How do ethical responsibilities in web development differ from legal responsibilities?

Question

Options

• AEthical responsibilities are governed by laws, whereas legal responsibilities are not.
• BLegal responsibilities are mandatory, whereas ethical responsibilities are based on moral
• CEthical responsibilities deal with technical issues, while legal responsibilities deal with design
• DLegal responsibilities are optional, whereas ethical responsibilities are mandatory.

• A
  4% (2)
• B
  92% (44)
• C
  2% (1)
• D
  2% (1)

Explanation

Option B is correct because legal responsibilities are enforced by laws and regulations (e.g., GDPR, WCAG accessibility laws, copyright law) - you must comply or face penalties - while ethical responsibilities stem from moral principles and professional standards that guide good practice but carry no legal enforcement mechanism.

Why the distractors are wrong:

• A reverses the relationship entirely - ethics are not governed by laws; that's what makes them distinct from legal duties.
• C invents a false technical/design split that has no basis in how these responsibilities are categorized.
• D flips the correct answer - legal responsibilities are the mandatory ones, not the other way around.

Memory tip: Think "Legal = Law = punishable." The word legal contains the law, so legal responsibilities are the ones with teeth. Ethical responsibilities are what you should do; legal responsibilities are what you must do.

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