Joy English · Level C1 · Technology and societyjoy-english.com
Technology, data and ethics
Name:Date:
Learn words such as ubiquitous, surveillance, anonymise, accountability and transparency to discuss digital technology and its ethical questions.
Choose the best option
Choose the word or phrase that completes each sentence.
- Smartphones have become so ___ that many people feel anxious without one.
- Fake accounts began to ___ across the platform within a few weeks.
- Before using the images in the study, researchers must ___ them so that no one can be identified.
- Patients must give ___ before their data are used: they need to understand exactly what they are agreeing to.
- The company apologised after a ___ exposed the addresses of thousands of customers.
- What does accountability mean?
- The app was criticised as ___ because it tracked users' locations even when it was closed.
- Engineers hope to ___ the power of machine learning to detect diseases earlier.
Complete the sentence
Type the word that completes each sentence. Use each word once: accountability, bias, informed, intrusive, proliferate, safeguard, surveillance, transparency.
- Critics say the system shows ___ against applicants from certain postcodes.
- Greater ___ about how decisions are made would help the public trust the system.
- Constant ___ in public places, through cameras and sensors, has changed how people behave.
- Strong laws are needed to ___ personal data from misuse.
- Without clear ___, nobody takes responsibility when automated tools make serious errors.
- Many users find targeted pop-up messages ___ and switch them off.
- Low-quality videos tend to ___ whenever a topic becomes popular.
- Participants cannot join the trial until they have given ___ consent, having read about all the risks.
Answer key
Choose the best option
- b) ubiquitousUbiquitous means seeming to be everywhere, which explains why people feel lost without a phone.
- c) proliferateProliferate means increase quickly in number.
- a) anonymiseAnonymise means remove identifying details.
- d) informed consentInformed consent is permission given with full understanding.
- b) data breachA data breach is an incident in which private information is released without permission.
- b) being responsible for your actions and having to explain themAccountability means being responsible for what you do and having to explain or justify it.
- a) intrusiveIntrusive means interfering in a way people do not want, such as tracking location.
- c) harnessHarness means control and use a power for a purpose.
Complete the sentence
- bias / prejudiceShow bias against someone means treat them unfairly.
- transparency / opennessTransparency means openness about how things work.
- surveillance / monitoringSurveillance means close observation, often with cameras.
- safeguard / protect / shieldSafeguard means protect from harm.
- accountabilityAccountability means being responsible and having to explain your actions.
- intrusive / invasive / annoying / irritating / distractingIntrusive means interfering in a way that is not wanted.
- proliferate / multiply / spreadProliferate means increase quickly in number.
- informed / full / writtenInformed consent is agreement given with full understanding.