Data Protection Act : Introduction

The use of computers for storing and processing information has brought many advantages for organisations who work with data :

• Lots more data can be stored in a smaller space than with manual systems.
• It is now much quicker to look through lots of data and find information about a particular person or group of people.
• Cross-referencing (linking together pieces of information which are stored separately) is easy.
• Databases held by different organisations can be linked together by a computer network.
• Databases can be accessed from anywhere in the world.

Privacy

Whilst these may be "advantages" for the organisations concerned, they are not always "advantages" for the people about whom information is stored. Your privacy might be affected by the use of a computer to store information about you in a number of ways :

• All of the information stored about you by different companies or organisations could be brought together to form a complete dossier. This might include how much money you earn, what health problems you have, who your friends are, what clubs you are members of, if you have failed to pay any bills recently or if you have ever been in trouble with the Police.
• Some people or organisations, such as your Doctor or your bank may store information that you do not want other people to be able to access. The people who hold this information will be able to do more with it than they used to be able to and may sell the information about you to other people.
• It may be easier for unauthorised people to gain access to this information when it is stored on a computer, unless appropriate security measures are taken.

Data Misuse

It is much easier for people to misuse data stored using a computer system than using a manual system because :

• Data can be copied quickly and easily, making it easier to steal information.
• Data can be changed without leaving any physical evidence such as crossings out.
• Data can be accessed from a remote location e.g. via a network. A data thief does not have to break into a building to steal data.

To ensure that their privacy is protected people expect certain rights. The Data Protection Act of 1984 was introduced to give basic rights to people about whom information is stored on a computer. In 1998 this Act was replaced by the Data Protection Act 1998.

GCSE ICT Companion 04 - (C) P Meakin 2004