1.6 Ethical, legal, cultural and environmental impact Flashcards
Ethical Issues
About what is considered right or wrong by society
Legal Issues
About what is actually right or wrong by the law
Cultural Issues
About how groups of people with particular beliefs may be affected
Environmental Issues
About how it impacts the natural world
The Data Protection Act
gives rights to data subjects (people who’s data is stored on computer systems.
The six principles of the Data Protection Act
Data must only be used in a lawful, fair, transparent way
Data must only be used for a specified purpose
Data should be relevant and minimal for the use
Data must be accurate and kept up to date
Data shouldn’t be kept longer than necessary
Data should be kept safe + secure
What right does the Data Protection Act give to the data subject?
To see, amend, and delete the personal data that the organisation holds about them
Accountability
It is the responsibility of the organisation to follow the principles – if not they face large fines
Computer Misuse Act 1990
Stops hacking and cyber crime
The 3 offences of the Computer Misuse Act
Gaining unauthorised access to a private device or network
Gaining unauthorised access to a device or network in order to commit a crime (e.g. steal data, destroy the network)
Unauthorised modification of computer material (e.g. changing or deleting files)
Making, supplying or obtaining malware
Computer Designs and Patents Act 1988
Protects intellectual property (anything that someone has created e.g. a novel, song, new invention, piece of software), making it illegal to distribute, copy, or modify someone’s intellectual property
Copyright
covers written or recorded content (e.g. books, music, films, software)
What does the Computer Designs and Patent Act 1988 make illegal in regards to copyright?
The Act makes it illegal to share copyrighted files without the copyright holder’s permission, or plagiarise (copy) someone’s work.
Patents
Cover new inventions
What does the Computer Designs and Patent Act 1988 protect patents for?
The Act protects ideas + concepts rather than actual content
What has made it hard to protect copyrighted content
The Internet
Due to easy file sharing
Software Licenses
agreements that allow individuals to legally use a piece of software.
What do companies use Software licenses + copyright law for?
to control whether their software can be modified or shared
Source Code
the actual programming code behind the software
Compiled Code
the final file that runs, doesn’t tell you how the program was made
Open Source Software
software where the source code is made freely available. Users can legally modify the source code to create their own spin-off software, which can be shared under the same license + terms as the original software
Examples of Open Source Software
APACHE
Linux
Advantages of Open Source Software
Free
Can be adapted to the user’s needs
Many collaborators -> more creative
Many collaborators -> issues are quickly spotted + resolved
Disadvantages of Open Source Software
No warranties if something goes wrong
No regular updates -> more bugs, less secure
No customer support
Proprietary Software
only the compiled code is released as executable files. The source code is kept a secret, securely.
Restricts the modification, copying and redistribution of the software.
Examples of Proprietary Software
Microsoft
Adobe
Advantages of Proprietary Software
Comes with warranties + customer support
Is well tested and reliable (as the company’s reputation relies on this)
Disadvantages of Proprietary Software
Expensive
May not fit the user’s needs
Older versions of the software may not be maintained -> the company wants people to buy their newest software
Creative Commons
an organisation that issues licenses which allow a user to modify + distribute parts of software under certain conditions
