Data Security and legal issues

• What is the data protection act?

The Data Protection Act (D.P.A.) gives individuals the right to know what information is held about them, and provides a framework to ensure that personal information is handled properly.

• Who is the Information Commissioner?

He is the person who has overall responsibility to enforce the data protection act in his respected country.

• Who is the data controller?

He is responsible for ensuring that any collection, storage and processing of data is done in accordance with the data protection act.

• Who are the data subjects?

These are the people that the data is being collected from or stored about.

• Who are the data users?

He is someone who accesses, uses and processes personal data as a part of their job.

• What is personal data?

It is information which coverts both facts and opinions about a living individual.

Computer misuse act

The Computer Misuse Act 1990 was designed to protect the integrity of computer systems by deterring the activities of hackers. it created three new offences, which makes sure personal information is:

1. fairly and lawfully processed;
2. processed for limited purposes;
3. adequate, relevant and not excessive;
4. accurate and up to date;
5. not kept for longer than is necessary;
6. processed in line with the rights of individuals;
7. secure;
8. not transferred to other countries without adequate protection.