Issues related to technology: privacy and security of information, accuracy and information overload, equity and access, copyright and ethics, health and safety, and environmental impact

What this dot point is asking

You need to identify and evaluate the issues that arise from developing and using technology, and explain how they affect individuals, families and communities. These issues are the evaluative heart of the option, where you weigh technology's costs against its benefits.

Privacy and security of information

Digital technology collects vast amounts of personal data, raising issues of privacy and security. Data can be misused, sold, or stolen in breaches, and individuals often have little control over how their information is used. High-profile data breaches in Australia have exposed millions of people's details, showing the real consequences for families whose financial and personal information is compromised. Privacy law and security measures aim to protect people, but the issue grows as more of life moves online.

Accuracy and information overload

Technology gives instant access to enormous amounts of information, but not all of it is accurate. Misinformation spreads quickly online, making it hard to judge what is reliable. At the same time, the sheer volume of information can overwhelm people, a problem of information overload that affects decision-making, work and wellbeing. Individuals and families must develop digital literacy to evaluate sources and manage the flow of information.

Equity and access

The digital divide is the gap between those who have good access to technology and those who do not. Access depends on income, location, age and ability, so rural communities, older people and low-income households can be excluded from the benefits of technology, including services that have moved online. As essential services increasingly assume digital access, inequity in access can deepen existing disadvantage, making this one of the most significant social issues of technology.

Copyright and ethics

Technology makes copying and sharing content effortless, raising copyright issues around music, film, software and writing. Using or sharing others' work without permission breaches copyright and the rights of creators. Broader ethical issues include the responsible use of artificial intelligence, surveillance, and the way platforms are designed to capture attention. These issues require individuals and society to make judgements about right and acceptable use, not just what is technically possible.

Health and safety

Technology affects physical and mental health. Physical issues include eye strain, poor posture and a sedentary lifestyle from screen use. Mental and social issues include the effects of social media on self-esteem, cyberbullying, sleep disruption, and the pressure of constant connectivity. These effects are significant for families, especially for children and young people, and managing them is an ongoing challenge for individuals, parents and communities.

Environmental impact

Technology carries an environmental cost. Manufacturing devices consumes resources and energy, data centres use large amounts of electricity, and discarded devices create electronic waste that is difficult to recycle safely. Rapid upgrade cycles worsen the problem as devices are replaced frequently. Balancing the convenience of technology against its environmental footprint is an issue for communities and the wider society.

Evaluating the issues

These issues show that technology's impact is not simply good or bad; it brings benefits alongside real costs that fall unevenly across individuals, families and communities. In the exam, the strongest responses select relevant issues for the question, use specific Australian examples such as a major data breach or the rural digital divide, and evaluate the impact rather than just listing the issue, recognising that managing technology's downsides is a shared responsibility.