Legislation Relevant to Computing

Legislation Relevant to Computing

1. Data Protection Act

   • Aim
     • Respond to the rising concerns about the amount of personal data being stored and processed by computer systems
   • Mandations
     • Register with the Information Commissioner for those organisation who store and process personal data
   • Principles
     • Personal data must be
       • processed against loss, theft or corruption
       • accurate and where relevant kept up to date
       • adequate,relevant,non excessive
       • prevented from being transferred outside EU to countries without adequate provision
       • fairly and lawfully processed
       • processed within rights of subjects
       • deleted when no longer needed
       • used only for the purpose intended

2. Computer Misuse Act

   • Aim
     • Combat issues arising from computer misuse
   • Offences
     • accessing data without permission
       • EXAMPLE
         • looking at someone else's files
     • accessing computer systems without permission
       • EXAMPLE
         • hacking
     • altering data stored on a computer system without permission
       • EXAMPLE
         • writing a virus that deliberately deletes data