3E-The legislation that protects individuals and groups from the misuse of ICT

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Zeeshan Zamurred Mr. Sheikh Applied ICT 3E        

3E-The legislation that protects individuals and groups from the misuse of ICT

In my prior tasks, I have written an in depth report on the enhanced development of an array of technologies which effects and have provided numerous of opportunities for everyone whether they are studying in school (like me), in employment, individuals with special particular needs or generally the whole community.

Task 3A is a detailed report on the technologies I use on a daily basis. These large numbers of technology have proven to better meet my personal, social and work related needs. For instance, having access to the World Wide Web has ensured that I am able to gain efficient research for school work somewhat then going to the local library and finding a specific book which relates to the topic I am studying at school. The World Wide Web Is much easier and generally less time consuming for me. I can access the World Wide Web and retrieve ample of information that’s needed for my school work rather then having to proceed with the hassle of going to the library and searching for the specific book related to the topic I may currently studying at school. The technology is available for all my needs and wants and has proven to provide exciting opportunities.

Similarly, task 3B is a particularize report of the technologies Mr. Obrien uses in his everyday life. The numerous quantity of technology has enhanced Mr. Obrien’s working conducts whether it is personal, social or work related. For instance, Mobile phones have ensured that Mr. Obrien is able to stay in contact with family members, acquaintance and workers. Without the technology, communication is very intricate for him and which is significantly needed by all.

Also, task 3C is a particularize report of the technologies Maria korelli makes use of and is a person with special particular needs. One of the many examples of technologies used by her will be an electronic wheelchair. The technology has provided exciting opportunities to her because it has make certain that she is able to move about at will and carry out a number of task on a daily basis via the wheelchair i.e. shopping.

Additionally, I have also written a report on the many technologies used by the community I live in. The technology used in Leyton has been very useful for the society living in this particular area including me. For instance, CCTV cameras being operated in the area has ensured the prevention of criminal proceedings for peace and safeness in the area.

However, the access of an array of technologies also brought forth a new set of problems which must be dealt with and this problem in essence is the misuse of ICT for different purposes. New laws have been put over time in order to protect us from these problems. Some of these rules are; Computer Misuse Act (1990); Data protection Act (1998); Health and Safety Regulations (1992); Health and safety at work act (1974); Copyright, Designs and Patents Act (1988) and Regulation of investigatory Powers Act (2000). In this report I will explain some of these laws. I will try to show why these laws were introduced and what they do now to keep people from abusing these new technologies. I will also apply the laws to the individuals and groups that I have studied from unit 3A-3D and state the impact of the law on those studied from 3A-3D. Additionally, I will link the law that I most relevant to those studies in 3A-3D.

LAW NO.1: DATA PROTECTION ACT (1998)

The sole purpose of this law is to prevent the misuse of an individual’s personal data. It is extremely crucial for all organisation that hold personal data on people to register the data to ensure that other individuals are unable to access and use the data illegally. Some of these organisations include hospitals; the organisation initially keeps numerous of data on patients that are registered with the hospital. All organisations must state the personal data they have, what the data is going to be used for and who the data may effect or relate to. Under the Data Protection Act, if an individual was to face changes or deletion of data which relates to that specific person, the person can sue the company under the act and which can be a relatively serious matter. The law has been set in 1998 and initially protects the confidentiality of ordinary people and the Act precludes the transfer of information to other companies devoid of the specific person’s knowledge.  

The 8 principles of the act that organisations need to abide by are:

  • Data must be secure i.e. a password can be set to avoid misuse.
  • Data must be regularly updated so that it is accurate.
  • Not transferred to other countries with adequate protection.
  • Data should be obtainable for specific uses.
  • Data should be produced lawfully.
  • Processed in line with your rights.
  • Processed for limited purposes.
  • Adequate, relevant and not excessive.

IMPACT OF LAW UPON ME

The data protection act creates an impact upon me because I have been involved and in a position where this specific law had been very effective. When registering to be a member of the secondary school I am currently studying at, my personal details were stored on the school database. I had received a letter confirming the fact that the information shall be kept confidential and away from the use of others without my very own knowledge and consent.

The legislation protects me because it ensures my personal details that are stored on the school database are not being accessed and used by other people devoid of my very own authorization. If my details were used by others devoid of my very own knowledge, the law clearly states that the organisation that has given out my personal information and are using the information for different purposes without my very own intelligence can be sued for carrying out this particular act.

In order to abide by the law, I must agree on the condition stated such as my personal information shall be used in emergency events and will be kept in accordance to the act. Doing this means that I will abide by the law by enabling access of my personal information by a member of staff working at the school for only emergency cases, in accordance to the act and not for any other illegal use and as an individual I should comply with them and shall know how and where my data is placed, thus protects my data from misuse. I must also provide organisations that require my details with the complete truth; false details should never be given as this creates flaws for organisation who wish to contact me or use my information for future reference, also is an illegal act to pursue.

The data protection act can be substantially beneficial to me because it keeps my personal data which I have given to a particular organisation safe and secured i.e. school, dentist etc. The data protection act ensures that my personal information is kept safe and restricts other people from gaining access to the data. Ultimately, my data is secured and is only used according to my permission and for emergency events. This law also keeps a confidentiality of my personal information and precludes misuse of my personal data.

However, there are also a few drawbacks of the law upon me. The data access being poorly secured by an organisation will enable easy access for hackers or even employees in a workplace who have the bad intention of ruining the working environment. To avoid this event from taking place, my personal information will need to be kept highly secured. Another downfall of the law is; my personal data can be false if I happen to move from my current address and this will mean that it will be difficult for several organisations that I am linked with, to contact me encase of an emergency or to keep me alert of a particular event i.e. health related appointment. My personal data will need to be regularly updated to ensure that it is correct.

