Data security and Legal issues

Data security and

Legal issues

Q1) What is the data protection act?

The Data Protection Act controls how your personal information is used by organisations, businesses or the government.

Q2) Who is the information commissioner?

A data commissioner is someone who is responsible with the safety and integrity of information/data in an organisation. He/she oversees compliance with the terms of the legislation. The Commissioner has a wide range of enforcement powers, including investigation of organisation records and record-keeping practices.

Q3) Who is the data controller?

A data controller is the individual or the legal person who controls and is responsible for the keeping and use of personal information on computer or in structured manual files.

Q4) Who are the data subjects?

Anyone who has data stored about them that is outside their direct control.

Q5) What is personal data?

Personal data means data which relate to a living individual who can be identified either from those data, or from those data and other information which is in the possession of, or is likely to come into the possession of, the data controller, and includes any expression of opinion about the individual and any indication of the intentions of the data controller or any other person in respect of the individual.

Q6) Find and list all eight points of the data protection act.

Everyone who is responsible for using data has to follow strict rules called ‘data protection principles’. They must make sure the information is:

1.    used fairly and lawfully

2.    used for limited, specifically stated purposes

3.    used in a way that is adequate, relevant and not excessive

4.    accurate

5.    kept for no longer than is absolutely necessary

6.    handled according to people’s data protection rights

7.    kept safe and secure

8.    not transferred outside the UK without adequate protection

There is stronger legal protection for more sensitive information, such as:

1.    ethnic background

2.    political opinions

3.    religious beliefs

4.    health

5.    sexual health

6.    criminal records