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April 25th 2025

In a world in which people increasingly
rely on technology, cyber-security is an
important issue. In March 2025, Hong
60-90 minute lesson The Economist Educational Foundation
maintained full editorial control
Kong introduced new laws to say that
unless key industries comply with the

Cyber-security:
latest cyber-security regulations, they
will be fined. But is this fair when it is their
attackers who are causing the problems?
In this lesson students will debate who

who is responsible?
is responsible for cyber-security by
considering a range of scenarios
and perspectives.
Business and finance Science and technology

Lesson objectives
Topical Talk skill
Speaking
Step 3: I speak effectively by making
points in a logical order
Step 10: I speak adaptively by changing my
language, tone and expression depending
on the response of listeners
Step 13: I speak influentially by changing
the structure of my points to best
persuade the listeners

For more information on the skills:

[Link]/TTFrameworks

Knowledge
I know what cyber-security is and why it
is important

Sustainable Development Goals

Teacher instructions
Before this lesson Activity two
• Print the Teacher instructions, or have them to hand Slide 6
• Have the PowerPoint ready to share on screen Ask a student to read the slide aloud. Split the “jury” into five teams: A to E.
• Print the Court cases, or have them to hand Work through the questions and activities in Court case one. You should play
Missing something? Head to the Topical Talk resource
the role of the judge.
library and search for this lesson to download everything
you need. [Link]/resources
Tip: add drama by setting up the classroom to look like a courtroom or by
putting on a different voice.
Give teams time to discuss their ideas before feeding back to the class.
Keyword
Activity one 1. Justice =
Slide 7
Slide 1 Ask a student to read the slide aloud. when a decision is made that makes an
Introduce the lesson and remind students of the unfair situation fairer
Slide 8
Topical Talk skills. When you see the skills icons
Ask students to muddle up their teams. Then repeat the "jury" activity for 2. Responsibility =
throughout the PowerPoint, ask students to
Court case two. when someone is accountable or to blame
reflect on how they are practising that skill.
for something
Slide 9
Slides 2 to 5
In teams give students time to compare the two Court case scenarios. 3. Cyber-security =
Students should get into pairs and label
Ask each team to feed back their answer in the style of a jury sharing systems that prevent computers from
themselves "Person A" and "Person B". Work
their verdict. being hacked
through the set up and activities on the slides.
Give students one minute to describe and guess 4. Negligence =
each of the keywords. Activity three failure to take reasonable care to avoid
causing injury or loss to another person
Slide 10
Ask a student to read the slide aloud. Give students two minutes to discuss 5. Phishing =
with a partner what they do or don't do themselves. sending fake emails or messages that
look real to trick someone into giving
Slide 11 personal information
Ask a student to read the slide aloud. Give students 60 seconds of thinking
time before they vote with thumbs up or down. Choose students with
different opinions to share. We'd love to see your Topical Talkers in action!
Share your photos with @econ_foundation and
Slides 12 to 14 use #TopicalTalk for the chance to feature on
Ask students to make three teams: Team A, Team B and Team C. For each our social-media channels!
slide, teams should argue that the option they have been given is the answer
to the question.
Slide 15
Give time for students to reflect on how they developed their skills and
knowledge during this lesson. Praise detailed reflections and metacognition.
Court case one

Open the court Jury decision one

Knock on the table and say: Ask: who is responsible for the local person losing
“Welcome jury. In this case, a local person is suing someone a day's pay?
as she couldn’t get to work because her bus didn’t turn
Think of reasons why your person/group is responsible:
up. She lost a day's pay and is struggling with her finances.
The evidence we have shows the bus was stolen. We in the Team A = thief
courtroom need to decide who is responsible for the Team B = bus driver
customer’s problems." Team C = police officer
Team D = bus company
Read the evidence Team E = other people (not the thief, bus driver, police
officer or bus company)
Camera footage shows a person wearing a mask running
to a bus which had its door open and key in the ignition. Jury decision two
The person takes off their mask and drives away in the bus. Teams should decide which people are "guilty" of
Later that day the bus is found in a ditch. wrongdoing and what penalties, if any, should be given.
The thief says: Hold a vote on the final verdict.
“I know what I did was wrong – but the keys were left
in it. It was too easy. You can’t class it as stealing if I
didn’t have to do any work!” Jury decision three
Ask: has justice been achieved?
The bus driver says:
“It was on company property, they were trespassing. Teams should discuss the question and decide if anything
Nobody should have stolen it.” else needs to happen to make the situation fairer.
The police officer on the scene says:
“This is not the first time we have advised the bus
Close the court
driver not to leave his keys in the bus.” Knock on the table and say:
“Thank you, jury. The court is adjourned.”
The bus-company owner says:
“I didn’t set rules about not leaving keys in the bus, but
I thought it was common sense!”
Court case two
Open the court Jury decision one
Knock on the table and say: Ask: who is responsible for the hospital system
“On to the next case. Here, a nurse has clicked on a malicious being hacked?
email link while working in the hospital. Because of this, the
online system containing patients' confidential information Think of reasons why your person/group is responsible:
has been hacked. The nurse argues that it is not their fault as Team A = hacker
they had no training on the potential risks or dangers. Team B = hospital manager
We in the courtroom need to decide who is responsible.” Team C = nurse
Team D = IT manager
Read the evidence Team E = other people (not the the hacker, hospital
manager, nurse or IT manager)
Security services have confirmed the hack was on the
nurse’s computer.
Jury decision two
The hacker says: “I know what I did was wrong. It was
too easy. There is software out there that will stop Teams should decide which people are "guilty" of wrongdoing
people like me from getting into the systems. If they and what penalties, if any, should be given.
choose not to use it, it’s not my fault.” Hold a vote on the final verdict.
The hospital manager says: “We are already struggling
financially as the government has cut our funding. We Jury decision three
need to prioritise patient care rather than staff training. ” Ask: has justice been achieved?
The nurse who clicked on the link says: “I didn't realise Teams should discuss the question and decide if anything
it was a bad link. I was busy and trying to be helpful – else needs to happen to make the situation fairer.
and it looked like it was from someone I know. I wasn't
trained on what to look for.”
Close the court
The IT manager says: “I have repeatedly Knock on the table and say:
requested funding for updated security software and “Thank you, jury. The court is adjourned.”
cyber-security training for staff. My requests were
denied because of the costs. I warned them this was
a risk.”