnerability that management refuses to fix due
to cost concerns.
What is the MOST ethical action?
A. Remain silent to protect employment
B. Publicly disclose the vulnerability immediately
,C. Document concerns and escalate through proper channels
D. Ignore the issue until a breach occurs
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Professional ethics emphasize responsibility, harm prevention, and escalation, not reckless
disclosure or silence.
5. AI BIAS + ALGORITHMIC ETHICS (VERY HIGH YIELD)
An AI hiring tool consistently ranks qualified candidates from certain demographic groups lower
than others.
What is the PRIMARY ethical concern?
A. Data storage inefficiency
B. Algorithmic bias and discrimination
C. Violation of intellectual property
D. Poor user interface design
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Biased training data leads to systemic discrimination, a major ethics-in-technology issue.
6. RISK VS INNOVATION (COST–BENEFIT ETHICS)
A company rushes a medical software update to market to beat competitors, despite limited
testing.
Which ethical principle is MOST at risk?
A. Autonomy
B. Beneficence
C. Non-maleficence
D. Justice
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Non-maleficence means “do no harm.” Releasing unsafe technology violates this principle.
, 7. SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY (CIVIL LIBERTIES)
A city deploys smart cameras with real-time tracking to improve traffic flow but later uses them
to monitor citizen behavior without consent.
Which ethical concern is MOST significant?
A. System reliability
B. Scope creep and erosion of privacy
C. Hardware maintenance costs
D. Digital divide
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Using technology beyond its original purpose without consent is scope creep, a major ethical
violation.
8. WHISTLEBLOWING (FREQUENTLY TESTED)
When is whistleblowing ethically justified?
A. Whenever the employee disagrees with management
B. When personal gain is possible
C. When serious harm is likely and internal reporting has failed
D. When anonymity cannot be guaranteed
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Ethical whistleblowing requires significant risk of harm and exhaustion of internal remedies.
9. DIGITAL DIVIDE + SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
A government agency moves all essential services online, despite knowing many citizens lack
internet access.
Which ethical principle is MOST violated?
A. Efficiency
B. Equity and justice
C. Transparency
D. Innovation
✅ Correct Answer: B
(C961) | Accurate Questions and Detailed Answers
for Effective Preparation
These questions are LONG, SCENARIO-BASED, ANALYTICAL, and written at the highest WGU
objective-assessment level. They reflect what C961 actually tests: ethical frameworks, privacy,
AI bias, intellectual property, professional responsibility, risk analysis, and emerging
technology ethics.
WGU C961 – Ethics in Technology
MOST DIFFICULT & MOST TESTED QUESTIONS (LONG FORM)
1. UTILITARIANISM vs DEONTOLOGY (CORE EXAM THEME)
A technology company deploys facial recognition software for public safety. The software
reduces crime but has a documented higher false-positive rate for certain minority groups.
Executives argue the overall benefit to society outweighs the harm.
Which ethical framework BEST supports the executives’ argument?
A. Deontological ethics
B. Virtue ethics
C. Utilitarianism
D. Rights-based ethics
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Utilitarianism evaluates actions based on overall outcomes and greatest good for the greatest
number, even if some individuals are harmed.
,2. DATA PRIVACY + INFORMED CONSENT (VERY TESTED)
A mobile app collects user location data continuously but only mentions data collection in a
lengthy terms-of-service document that most users do not read.
Which ethical principle is MOST violated?
A. Confidentiality
B. Transparency and informed consent
C. Professional competence
D. Non-maleficence
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Ethical data use requires clear, understandable, informed consent, not buried legal language.
3. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (COMMON TRAP QUESTION)
A software developer copies open-source code into a commercial product without reviewing
the license terms.
Which ethical and legal issue is MOST relevant?
A. Privacy violation
B. Copyright infringement
C. Data minimization failure
D. Conflict of interest
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Open-source software is still protected by copyright and licensing requirements.
4. PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (ACM / IEEE CODES)
An IT professional discovers a critical security vulnerability that management refuses to fix due
to cost concerns.
What is the MOST ethical action?
A. Remain silent to protect employment
B. Publicly disclose the vulnerability immediately
,C. Document concerns and escalate through proper channels
D. Ignore the issue until a breach occurs
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Professional ethics emphasize responsibility, harm prevention, and escalation, not reckless
disclosure or silence.
5. AI BIAS + ALGORITHMIC ETHICS (VERY HIGH YIELD)
An AI hiring tool consistently ranks qualified candidates from certain demographic groups lower
than others.
What is the PRIMARY ethical concern?
A. Data storage inefficiency
B. Algorithmic bias and discrimination
C. Violation of intellectual property
D. Poor user interface design
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Biased training data leads to systemic discrimination, a major ethics-in-technology issue.
6. RISK VS INNOVATION (COST–BENEFIT ETHICS)
A company rushes a medical software update to market to beat competitors, despite limited
testing.
Which ethical principle is MOST at risk?
A. Autonomy
B. Beneficence
C. Non-maleficence
D. Justice
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Non-maleficence means “do no harm.” Releasing unsafe technology violates this principle.
, 7. SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY (CIVIL LIBERTIES)
A city deploys smart cameras with real-time tracking to improve traffic flow but later uses them
to monitor citizen behavior without consent.
Which ethical concern is MOST significant?
A. System reliability
B. Scope creep and erosion of privacy
C. Hardware maintenance costs
D. Digital divide
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Using technology beyond its original purpose without consent is scope creep, a major ethical
violation.
8. WHISTLEBLOWING (FREQUENTLY TESTED)
When is whistleblowing ethically justified?
A. Whenever the employee disagrees with management
B. When personal gain is possible
C. When serious harm is likely and internal reporting has failed
D. When anonymity cannot be guaranteed
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Ethical whistleblowing requires significant risk of harm and exhaustion of internal remedies.
9. DIGITAL DIVIDE + SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
A government agency moves all essential services online, despite knowing many citizens lack
internet access.
Which ethical principle is MOST violated?
A. Efficiency
B. Equity and justice
C. Transparency
D. Innovation
✅ Correct Answer: B
