WGU D333 Ethics in Technology Exam - 2026-2027
| Digital Ethics & Professional Responsibility
Assessment
50 scenario-based items | Grade-A analytical rigor
DOMAIN 1 ‑ Foundational Theories & Professional Codes (10 Qs)
Q1. A social-media engagement algorithm amplifies divisive political content and
misinformation. The manager claims this merely gives users “what they want.” Under
the ACM Code, the engineer’s primary professional duty is to:
A. Respect managerial authority and business goals
B. Disclose the finding publicly to force change
C. Recognize the risk of widespread harm and advocate for mitigation within the
organization (correct)
D. Document privately and move on
Rationale: ACM 1.1 (“Contribute to society…”) + 1.2 (“Avoid harm”) create an affirmative
duty to seek internal remediation before public whistle-blowing. A ignores
harm-avoidance; B bypasses internal channels; D is passive complicity.
Q2. A start-up’s AR glasses project live facial-recognition data to wearers. A
deontological analysis would most strongly emphasize which ethical concern?
A. Aggregate utility of public safety
,B. Violation of individuals’ autonomy and dignity through non-consensual identification
(correct)
C. Long-term corporate reputational risk
D. Possible bias in the recognition model
Rationale: Deontology focuses on duties and rights; using someone’s face without
consent treats them merely as means, infringing autonomy.
Q3. An open-source project adopts a CoC prohibiting “harmful speech.” A contributor
argues this restricts free expression. Which IEEE clause best supports the CoC’s
legitimacy?
A. “To reject bribery”
B. “To treat all persons fairly” + “To avoid harming others” (correct)
C. “To assist colleagues in professional development”
D. “To seek critical peer review”
Rationale: IEEE 7 & 8 require fairness and harm-avoidance; inclusive, non-harmful
speech enables equitable participation.
Q4. A city’s predictive-policing model reallocates patrols to historically over-policed
neighborhoods, reinforcing racial disparity. Which principle is most directly violated?
A. Transparency
B. Justice as fairness (correct)
C. Data minimization
, D. Explainability
Rationale: Allocating harms unequely along racial lines violates Rawlsian fair equality of
opportunity—justice, not merely transparency.
Q5. A genetic-engineering firm uses CRISPR to reduce disease-carrying mosquitoes. A
virtue-ethics lens would prioritize which question?
A. Does the intervention maximize global health?
B. What kind of ecological character are we cultivating—stewards or dominators?
(correct)
C. Will gene-drive spread be reversible?
D. Are profits aligned with social good?
Rationale: Virtue ethics focuses on the moral agent’s character and habits; assessing
the “kind of people” we become in altering ecosystems is central.
Q6. A data-analytics firm offers engineers stock bonuses tied to user-data monetization.
Which NSPE code clause is most relevant to evaluating this incentive?
A. “Engineers shall not reveal confidential information”
B. “Engineers shall act with integrity—avoid conflicts of interest” (correct)
C. “Engineers shall continue professional development”
D. “Engineers shall not complete work beyond competence”
Rationale: Financial incentives that reward privacy erosion create a conflict between
personal gain and public obligation; integrity clause governs.
| Digital Ethics & Professional Responsibility
Assessment
50 scenario-based items | Grade-A analytical rigor
DOMAIN 1 ‑ Foundational Theories & Professional Codes (10 Qs)
Q1. A social-media engagement algorithm amplifies divisive political content and
misinformation. The manager claims this merely gives users “what they want.” Under
the ACM Code, the engineer’s primary professional duty is to:
A. Respect managerial authority and business goals
B. Disclose the finding publicly to force change
C. Recognize the risk of widespread harm and advocate for mitigation within the
organization (correct)
D. Document privately and move on
Rationale: ACM 1.1 (“Contribute to society…”) + 1.2 (“Avoid harm”) create an affirmative
duty to seek internal remediation before public whistle-blowing. A ignores
harm-avoidance; B bypasses internal channels; D is passive complicity.
Q2. A start-up’s AR glasses project live facial-recognition data to wearers. A
deontological analysis would most strongly emphasize which ethical concern?
A. Aggregate utility of public safety
,B. Violation of individuals’ autonomy and dignity through non-consensual identification
(correct)
C. Long-term corporate reputational risk
D. Possible bias in the recognition model
Rationale: Deontology focuses on duties and rights; using someone’s face without
consent treats them merely as means, infringing autonomy.
Q3. An open-source project adopts a CoC prohibiting “harmful speech.” A contributor
argues this restricts free expression. Which IEEE clause best supports the CoC’s
legitimacy?
A. “To reject bribery”
B. “To treat all persons fairly” + “To avoid harming others” (correct)
C. “To assist colleagues in professional development”
D. “To seek critical peer review”
Rationale: IEEE 7 & 8 require fairness and harm-avoidance; inclusive, non-harmful
speech enables equitable participation.
Q4. A city’s predictive-policing model reallocates patrols to historically over-policed
neighborhoods, reinforcing racial disparity. Which principle is most directly violated?
A. Transparency
B. Justice as fairness (correct)
C. Data minimization
, D. Explainability
Rationale: Allocating harms unequely along racial lines violates Rawlsian fair equality of
opportunity—justice, not merely transparency.
Q5. A genetic-engineering firm uses CRISPR to reduce disease-carrying mosquitoes. A
virtue-ethics lens would prioritize which question?
A. Does the intervention maximize global health?
B. What kind of ecological character are we cultivating—stewards or dominators?
(correct)
C. Will gene-drive spread be reversible?
D. Are profits aligned with social good?
Rationale: Virtue ethics focuses on the moral agent’s character and habits; assessing
the “kind of people” we become in altering ecosystems is central.
Q6. A data-analytics firm offers engineers stock bonuses tied to user-data monetization.
Which NSPE code clause is most relevant to evaluating this incentive?
A. “Engineers shall not reveal confidential information”
B. “Engineers shall act with integrity—avoid conflicts of interest” (correct)
C. “Engineers shall continue professional development”
D. “Engineers shall not complete work beyond competence”
Rationale: Financial incentives that reward privacy erosion create a conflict between
personal gain and public obligation; integrity clause governs.
