[WGU D333 ETHICS IN TECHNOLOGY] EXAM
with Questions and Answers/Plus a Rationale Updated
2026 A+/Instant Download PDF
Table of Contents
1. Ethical Frameworks and Theories
2. Professional Ethics and Codes of Conduct
3. Privacy, Data Protection, and Surveillance
4. Intellectual Property and Digital Rights
5. Social Impacts of Emerging Technologies
6. Global Ethical Challenges and Sustainability
1. An organization is evaluating the implementation of an AI-driven predictive policing tool. The
system demonstrates high accuracy but relies on historical arrest data that inherently contains
systemic biases against marginalized communities. As an ethical advisor, which approach best
aligns with a utilitarian ethical framework regarding the deployment of this technology?
A. Recommend immediate deployment because the aggregate reduction in crime rates serves the
greatest good for the greatest number of citizens.
B. Recommend halting deployment until algorithmic de-biasing protocols are implemented
to ensure the net positive impact is not negated by systemic harm.
C. Suggest deploying the tool only in affluent neighborhoods to minimize the impact of the
historical bias present in the training data.
D. Argue that the deployment is inherently unethical regardless of outcomes because it violates
the categorical imperative regarding individual autonomy.
, CORRECT ANSWER : B
Rationale: Utilitarianism focuses on maximizing overall utility; therefore, if the systemic harm
caused by bias outweighs the benefit of crime reduction, the action is unethical. Option B seeks
to optimize the system to achieve a true net positive. Option A ignores the negative utility of
discrimination, C is discriminatory, and D relies on deontological, not utilitarian, logic.
2. A software engineer discovers that their company’s newly released consumer IoT device has a
critical vulnerability that exposes user data to third-party advertisers without explicit consent.
Management refuses to patch it due to "cost-benefit constraints." Under the ACM Code of
Ethics, what is the engineer’s professional obligation?
A. Accept management’s decision, as the duty to the employer’s financial health takes
precedence over user privacy in the private sector.
B. Maintain confidentiality to protect trade secrets while subtly notifying only the affected high-
value clients of the risk.
C. Escalate the issue through organizational channels and, if unresolved, consider
whistleblowing to protect the public interest as mandated by professional responsibility.
D. Publish the vulnerability on a public forum immediately to force the company’s hand,
regardless of the potential for malicious exploitation.
CORRECT ANSWER : C
Rationale: The ACM Code of Ethics prioritizes the public good and safety above the interests of
the employer. Option C follows the professional standard of internal escalation before external
disclosure. A violates the code, B is exclusionary and unprofessional, and D creates unnecessary
risk to the public by premature public disclosure.
3. During a project involving large-scale data harvesting from social media platforms, the project
manager realizes that while the collection is technically legal under the Terms of Service, it
violates the implied privacy expectations of the users. Which ethical concept should guide the
manager’s decision to move forward?
A. Legal Positivism, which dictates that if an action is permitted by law, it is inherently ethical.
B. Data Stewardship, which emphasizes the moral responsibility to protect user
information beyond strict legal minimums.
C. Shareholder Primacy, which prioritizes maximizing the value extracted from available data
assets.
D. Determinism, which suggests the manager has no agency to change the data collection
practices once the project scope is defined.
, CORRECT ANSWER : B
Rationale: Data stewardship emphasizes the duty to protect data subjects, acknowledging that
legal compliance does not equal ethical conduct. Option A is a fallacy conflating legality with
morality, C ignores ethical obligations to stakeholders, and D is a philosophical position that
does not absolve the professional of ethical duty.
4. A cloud service provider is deciding whether to host data for a government entity known for
restricting human rights. The contract is highly lucrative. How should the provider evaluate this
decision through the lens of corporate social responsibility (CSR)?
A. Prioritize the contract as it provides stable revenue, which is the primary form of CSR for any
technology firm.
B. Evaluate the potential for the technology to be used to facilitate human rights abuses,
weighing profit against the firm's ethical commitment to human rights.
C. Accept the contract but ensure the terms of service explicitly state the provider is not liable for
how the data is used.
D. Reject the contract solely to avoid potential negative media coverage, regardless of the actual
impact of the services provided.
CORRECT ANSWER : B
Rationale: CSR involves considering the social impact of business operations beyond simple
profit or legal compliance. Option B reflects an ethical assessment of the technology's
downstream effects. Option A is financially driven, C attempts to dodge moral responsibility
through legalese, and D is motivated by self-interest (publicity) rather than genuine ethics.
