WGU D333 ETHICS IN TECHNOLOGY
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM PREP
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
ALREADY GRADED A+
1. A software engineer discovers that their company is knowingly releasing a product with a
security flaw that could compromise user financial data. According to the ACM Code of Ethics,
what is the engineer’s primary obligation?
A. Protect the company’s reputation by keeping the flaw confidential.
B. Follow the orders of management to ensure project completion.
C. Prioritize the public good and safety above all other interests.
D. Report the issue only if it violates a specific local law.
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The ACM Code of Ethics emphasizes that the public good is
always the primary consideration in ethical decision-making for computing professionals.
2. Which ethical framework is based on the principle that the ‘right’ action is the one that
results in the greatest good for the greatest number of people?
A. Utilitarianism
B. Deontology
,C. Virtue Ethics
D. Social Contract Theory
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Utilitarianism is a consequentialist theory focused on
maximizing utility or ‘the greatest good.’
3. In the context of the Fourth Amendment, what is the ‘Third-Party Doctrine’?
A. Information shared with a third party is still protected by a reasonable expectation of
privacy.
B. Third parties are legally required to encrypt all user data.
C. Law enforcement must obtain a warrant before contacting any third-party service
provider.
D. People who voluntarily give information to third parties have no ‘reasonable expectation
of privacy.’
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The Third-Party Doctrine holds that individuals lose their
Fourth Amendment privacy protections when they share information with third parties
like banks or ISPs.
4. Under the GDPR, what is the ‘Right to be Forgotten’?
A. The right to have inaccurate data corrected.
, B. The right to transfer data to another service provider.
C. The right to remain anonymous while browsing the internet.
D. The right to request the deletion of personal data when it is no longer necessary.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The Right to Erasure (Right to be Forgotten) allows individuals
to request that organizations delete their personal data under specific circumstances.
5. Which law specifically governs the privacy of student educational records in the United
States?
A. HIPAA
B. GLBA
C. FERPA
D. COPPA
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) protects the
privacy of student education records.
6. A company uses a proprietary algorithm to sort job applications. If the algorithm
unintentionally favors male candidates over female candidates, this is an example of:
A. Virtue Ethics
B. Intentional Discrimination
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM PREP
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
ALREADY GRADED A+
1. A software engineer discovers that their company is knowingly releasing a product with a
security flaw that could compromise user financial data. According to the ACM Code of Ethics,
what is the engineer’s primary obligation?
A. Protect the company’s reputation by keeping the flaw confidential.
B. Follow the orders of management to ensure project completion.
C. Prioritize the public good and safety above all other interests.
D. Report the issue only if it violates a specific local law.
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The ACM Code of Ethics emphasizes that the public good is
always the primary consideration in ethical decision-making for computing professionals.
2. Which ethical framework is based on the principle that the ‘right’ action is the one that
results in the greatest good for the greatest number of people?
A. Utilitarianism
B. Deontology
,C. Virtue Ethics
D. Social Contract Theory
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Utilitarianism is a consequentialist theory focused on
maximizing utility or ‘the greatest good.’
3. In the context of the Fourth Amendment, what is the ‘Third-Party Doctrine’?
A. Information shared with a third party is still protected by a reasonable expectation of
privacy.
B. Third parties are legally required to encrypt all user data.
C. Law enforcement must obtain a warrant before contacting any third-party service
provider.
D. People who voluntarily give information to third parties have no ‘reasonable expectation
of privacy.’
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The Third-Party Doctrine holds that individuals lose their
Fourth Amendment privacy protections when they share information with third parties
like banks or ISPs.
4. Under the GDPR, what is the ‘Right to be Forgotten’?
A. The right to have inaccurate data corrected.
, B. The right to transfer data to another service provider.
C. The right to remain anonymous while browsing the internet.
D. The right to request the deletion of personal data when it is no longer necessary.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The Right to Erasure (Right to be Forgotten) allows individuals
to request that organizations delete their personal data under specific circumstances.
5. Which law specifically governs the privacy of student educational records in the United
States?
A. HIPAA
B. GLBA
C. FERPA
D. COPPA
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) protects the
privacy of student education records.
6. A company uses a proprietary algorithm to sort job applications. If the algorithm
unintentionally favors male candidates over female candidates, this is an example of:
A. Virtue Ethics
B. Intentional Discrimination
