4.4 Legislation related to the use of IT systems GapFill

When collecting, storing and using data, you should be aware of both the  user constraintsethical concernslegislationenvironmental factors (the legal standards that must be followed) and the  ethical concernslegislationconsumer trendsenvironmental factors (the actions that might be considered good or bad practice, but are not strictly guided by the law) relevant to IT.

Businesses which store details about people, such as maintaining payroll and client details, and schools, must adhere to the  Computer MisuseData ProtectionCopyright, Designs and PatentsFreedom of Information Act, which determines how  user constraintsbig datapersonal dataintellectual property (data about an individual that can identify them) should be processed and stored when it is collected.

You would be in breach of the Computer Misuse Act for  disposing of old IT equipmentstoring personal datausing a laptop in a public placeunauthorised hacking into a computer system, whereas sharing films, music and TV shows without permission from the rights holder would breach the  Computer MisuseCopyright, Designs and PatentsData ProtectionFreedom of Information Act.

When you get a job, if your employer didn’t set up your computer so that you could use it comfortably, e.g. the screen was at the wrong height, they would fall foul of the  Health and Safety at WorkComputer MisuseWaste Electrical and Electronic EquipmentFreedom of Information Act.

As part of the Data Protection Act, it is important that any data you store about a person is both accurate and not  validout of dateup to dateunreliable. The  data controllerCEOInformation CommissionerKing is the person who enforces the Data Protection Act.