A very basic introduction to legislation in Information Communication Technology designed for learners with little or no knowledge of IT.

1. Information Communication Technology
An Introduction to Legislation in the UK
Stonemasonry Department 2012

2. Legislation
Now that you understand what ICT can be used for, and how
you interact with it through hardware devices and software
applications it is important to know about the legislation
which covers the use of ICT in the United Kingdom.
In this presentation you will learn about:
The Computer Misuse Act 1990
The Data Protection Act
Copyright Law

3. Computer Misuse Act 1990
This act makes it illegal to do any of the following:
Access computer material without permission, eg looking
at someone else's files.
Access computer material without permission with intent
to commit further criminal offences, eg hacking into the
bank's computer and wanting to increase the amount in
your account.
Alter computer data without permission, eg writing a virus
to destroy someone else's data, or actually changing the
money in an account.
Information taken directly from http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/ict/legal/1dataandcomputermisuserev2.shtml

4. Is Hacking Illegal?
The short answer to this question is NO! Hacking is not illegal
provided you are doing it for legitimate purposes. Computer
hackers are split into three distinct groups; black hat, grey hat
and white hat.
ILLEGAL ILLEGAL LEGAL
(but not criminal)

5. Is Hacking Illegal?
Black hat hackers target the websites/data of
organisations or people without permission and with the
intent of causing harm, stealing files or profiting as a
direct result of gaining access to a system.
Grey hat hackers also gain access to systems without the
permission of the owner but once in, they either inform
the owner of how to improve security or fix any flaws
themselves.
White hat hackers gain access to systems with the
permission of the owner. They carry out penetration
testing “pen tests” to make sure that systems are secure.

6. The Data Protection Act (1998)
The DPA 1998 was passed by Parliament to control the
way information is handled and to give legal rights to
people who have information stored about them.
Some data and information stored on a computer is
personal and needs to be kept confidential. People want to
keep their pay, bank details, and medical records private
and away from the view of just anybody. If someone who is
not entitled to see these details can obtain access without
permission it is unauthorised access. The Data Protection
Act sets up rules to prevent this happening.
Information taken directly from http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/ict/legal/1dataandcomputermisuserev2.shtml

7. Copyright Law
This provides protection to the owners of the copyright
and covers the copying of written, musical, or film works
using computers. FAST is the industry body which is against
software theft.
There have been cases where laws such as Copyright have
been used to crack down on file sharing websites or
individuals who store and illegally distribute copyrighted
material, eg music. There is a massive problem with many
people around the world obtaining copyrighted material
illegally.
Information taken directly from http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/ict/legal/1dataandcomputermisuserev2.shtml

8. Developed by The Stonemasonry Department
City of Glasgow College
2012