006: social credit & surveillance: the privacy trade-off (ks4)
Explore the ethical dilemmas of mass surveillance and social credit systems. Work as a Responsible Innovator to weigh safety against privacy in this KS4 Computer Science lesson.
The Panopticon Dilemma
The Scenario
The UK Government is considering introducing a "Digital Citizenship Score" similar to social credit systems used elsewhere. As a Senior Ethics Consultant (Responsible Innovator), you have been asked to produce a balanced Policy Briefing weighing the benefits of such a system against the severe risks to civil liberties.
The Persona: The Responsible Innovator
The responsible innovator focuses on Ethics, Law, and Society. You must look past the technical specifications to understand the human cost of technology. You ask: "Is this fair? Is this legal? Who does this harm?"
The UK Government is considering introducing a "Digital Citizenship Score" similar to social credit systems used elsewhere. As a Senior Ethics Consultant (Responsible Innovator), you have been asked to produce a balanced Policy Briefing weighing the benefits of such a system against the severe risks to civil liberties.
The responsible innovator focuses on Ethics, Law, and Society. You must look past the technical specifications to understand the human cost of technology. You ask: "Is this fair? Is this legal? Who does this harm?"
1
Research the Landscape
You need to understand the precedent. Use the following search terms to gather evidence on existing systems. Look for specific examples of what behaviours are punished and what the consequences are.
2
Analyse the Technology
Identify the specific technologies required to make such a system work. Consider:
Biometric DataI have no idea what this means: How is facial recognition used?
Big DataI have no idea what this means: How are different data sources (financial, social, travel) aggregated?
IoT (Internet of Things)I have no idea what this means: How do smart devices contribute to surveillance?
3
Draft the Policy Briefing
Open a word processor. Create a report titled Policy Briefing: Project Panopticon".
Structure your report with the following headings:
1
Executive Summary: A brief definition of Social Credit Systems.
2
The Argument for Security: Explain how this could reduce crime or improve social behaviour.
3
The Argument for Privacy: Explain the risks (discrimination, loss of freedom, data misuse).
4
Legal Implications: Mention the Data Protection Act (2018) / GDPR. Would this system violate the principle of 'Data Minimisation'?
5
Final Recommendation: Your professional opinion on whether the UK should adopt this system.
4
Extension: The "To What Extent" Challenge
At the bottom of your report, answer this exam-style question:
"To what extent is the loss of privacy a necessary price to pay for national security in the digital age?"
Ensure you provide a balanced argument before reaching a conclusion.
Outcome
A formatted Policy Briefing document.
Definitions of key terms (Biometrics, Aggregation, GDPR).
Evidence of critical analysis (weighing pros vs cons).
A clear, justified conclusion.
Last modified: January 9th, 2026
