Laws & ethics

Laws

• Copyright, design + patent Act (1988)

• Computer Misuse Act (1990)

• Data protection Act (1998)

• Regulatory Investigation Power Act (2000)

Copyright, Design + Patent Act (1998) (CDPA)

• Makes it illegal to copy, modify or distribute intellectual software without permission

• Created to protect people’s data online

• Copyright can apply without expiry 25-70 years after the death of the creator

Computer Misuse Act (1990) (CMA)

• Prevents the malicious use of computers

  1. Unauthorised access to computer materials

  2. Unauthorised access to commit another offence

  3. Unauthorised modification of computer materials

  4. Making, supplying or obtaining anything which can be used in computer misuse offences

Data Protection Act (1998) (DPA)

• Covers personal data which can be used to identify a person

• Allows the government certain rights such as the right to request a copy of data on a person, correct data + prevent marketing

Regulation of Investigatory Power Act (2000) (RIPA)

• Covers investigation, surveillance + interception of communication by public bodies

• Enforces ISPs + mobile data service providers to give up data/information upon request from an authorised authority

Automatic trading

Computers following algorithms to check prices/compare values to purchase + sell stocks/shares

Automated care

Using artificial intelligence to recommend a treatment to a patient

Internet censorship

Refers to the deliberate censorship of materials in terms of what can be published/assessed.

Data Mining

The process of analysing large data sets to find patterns + correlations to predict outcomes