WGU Ethics In Technology QCO1 WGU (QCO1) Ethics In Technology Exam Questions

Answer : D

Confidentiality ensures that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive information.

Why Confidentiality Was Violated?

Payroll information is sensitive and should be accessible only to authorized employees.

The erroneous access granted to new hires means private financial information is at risk.

Confidentiality is a fundamental principle in cybersecurity, ensuring that data is accessed only by those who need it.

Why Not the Other Options?

A . Availability -- Ensures systems remain operational, but this case concerns unauthorized access, not system downtime.

B . Accessibility -- Relates to making data usable for authorized individuals, but this case involves an unauthorized access issue.

C . Integrity -- Ensures data remains accurate and unaltered, but the issue here is privacy, not data accuracy.

Thus, the correct answer is D. Confidentiality, as it ensures that only authorized users can access sensitive information.

Reference in Ethics in Technology:

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework.

ISO/IEC 27001: Information Security Management Systems.

Answer : C

The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) governs the collection, protection, and disclosure of personally identifiable financial information (PII) by financial institutions, including credit reporting agencies.

Why GLBA applies to this case:

Credit reporting agencies handle sensitive consumer financial data, making them subject to GLBA regulations.

The Financial Privacy Rule under GLBA dictates how financial institutions must collect and disclose PII.

The Safeguards Rule requires companies to appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO) to oversee data security practices.

Why Not the Other Options?

A . Securities Exchange Act -- Governs stock trading and financial disclosures, not PII protection.

B . Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) -- Focuses on corporate financial reporting and accounting fraud, not data privacy.

D . Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) -- Primarily deals with money laundering and financial crime detection, not consumer data protection.

Thus, the correct answer is C. Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) as it regulates the collection and protection of financial PII.

Reference in Ethics in Technology:

Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (1999), 15 U.S.C. 6801-6809.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Guide on GLBA Compliance.

Solove, D. J. (2020). The Privacy Law Fundamentals.

Answer : B

The H-1B visa program requires employers to pay foreign workers at least 95% of the average salary for their occupation. However, some companies exploit a loophole by misclassifying experienced H-1B workers as entry-level to justify paying them lower wages.

By doing this, the company artificially lowers salary expectations for H-1B workers, avoiding compliance with wage requirements while benefiting from cheaper labor.

Relevant Ethical Reference in Technology:

H-1B Wage Regulations (Department of Labor, LCA Requirements) -- Employers must accurately classify workers based on experience level.

Corporate Ethics & Fair Compensation -- Ethical labor practices ensure fair wages regardless of immigration status.

Utilitarian & Deontological Ethics -- Ethical employers should not manipulate classifications to exploit workers.

Whistleblower Protections (H-1B & Immigration Labor Laws) -- H-1B employees can report misclassification and wage exploitation.

Thus, the correct answer is B. Classifying an H-1B worker as entry level when they fill a position of an experienced worker, as it allows employers to pay lower wages unfairly.

Answer : B

Contingent workers (temporary employees, contractors, or freelancers) can help fill workforce gaps, but they lack deep familiarity with internal business processes, which can be a disadvantage.

Why Internal Business Process Understanding is a Concern?

Contingent workers are not deeply integrated into company culture, workflows, and long-term strategies.

They require time to adapt to internal systems, which can slow productivity initially.

Unlike full-time employees, they may not retain or transfer institutional knowledge to future projects.

Why Not the Other Options?

A . Any skills gained during employment will be lost to the company at the project's completion. -- While true, documentation and knowledge-sharing can mitigate this loss.

C . The company may require the same worker for other projects. -- This is a potential benefit, not a disadvantage.

D . The company does not have to provide benefits throughout the project's lifecycle. -- This is an advantage, not a disadvantage.

Thus, the correct answer is B. Internal business process understanding will be minimal given the temporary nature of the workers.

Reference in Ethics in Technology:

Harvard Business Review (2022). Managing Contingent Workers Effectively.

Kalleberg, A. L. (2000). Nonstandard Employment Relations: Part-time, Temporary, and Contract Work.

Answer : D

A John Doe lawsuit is a legal action filed against an anonymous or unknown defendant. In this case, the university is suing a student who posted negative comments anonymously, meaning the identity of the defendant is not yet known.

John Doe lawsuits are commonly used in defamation cases, copyright disputes, and online anonymity issues where plaintiffs seek to unmask anonymous individuals.

Relevant Ethical Reference in Technology:

Freedom of Speech vs. Defamation (First Amendment) -- Balances anonymity rights with protection against false or damaging statements.

Digital Ethics & Anonymity -- Ethical concerns arise when institutions use lawsuits to silence critics rather than address legitimate concerns.

ACM & IEEE Ethics -- Encourage fair use of digital rights while discouraging online harassment and false accusations.

Strategic Lawsuits vs. Free Speech (SLAPP vs. Anti-SLAPP) -- A John Doe lawsuit could be used unethically to suppress criticism.

Thus, the correct answer is D. John Doe lawsuit, as the university is suing an anonymous individual.

Answer : A

Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) is a digital system that allows healthcare providers to enter medication orders electronically, significantly reducing medication errors.

Why CPOE?

Eliminates handwriting-related errors from illegible prescriptions.

Ensures complete medication details before processing.

Often integrates with decision support tools to flag incorrect dosages and drug interactions.

Why Not the Other Options?

B . Health Information Exchange (HIE): Facilitates data sharing between healthcare providers but does not focus on preventing medication errors.

C . Electronic Medical Record (EMR): Stores patient data but does not address prescription-related errors directly.

D . Clinical Decision Support (CDS): Assists providers in making clinical decisions but does not replace the ordering process like CPOE.

Thus, the correct answer is A. Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) because it directly prevents prescription errors caused by illegible handwriting or incomplete data.

Reference in Ethics in Technology:

Bates, D. W. et al. (1998). Effect of Computerized Physician Order Entry and a Team Intervention on Prevention of Serious Medication Errors.

Institute of Medicine (2000). To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System.

Answer : C

Proxy discrimination occurs when a seemingly neutral variable (e.g., zip code) serves as a proxy for a protected characteristic, such as race, gender, or socioeconomic status. In this case, the AI uses zip codes to determine learning support for racial segments, introducing unintentional racial bias because zip codes often reflect historical segregation and economic disparities.

Since historical housing policies (e.g., redlining) led to racial and economic segregation, using zip codes as a decision factor unfairly correlates race with access to educational resources---a classic example of proxy discrimination.

Relevant Ethical Reference in Technology:

Algorithmic Bias & Fairness (FAT/ML Guidelines) -- AI systems must avoid using proxies that reinforce systemic discrimination.

Civil Rights Laws (Fair Housing Act, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act) -- Policies that disproportionately harm racial groups violate anti-discrimination laws.

ACM & IEEE Ethics in AI -- Developers must mitigate biases in AI models that result in unfair treatment.

Deontological Ethics & Fairness -- AI systems should not perpetuate historical biases through indirect discrimination.

Thus, the correct answer is C. Proxy discrimination, as zip codes indirectly introduce racial bias into the AI system.