AQA · GCSE · Computer Science
Course version: 8525 · Version from Sept 2020
Students should be aware that governments and security services often…
Full specification wording
Ethical, legal and environmental impacts of digital technology on wider society, including issues of privacy: Students should be aware that governments and security services often argue that they cannot keep their citizens safe from terrorism and other attacks unless they have access to private data.
This statement presents the security argument for accessing private data.
Checked against the AQA 8525 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 9 of 9
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
This statement presents the security argument for accessing private data. Governments and security services often claim that preventing terrorism and other attacks requires access to private communications, location records or stored data, because suspects may hide plans in encrypted messages or private accounts. The argument is that safety and privacy can conflict: reducing access might protect privacy but could, in their view, make it harder to detect threats. A useful method is to identify the claim being made, who makes it and the reason given. In a multiple-choice question, choose the option that matches this security justification, and do not confuse it with the citizens' privacy concern, which is a separate viewpoint.
What earns the marks
- Identifies that governments and security services argue access to private data is needed to keep citizens safe.
- Links the argument to preventing terrorism and other attacks.
- Explains the reasoning: suspects may use private or encrypted data, so access is claimed to help detect threats.
- Recognises this as one viewpoint in a debate that can conflict with citizens' privacy.
- Rejects options that misattribute the argument or claim security services see no need for access.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Confusing this viewpoint with the citizens' privacy concern.
Put it right: These are two different positions in the debate.
Assuming the argument means all private data is always accessed.
Put it right: The claim is about access being needed to keep citizens safe.
Exam tips
- Look for the option that names who makes the argument and why.
- Check the option mentions safety from terrorism or other attacks.
- Eliminate options that reverse the argument or deny any security justification.
Try the lesson
The start of the Ethical, legal and environmental impacts of digital technology on wider society, including issues of privacy: Students should be aware that governments and security services often argue that they cannot keep their citizens safe from terrorism and other attacks unless they have access to private data. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
A security service wants to read the encrypted messages of people it suspects of planning an attack. Which argument would the security service most likely give for being allowed to do this?
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