5. A company uses "dark patterns" in its user interface to trick users into opting into data-sharing
programs. How does this practice violate the ethical principle of autonomy?
A. By preventing users from accessing the application unless they agree to the terms.
B. By manipulating the user’s decision-making environment to undermine informed
consent.
C. By increasing the complexity of the Terms of Service document beyond a reasonable reading
level.
D. By failing to provide a clear privacy policy link in the footer of the webpage.
CORRECT ANSWER : B
, Rationale: Autonomy requires that individuals be able to make decisions free from coercion or
manipulation. Dark patterns intentionally deceive or nudge users, effectively stripping them of
their ability to make a free, informed choice. Options A, C, and D are related to transparency or
accessibility but do not inherently constitute the psychological manipulation defined by dark
patterns.
6. You are reviewing a proposal for a new biometric surveillance system in the workplace. The
proposal claims the system will improve productivity. What is the most significant ethical risk
regarding the "power imbalance" in this scenario?
A. The cost of implementing biometric hardware is higher than traditional time-tracking
methods.
B. The employees may feel coerced into submitting to surveillance as a condition of
continued employment, limiting their ability to refuse.
C. The system may fail to accurately identify employees with certain physical characteristics,
leading to performance errors.
D. The system might be susceptible to hacking, resulting in the theft of sensitive biometric
templates.
CORRECT ANSWER : B
Rationale: The power imbalance between employer and employee creates an environment where
consent is often illusory. Option B directly addresses this, as employees cannot freely refuse
monitoring if their job security is at stake. A, C, and D are technical or operational concerns,
whereas B is the central ethical dilemma regarding workplace surveillance.
7. When utilizing "Open Source" libraries in a proprietary project, an engineer discovers a library
that is licensed under a GPL-like "copyleft" license. The engineer decides to integrate it into the
core product. What is the primary ethical and legal risk if the firm refuses to release its own
source code?
A. The risk of being audited by the government for unauthorized software use.
B. The violation of the intellectual property rights of the contributors, constituting a breach
of the licensing agreement.
C. The potential for the software to become unstable due to the integration of external code.
D. The ethical dilemma of contributing to the "tragedy of the commons" by using free labor.
CORRECT ANSWER : B
with Questions and Answers/Plus a Rationale Updated
2026 A+/Instant Download PDF
Table of Contents
1. Ethical Frameworks and Theories
2. Professional Ethics and Codes of Conduct
3. Privacy, Data Protection, and Surveillance
4. Intellectual Property and Digital Rights
5. Social Impacts of Emerging Technologies
6. Global Ethical Challenges and Sustainability
1. An organization is evaluating the implementation of an AI-driven predictive policing tool. The
system demonstrates high accuracy but relies on historical arrest data that inherently contains
systemic biases against marginalized communities. As an ethical advisor, which approach best
aligns with a utilitarian ethical framework regarding the deployment of this technology?
A. Recommend immediate deployment because the aggregate reduction in crime rates serves the
greatest good for the greatest number of citizens.
B. Recommend halting deployment until algorithmic de-biasing protocols are implemented
to ensure the net positive impact is not negated by systemic harm.
C. Suggest deploying the tool only in affluent neighborhoods to minimize the impact of the
historical bias present in the training data.
D. Argue that the deployment is inherently unethical regardless of outcomes because it violates
the categorical imperative regarding individual autonomy.
, CORRECT ANSWER : B
Rationale: Utilitarianism focuses on maximizing overall utility; therefore, if the systemic harm
caused by bias outweighs the benefit of crime reduction, the action is unethical. Option B seeks
to optimize the system to achieve a true net positive. Option A ignores the negative utility of
discrimination, C is discriminatory, and D relies on deontological, not utilitarian, logic.
2. A software engineer discovers that their company’s newly released consumer IoT device has a
critical vulnerability that exposes user data to third-party advertisers without explicit consent.
Management refuses to patch it due to "cost-benefit constraints." Under the ACM Code of
Ethics, what is the engineer’s professional obligation?
A. Accept management’s decision, as the duty to the employer’s financial health takes
precedence over user privacy in the private sector.
B. Maintain confidentiality to protect trade secrets while subtly notifying only the affected high-
value clients of the risk.
C. Escalate the issue through organizational channels and, if unresolved, consider
whistleblowing to protect the public interest as mandated by professional responsibility.
