WGU D333 ETHICS IN TECHNOLOGY
EXAM PREPARATION 2026/27
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
ALREADY GRADED A+
1. Which ethical framework argues that the morality of an action is based solely on its
consequences, aiming for the greatest good for the greatest number?
A. Utilitarianism
B. Deontology
C. Virtue Ethics
D. Social Contract Theory
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Utilitarianism is a consequentialist theory that focuses on
maximizing overall happiness or utility.
2. Under the GDPR, what is the ‘Right to be Forgotten’?
A. The right to have personal data erased when it is no longer necessary for its original
purpose.
B. The right to browse the internet without being tracked by cookies.
C. The right to change one’s legal name on all digital platforms.
,D. The right to prevent search engines from indexing public government records.
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: The Right to Erasure, or Right to be Forgotten, allows
individuals to request the deletion of personal data under specific conditions.
3. In the context of the U.S. Fourth Amendment, what does the ‘Third-Party Doctrine’ imply?
A. A search warrant is always required to access data held by a cloud service provider.
B. People who voluntarily give information to third parties, such as banks or ISPs, lose their
reasonable expectation of privacy.
C. Encryption keys must be shared with the government upon request.
D. Software developers are not liable for security breaches caused by third-party libraries.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The Third-Party Doctrine holds that individuals have no
reasonable expectation of privacy for information voluntarily shared with third parties.
4. What is the primary purpose of the Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Act of 2002?
A. To regulate the collection of data from children under 13.
B. To protect whistleblowers in the healthcare industry.
C. To mandate federal standards for cybersecurity in the energy sector.
D. To improve the accuracy and reliability of corporate disclosures and prevent accounting
fraud.
, Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: SOX was enacted to protect investors by improving the accuracy
of corporate disclosures following scandals like Enron and WorldCom.
5. Which type of intellectual property protection is most appropriate for a unique chemical
formula used in a soft drink?
A. Copyright
B. Trademark
C. Patent
D. Trade Secret
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Trade secrets protect formulas or processes that provide a
competitive advantage and are kept confidential indefinitely.
6. A software engineer discovers a critical vulnerability in their company’s product but is told
by management to ignore it to meet a release deadline. Which ACM Code of Ethics principle
is most directly challenged?
A. Manage personnel and resources to design and build systems that enhance the quality of
working life.
B. Honor confidentiality.
EXAM PREPARATION 2026/27
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
ALREADY GRADED A+
1. Which ethical framework argues that the morality of an action is based solely on its
consequences, aiming for the greatest good for the greatest number?
A. Utilitarianism
B. Deontology
C. Virtue Ethics
D. Social Contract Theory
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Utilitarianism is a consequentialist theory that focuses on
maximizing overall happiness or utility.
2. Under the GDPR, what is the ‘Right to be Forgotten’?
A. The right to have personal data erased when it is no longer necessary for its original
purpose.
B. The right to browse the internet without being tracked by cookies.
C. The right to change one’s legal name on all digital platforms.
,D. The right to prevent search engines from indexing public government records.
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: The Right to Erasure, or Right to be Forgotten, allows
individuals to request the deletion of personal data under specific conditions.
3. In the context of the U.S. Fourth Amendment, what does the ‘Third-Party Doctrine’ imply?
A. A search warrant is always required to access data held by a cloud service provider.
B. People who voluntarily give information to third parties, such as banks or ISPs, lose their
reasonable expectation of privacy.
C. Encryption keys must be shared with the government upon request.
D. Software developers are not liable for security breaches caused by third-party libraries.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The Third-Party Doctrine holds that individuals have no
reasonable expectation of privacy for information voluntarily shared with third parties.
4. What is the primary purpose of the Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Act of 2002?
A. To regulate the collection of data from children under 13.
B. To protect whistleblowers in the healthcare industry.
C. To mandate federal standards for cybersecurity in the energy sector.
D. To improve the accuracy and reliability of corporate disclosures and prevent accounting
fraud.
, Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: SOX was enacted to protect investors by improving the accuracy
of corporate disclosures following scandals like Enron and WorldCom.
5. Which type of intellectual property protection is most appropriate for a unique chemical
formula used in a soft drink?
A. Copyright
B. Trademark
C. Patent
D. Trade Secret
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Trade secrets protect formulas or processes that provide a
competitive advantage and are kept confidential indefinitely.
6. A software engineer discovers a critical vulnerability in their company’s product but is told
by management to ignore it to meet a release deadline. Which ACM Code of Ethics principle
is most directly challenged?
A. Manage personnel and resources to design and build systems that enhance the quality of
working life.
B. Honor confidentiality.
