1.5 Legal, Moral, Cultural and Ethical Issues

The Data Protection Act

Law controlling how personal data is collected, stored and used

• Requires organisations to handle data fairly, lawfully and securely

• An individual can request a copy of data that is held about them

• Replaced by the GDPR Act in 2018

The Computer Misuse Act

Law to prevent any unauthorised access to computer systems

3 main offences:

• Unauthorised access to computer materials

• Unauthorised access with intent to cause more crimes

• Unauthorised modification to computer material

Penalties include imprisonment

Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

Law protecting peoples’ work being copied or used without permission. Copyright expires after 25-70 years after the death of author

• Covers computer programs and code

Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA)

Law controlling surveillance and investigation methods, allowing authorities to access ISPs’ data

Computers in the workforce

• Improve efficiency (automated machines)

• Ensure consistent quality of products

• Can produce goods 24/7

• Loss of low skilled jobs —> increase in high skilled tech jobs

• Closing physical shops for online shopping

Automated decision making

• Quick consistent decisions

• Can reduce human error

• Bias

• Hard to make moral/ethical decisions

Artificial intelligence