ICT and Legislation

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Zoë Wood

ICT and Legislation

New laws have been made to deal with issues and problems that have come about with using ICT. These issues include:

  • Misuse of personal information
  • Health and safety
  • Computer Viruses
  • Intrusion
  • Fraud

Without these laws these problems would be more of a major issue than they already are. These laws were made to protect people from such things as fraud where people can get access to your personal details e.g. credit card details and they can buy things off your credit card.

Data protection act (1998)

As computers became more advanced, cheaper and more readily available companies started using them to store data which was more efficient and more convenient, but problems arose with this new way of storing data such as:

  • Information could be copied or changed or seen by the wrong people
  • Inaccurate
  • Kept without permission

Companies now have to ensure that all data they have is kept under certain conditions:

  • All information is up to date
  • Kept for only a relevant amount of time
  • Kept for only relevant and lawful purposes
  • Processed fairly and in accordance with the rights of the subject data
  • protected against loss, damage and unlawful processing
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Health and Safety at work act (1974)

This legislation makes sure that all people at work have a safe working environment and that employer’s make there workers aware of the safety issues including:

  • fire exits must be kept clear
  • fire doors must be kept shut
  • any obstacles must be positions so there is no danger of tripping over
  • plug sockets can not be overload and paper quantities must be kept to a minimum to prevent risk of fire
  • all lifting must be done properly to reduce risk of back injury

Health and ...

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