There are a few improvements that can be made to the specific law. The main improvement which I personally think is the act should state the protection type needed for all the different data types that can be stored. Some of these data may be highly crucial, which may need to be highly secured and some of them maybe minimally vital, which may need less protection. Highly sophisticated encryption shall be needed for the data which are crucial and important. Therefore not all data will need to be highly secured and is something that should be mentioned in this specific law.

Overall, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages because the law keeps the necessary data which needs storage by any organisation secure in some way. This is extremely important because without this specific law, the information which I pass through to organisations can be accessed and used by anyone for many different purposes which can cause many problems for me. With the data protection act, I wouldn’t need to feel tensed about giving my personal details to organisation because I no the data protection act ensures confidentiality of my personal information and if I find any flaws on my data, I can easily take the matter up in court as clearly stated by the law. This is what keeps individuals terrified from carrying out illegal proceedings.

IMPACT OF LAW UPON MR. OBRIEN

The data protection act creates an impact upon Mr. Obrien who is an individual in employment. The data protection act substantially creates an impact upon Mr. Obrien’s because his personal information/data is stored by the organisation he works at, which is the Lammas secondary school and is an area where this specific law is enforced.

The data protection law protects Mr. Obrien’s because it ensures that his personal details is safely secured and restricted for the use of others without he’s individual permission and which ensures that he’s data is not being used for a range of purpose which could cause problems for him i.e. increase in income tax. Conversely, to investigate this matter in depth, Mr. Obrien can go over his personal data and observe any changes or deletion made. Under the act, if Mr. Obrien finds any changes he can easily sue the organisation and take the matter up in court. Thus the legislation protects Mr. Obrien from the misuse of he’s personal data.

In order to abide by the law, Mr. Obrien shall agree on the condition stated by the organisation and give his personal data. This condition is that the data will be used in accordance to the law and as an individual; Mr. Obrien should comply with the organisation and know how and where his personal data is placed. Mr. Obrien will need to ensure that he doesn’t allow free access and usage of his personal data by the organisation he is working at, to abide by the law he will need to restrict the access of his personal data and only allow access if it is necessary.

The data protection act can be very advantageous to MR. Obrien who is an individual in employment. The act ensures more personal confidentiality and secures his personal data from hackers and individuals who intend on using or changing his personal data for a range of different purposes. In this case another advantage linked to the previous advantage is, according to this specific law; if the organisation misuse or makes changes in his data, Mr Obrien can take quick action on the organisation or individuals who have altered or used his data for a variety of different reasons I.e. to obtain more income tax from his weekly or monthly wage. This is another feature of the law which benefits Mr. Obrien and ensures that he has control over the usages of his personal data. This ultimately keeps his personal data personal and precludes the misuse and amendments of his data.

However, there is also a downfall of the impact of the data protection law upon MR. Obrien. If the organisation Mr. Obrien is working at which is the Lammas secondary school have a secured data storage and hackers still gain easy access to Mr. Obrien’s personal will be a downfall to MR. Obrien because he cannot accuse or take action upon the organisation he is working at because of the fact that the event was carried out by an anonymous PC hacker.

There are a few improvements that can be made to this specific law. The main improvement which I personally think is the act should state the protection type needed for all the different data types that can be stored. Some of these data may be highly crucial, which may need to be highly secured and some of them maybe minimally vital, which may need less protection. Highly sophisticated encryption shall be needed for the data which are crucial and important. Therefore not all data will need to be highly secured and is something that should be mentioned in this specific law.

Overall, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages because the law keeps the necessary data which needs storage by any organisation secure in some way. This is extremely important because without this specific law, the information which Mr. Obrien communicates through to the organisation he is working at can be retrieved and used by anyone for a lot of diverse purposes which can cause many problems for him.

With the data protection act in place, MR. Obrien can give his personal details to organisation without any worries because he knows the data protection act ensures confidentiality of his personal information and if any flaws were found in his data, Mr. Obrien can easily take the matter up in court. This is what keeps individuals terrified from carrying out illegal data transferring or usage.

IMPACT OF LAW UPON MARIA KORELLI

The data protection act creates an impact upon Maria Korelli who is an individual with special particular needs. Maria is an individual with physical disability; she cannot walk and therefore relies on her wheelchair. The data protection creates an impact upon Maria because she works at the Churchill estates even with her disability she faces. She cannot walk and is the only type of physical disability she confronts. The law creates and impact upon her because the data protection act is enforced at her work place and at her home on her very own computer where data is stored.

The legislation protects Maria Korelli because with the act in place, her personal information stored by the administrations staff at her workplace is secured and restricted for the use of other or transfer to other organisation without her individual permission. She can also go back over the information and see if it’s correct or not and if she notices some alteration  in her personal information then the company (which is the Churchill estate) that has recruited her can be sued under the act for making changes of her personal data devoid of her permission. Hence, the legislation protects Maria from the misuse of her personal data at her workplace.

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The legislation also protects Maria Korelli at home. This is because she has installed an anti virus software which in accordance to the act, keeps her personal data away form the access and use of the numerous quantity of hackers. The software is licensed and a trademark of AVG company. Consequently, if the software is unable to keep Maria’s data secured and vulnerable from hackers; she can sue the AVG company under the act that the software was unable to keep the confidentiality of her data and was incapable to keep her data secured, which was clearly stated and ...

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