D. Publish the vulnerability on a public forum immediately to force the company’s hand,
regardless of the potential for malicious exploitation.
CORRECT ANSWER : C
Rationale: The ACM Code of Ethics prioritizes the public good and safety above the interests of
the employer. Option C follows the professional standard of internal escalation before external
disclosure. A violates the code, B is exclusionary and unprofessional, and D creates unnecessary
risk to the public by premature public disclosure.
3. During a project involving large-scale data harvesting from social media platforms, the project
manager realizes that while the collection is technically legal under the Terms of Service, it
violates the implied privacy expectations of the users. Which ethical concept should guide the
manager’s decision to move forward?
A. Legal Positivism, which dictates that if an action is permitted by law, it is inherently ethical.
B. Data Stewardship, which emphasizes the moral responsibility to protect user
information beyond strict legal minimums.
C. Shareholder Primacy, which prioritizes maximizing the value extracted from available data
assets.
D. Determinism, which suggests the manager has no agency to change the data collection
practices once the project scope is defined.
, CORRECT ANSWER : B
Rationale: Data stewardship emphasizes the duty to protect data subjects, acknowledging that
legal compliance does not equal ethical conduct. Option A is a fallacy conflating legality with
morality, C ignores ethical obligations to stakeholders, and D is a philosophical position that
does not absolve the professional of ethical duty.
4. A cloud service provider is deciding whether to host data for a government entity known for
restricting human rights. The contract is highly lucrative. How should the provider evaluate this
decision through the lens of corporate social responsibility (CSR)?
A. Prioritize the contract as it provides stable revenue, which is the primary form of CSR for any
technology firm.
B. Evaluate the potential for the technology to be used to facilitate human rights abuses,
weighing profit against the firm's ethical commitment to human rights.
C. Accept the contract but ensure the terms of service explicitly state the provider is not liable for
how the data is used.
D. Reject the contract solely to avoid potential negative media coverage, regardless of the actual
impact of the services provided.
CORRECT ANSWER : B
Rationale: CSR involves considering the social impact of business operations beyond simple
profit or legal compliance. Option B reflects an ethical assessment of the technology's
downstream effects. Option A is financially driven, C attempts to dodge moral responsibility
through legalese, and D is motivated by self-interest (publicity) rather than genuine ethics.
5. A company uses "dark patterns" in its user interface to trick users into opting into data-sharing
programs. How does this practice violate the ethical principle of autonomy?
A. By preventing users from accessing the application unless they agree to the terms.
B. By manipulating the user’s decision-making environment to undermine informed
consent.
C. By increasing the complexity of the Terms of Service document beyond a reasonable reading
level.
D. By failing to provide a clear privacy policy link in the footer of the webpage.
CORRECT ANSWER : B
, Rationale: Autonomy requires that individuals be able to make decisions free from coercion or
manipulation. Dark patterns intentionally deceive or nudge users, effectively stripping them of
their ability to make a free, informed choice. Options A, C, and D are related to transparency or
accessibility but do not inherently constitute the psychological manipulation defined by dark
patterns.
6. You are reviewing a proposal for a new biometric surveillance system in the workplace. The
proposal claims the system will improve productivity. What is the most significant ethical risk
regarding the "power imbalance" in this scenario?
A. The cost of implementing biometric hardware is higher than traditional time-tracking
methods.
B. The employees may feel coerced into submitting to surveillance as a condition of
continued employment, limiting their ability to refuse.
C. The system may fail to accurately identify employees with certain physical characteristics,
leading to performance errors.
D. The system might be susceptible to hacking, resulting in the theft of sensitive biometric
templates.
CORRECT ANSWER : B
Rationale: The power imbalance between employer and employee creates an environment where
consent is often illusory. Option B directly addresses this, as employees cannot freely refuse
monitoring if their job security is at stake. A, C, and D are technical or operational concerns,
whereas B is the central ethical dilemma regarding workplace surveillance.
7. When utilizing "Open Source" libraries in a proprietary project, an engineer discovers a library
that is licensed under a GPL-like "copyleft" license. The engineer decides to integrate it into the
core product. What is the primary ethical and legal risk if the firm refuses to release its own
source code?
A. The risk of being audited by the government for unauthorized software use.
B. The violation of the intellectual property rights of the contributors, constituting a breach
of the licensing agreement.
C. The potential for the software to become unstable due to the integration of external code.
D. The ethical dilemma of contributing to the "tragedy of the commons" by using free labor.
CORRECT ANSWER : B
