Which option creates an ethical concern due to technological change?

Correct answer: Using customer personal data without consent

The direct answer is option A: using customer personal data without consent. An ethical concern arises when a technological action may violate people’s rights, fairness, safety, or trust. Personal data can include information that identifies or describes a customer. Using it without consent means collecting or applying it without properly informing the person or obtaining the required permission. This can harm privacy and may lead to misuse, unfair profiling, or loss of trust. Option A is correct because it directly combines technological data use with the ethical principles of privacy and consent. Option B, paying wages on time, is a responsible employment practice and does not create an ethical concern because of technological change. Option C, regularly cleaning a machine, is a normal safety and maintenance activity; by itself it is not a data-privacy issue. Option D, giving a customer a bill, is a normal and transparent business practice, assuming the bill is accurate and lawful. The example teaches that technology is not automatically ethical merely because it is efficient or profitable. Companies should explain data collection, obtain appropriate consent, protect information, and use it only for legitimate purposes. The exam cue is: unauthorised personal information is the clearest sign of a privacy and data-ethics issue.