Consequences of Uses of Computing

Question 1

What is Personal Data?

Answer 1

information that can lead to the identification of an individual

Question 2

Describe what is a personal data breach:

Answer 2

• Access by an unauthorised third party
• deliberate or accidental action (or inaction) by controller or processor
• sending personal data to an incorrect recipient
• un-protected computing devices containing personal data being lost or stolen
• alteration of personal data without permission
• loss of availability of personal data

Question 3

What are the legal issues associated with creating new laws relating to the internet, technology etc?

Answer 3

• Enforcing copyright
• individuals are difficult to trace online
• international online services have to comply with laws from all the countries they operate in (laws differ all around the world)

Question 4

What is the Data Protection Act?

Answer 4

Prevents the misuse of personal data by companies:

• data is fairly and lawfully processed
• data is processed for limited purposes
• data must be adequate, relevant and not excessive
• data must be accurate and up to date
• personal data stored for no longer than necessary
• processed in line with your rights (check/amend data)
• held securely
• data can only be transferred outside EEA/EC/EU with adequate DPA
• Consent must be obtained to share with third party

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Question 5

What is the Computer Misuse Act?

Answer 5

Aimed specifically at hackers;

• Unauthorised access to computer material or altering computer data without permission (e.g. writing a virus to destroy someone’s data or actually changing the money in an account)
• Unauthorised access with intent to commit or facilitate commission of further offences
• Unauthorised access with the intent to impair the operation of a computer.

Question 6

What is the Freedom of Information Act?

Answer 6

Allows the public a right to information being held by a public organisation such as where public money is being spent.

Question 7

What is the Communications Act?

Answer 7

Makes it illegal for people to access and use Wi-Fi that they did not pay for, unless the network has been made available to the public such as those provided by coffee shops.

Dictates how people in the UK can access and use telecommunications, including TV, phone calls and the internet.

Also pertains to malicious communications and has been the subject of a number of cases involving messages on social media.

Question 8

What is the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act?

Answer 8

Allows certain public bodies to monitor people’s internet activities.

This law allows:
- demands that ISPs provide access to public communications
- prevents the existence of interception activities being revealed in court
- allows mass surveillance of communications
- demands that access be granted to protected information
- allows monitoring of an individual’s internet activities
- demands that ISPs install equipment that facilitates surveillance

Question 9

What is the Copyright, Design and Patents Act?

Answer 9

It is illegal to:
- copy materials/buy copied materials
- run pirated materials
- transmit materials over a communications line, making a copy

Covers a wide range of intellectual property such as music, literature and software.