WGU (QCO1) Ethics In Technology Exam - Topic 4 Question 1 Discussion

Actual exam question for WGU's WGU (QCO1) Ethics In Technology exam

Question #: 1
Topic #: 4

[All WGU (QCO1) Ethics In Technology Questions]

I A recruiter for a cybersecurity company is screening candidates for an engineering role by researching the candidates' public social media profiles. The recruiter notes content on one candidate's profile that automatically allows the recruiter to dismiss the candidate.

Which type of content allows the recruiter to legally take this action?

APosts indicating pregnancy

BSelf-identified as a gender other than what the recruiter wants

CPhotos suggesting actual age is older than indicated on the resume

DPhotos depicting use of drugs

US. employment laws allow employers to consider illegal drug use when making hiring decisions, provided they do not discriminate based on protected characteristics.
Why Not the Other Options?
A . Posts indicating pregnancy -- Pregnancy is a protected characteristic under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (Pregnancy Discrimination Act) and cannot be used to reject a candidate.
B . Self-identified gender -- Gender identity is protected under anti-discrimination laws (e.g., U.S. EEOC guidelines).
C . Age discrepancy in photos -- Employers must avoid age discrimination under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA).
Thus, the correct answer is D. Photos depicting use of drugs, as it may legally justify disqualification based on company policies and workplace safety requirements.
Reference in Ethics in Technology:

US. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Guidelines.

US. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (1964).
Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) (1967).

Show Suggested Answer

Suggested Answer: D

Employers have the right to reject candidates based on public social media content that suggests illegal activity or violates company policies.

Why is drug use a valid reason for dismissal?

Illegal drug use may violate company policies and raise concerns about reliability, safety, and professionalism.

Many industries, especially cybersecurity and government-related jobs, require security clearances, which prohibit drug use.

by Vince at Nov 21, 2025, 12:36 PM

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Wenona

14 hours ago

Definitely D! Drug use is a clear red flag.

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Rebecka

6 days ago

Ooh, I bet the recruiter was just itching to use that gender info. Shame they can't, would make their job so much easier. Oh well, guess they'll have to settle for the good old drug test instead.

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Josphine

11 days ago

Ah, the good old drug use loophole. Gotta love how employers can still weed out the fun-loving candidates. Though I bet the HR folks wish they could just use the age thing, saves them a lot of time.

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Chaya

16 days ago

Haha, can you imagine if they tried to use the pregnancy thing? That would be a lawsuit waiting to happen! Definitely go with the drug use, keep it nice and legal.

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Patrick

21 days ago

Yep, gotta be careful with those protected characteristics. Wouldn't want to end up in hot water over something like that. The drug use one is the way to go.

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Altha

26 days ago

Hmm, the drug use one seems like the obvious choice, but I'm surprised they can't use the age or gender info. Guess the laws are pretty strict on that stuff.

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Jeannine

1 month ago

I'm pretty confident that drug use is the only clear-cut reason here, but I hope I don't mix up the protections for gender and pregnancy when answering.

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Dorinda

1 month ago

I feel like I might confuse the age-related issues with the other options. I know age discrimination is a big deal, but I can't remember the specifics.

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Kenda

1 month ago

I think we practiced a similar question about what constitutes discrimination, and I recall that pregnancy and gender identity are definitely protected under the law.

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Leslie

2 months ago

Hmm, I'm not entirely sure about this one. I'll need to carefully read through the question and options again to make sure I understand the nuances of the employment laws involved.

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Kati

2 months ago

Alright, I'm feeling pretty confident about this. The drug use is the only factor the recruiter can legally consider, since the other options involve protected characteristics.

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Brianne

2 months ago

I'm a little confused on the specifics of the laws here. I'll need to review the EEOC guidelines and other relevant regulations to make sure I answer this correctly.

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Cassandra

2 months ago

I remember discussing how drug use can be a valid reason for disqualification, but I'm not entirely sure if the other options are protected characteristics.

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