Do some ethicists claim there are no new ethical issues from technology; it only exacerbates existing ones?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not sure
• D. It depends on the context

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is whether technology brings entirely new ethical problems or just makes existing ones bigger. Some ethicists hold that there aren’t fundamentally new moral issues created by technology; instead, it amplifies or accelerates problems we already care about, like privacy, autonomy, fairness, and accountability.

This view rests on the point that moral values and duties—protecting privacy, obtaining informed consent, avoiding harm, treating people fairly—are not invented by technology. What changes with technological advances is how these values apply in new contexts, how quickly issues can arise, and how broad their impact can be. For example, privacy concerns exist beyond digital tools, but digital technologies make surveillance more pervasive and data collection more widespread, complicating how we define consent and control over information. Similarly, concerns about fairness and discrimination are longstanding, but data-driven algorithms can magnify those biases and affect large populations in real time.

It’s worth noting that not everyone shares this view; some ethicists argue that technology does create new kinds of ethical questions (such as issues around AI personhood or algorithmic accountability). However, the statement describes a valid and recognizable position within ethical discussions of technology, which is why it is the best answer here.