The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to everyday physical objects — from fridges to fitness trackers — connected to the internet, collecting and exchanging data. Automation uses technology to perform tasks with reduced human involvement, from simple household devices to complex manufacturing systems. These emerging technologies raise important ethical questions around privacy (how collected data is used), job displacement (as automation replaces certain tasks), and equitable access (ensuring benefits aren't limited to only those who can afford new technology).
Example
A smart home system might use IoT sensors to automatically adjust heating based on occupancy patterns, saving energy — but this same data collection raises privacy questions about who can access detailed information on when people are home and their daily habits.
Key terms
Internet of Things (IoT):
Everyday physical objects connected to the internet to collect and exchange data.
Automation:
Using technology to perform tasks with reduced human involvement.
Digital divide:
The gap between those with and without good access to modern technology.
Questions
1. The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to:
Everyday physical objects connected to the internet
Only computers, with no other devices included
A single company's private network only
Objects with absolutely no data connection at all
2. Automation uses technology to:
Perform tasks with reduced human involvement
Always require more human labour than before
Prevent any tasks from ever being completed
Only apply to household cleaning, with no other use
3. The digital divide refers to:
The gap between those with and without good technology access
A type of computer virus
A feature found in every modern device equally
A term unrelated to technology access
4. A fitness tracker connected to the internet is an example of:
IoT
A device with no internet connection
A type of encryption only
A purely mechanical device with no data function
5. IoT devices typically:
Collect and exchange data
Never collect any data at all
Only function without any internet connection
Are always completely identical to traditional computers
6. Ethical questions raised by emerging technologies include:
Privacy, job displacement and equitable access
Nothing; these technologies raise no ethical questions
Only questions about device colour and design
Only questions unrelated to society
7. A smart home system adjusting heating automatically is an example of:
Automation using IoT data
A purely manual process with no automation
A device with no data collection involved
A type of encryption technology only
8. Why might IoT devices collecting data about daily habits (like when someone is home) raise privacy concerns?
This detailed personal data could be misused or accessed by parties beyond the intended purpose
Collected data from IoT devices is always completely impossible to misuse
Privacy concerns have no connection to the kind of data IoT devices collect
IoT devices never actually collect any data about a person's habits
9. Why might automation in manufacturing lead to concerns about job displacement?
Tasks previously done by humans may increasingly be performed by automated systems instead
Automation always creates more jobs than it ever displaces, with no exceptions
Job displacement has no connection to increased automation
Manufacturing has never been affected by any form of automation
10. Why might the digital divide mean that not everyone benefits equally from emerging technologies?
Access to new devices and reliable internet is not equally available to everyone due to cost and infrastructure differences
Every single person has identical access to all forms of technology
Cost and infrastructure never affect who can access new technology
The digital divide only ever affects wealthy individuals, not disadvantaged ones
11. Why might businesses be motivated to adopt IoT and automation despite the costs of implementation?
These technologies can improve efficiency, reduce long-term costs, or enable new types of products and services
Businesses never see any benefit from adopting new technology
IoT and automation always increase costs with no possible benefit
Efficiency has no connection to a business's decision to adopt new technology
12. Why might governments consider regulations around how companies collect and use IoT data?
Regulation can help protect individuals' privacy and ensure data is used responsibly
Data collected by IoT devices requires no oversight or regulation whatsoever
Governments have no role in overseeing how technology companies operate
Regulations around data always have no real-world purpose or benefit
13. Why might reskilling and education programs be proposed as a response to job displacement from automation?
They can help workers transition into new roles that are less likely to be automated
Reskilling programs have no practical purpose in response to automation
Workers displaced by automation should never receive any support or training
Automation never actually displaces any workers, making reskilling unnecessary
14. Why might security be a particular concern for IoT devices, compared to traditional computers?
Many IoT devices have weaker built-in security, yet are still connected to networks and collecting sensitive data
IoT devices are always more secure than traditional computers by default
Security concerns are identical for every type of connected device, with no distinction
IoT devices are never connected to any network, removing any security risk
15. Why might policymakers face a difficult balance between encouraging technological innovation and protecting against its potential harms?
Overly strict regulation might slow beneficial innovation, while too little regulation might allow harmful practices to go unchecked
Innovation and potential harm are always completely unrelated to each other
There has never been any real tension between innovation and regulation
Policymakers should always prioritise one of these goals with no consideration of the other
16. Why might the widespread adoption of automation and IoT be considered as much a social and ethical challenge as a technical one?
These technologies affect employment, privacy and access in ways that go beyond simply how the devices function technically
Automation and IoT are purely technical issues with no broader social implications
Ethical considerations have no relevance to how emerging technologies are adopted
Technical challenges are always completely separate from any social impact
17. A smart fridge that tracks grocery levels and suggests a shopping list is an example of:
IoT applied to a household task
A device with no data collection involved
A purely mechanical appliance with no connectivity
A form of encryption technology
18. Why might a factory replacing manual assembly line tasks with robotic automation see both efficiency gains and workforce concerns?
Automation can increase production speed and consistency while also reducing the number of manual roles needed
Automation always increases both efficiency and the total number of jobs available
Workforce concerns are never a realistic consequence of automation
Efficiency gains and workforce impacts are always completely unrelated to each other
19. Why might rural or lower-income communities be disproportionately affected by the digital divide?
They may have less access to reliable high-speed internet infrastructure or affordable devices needed to benefit from new technology
Every community, regardless of location or income, always has identical technology access
The digital divide only ever affects communities with the highest incomes
Infrastructure availability has no connection to a community's access to technology
20. Why might the ethical design of emerging technologies (considering impact before release) be increasingly emphasised by technology companies and regulators?
Identifying potential harms like privacy risks or job displacement before widespread adoption can help address them proactively rather than reactively
Ethical design considerations have no practical value in technology development
Problems from new technology are always impossible to anticipate before release
Technology companies and regulators have never considered the ethical impact of new products
They can continuously collect intimate personal data, like heart rate or location, over extended periods of time
Wearable devices never collect any form of personal data
Health-related data collected by wearables is never considered sensitive
Privacy considerations only ever apply to devices used in the home, not wearables
Answer key (parent copy)
1. Everyday physical objects connected to the internet
2. Perform tasks with reduced human involvement
3. The gap between those with and without good technology access
4. IoT
5. Collect and exchange data
6. Privacy, job displacement and equitable access
7. Automation using IoT data
8. This detailed personal data could be misused or accessed by parties beyond the intended purpose
9. Tasks previously done by humans may increasingly be performed by automated systems instead
10. Access to new devices and reliable internet is not equally available to everyone due to cost and infrastructure differences
11. These technologies can improve efficiency, reduce long-term costs, or enable new types of products and services
12. Regulation can help protect individuals' privacy and ensure data is used responsibly
13. They can help workers transition into new roles that are less likely to be automated
14. Many IoT devices have weaker built-in security, yet are still connected to networks and collecting sensitive data
15. Overly strict regulation might slow beneficial innovation, while too little regulation might allow harmful practices to go unchecked
16. These technologies affect employment, privacy and access in ways that go beyond simply how the devices function technically
17. IoT applied to a household task
18. Automation can increase production speed and consistency while also reducing the number of manual roles needed
19. They may have less access to reliable high-speed internet infrastructure or affordable devices needed to benefit from new technology
20. Identifying potential harms like privacy risks or job displacement before widespread adoption can help address them proactively rather than reactively
21. They can continuously collect intimate personal data, like heart rate or location, over extended periods of time