1. Legal Implications You need to know about the following:
The Data Protection Act
The Computer Misuse Act
The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act
Health and Safety regulations

2. Data Protection Act Data Subjects
In the Act individuals to whom data relates are known as Data Subjects. Data Subjects have the following Rights:
to know if data is held about them on a computer system and to have a copy and a description of that data.
to know the purposes for which the data is being processed and who is going to receive the data
to inspect such data and to have it changed if they think it is inaccurate
to ask for compensation if data is inaccurate or if an unauthorised person has been given access to it
to prevent processing of data likely to cause damage or distress
to be sure that decisions made about them are not made only on the basis of automatic processing e.g psychometric testing for jobs
For all of these they can be charged a single administration fee. A data subject can apply to the courts to block the processing of data or to correct, erase or destroy it.

3. Data Protection Act
A Data user is an individual within an organisation who makes use of personal data.
The Data User must keep to the following Data Protection Principles…
All personal data should be…
processed only if the consent of the individual is given, if it is part of a legal contract, if it is essential to a business transaction or the carrying out of public duties.
held for the specified purposes described in the Register entry
accurate and where necessary be kept up to date
relevant and not excessive in relation to the purpose for which they are held
adequate for the purpose specified
processed in accordance with the rights of the data subject
surrounded by proper security, like passwords and/or encryption
transferred only to countries outside of the EU that have adequate security measures as defined in the Act.

4. Data Protection Act
The Data Controller is the Person, Business or Organisation who controls the collection and use of personal data.
The Data Controller must:
register with the Data Protection Commissioner
apply for permission to keep personal data on computers
state what data they want to keep, its purpose and who has access to it

5. Copyright Designs and Patents Act
This deals with the problem of computer software, which now is protected by law for fifty years after it is published. It makes illegal to..:
make unauthorised (pirate) copies of software
run pirate software
transmit software over telecommunications links and copy it
run multiple copies of software if only one copy was purchased
give, lend or sell copies of bought software unless license to do so is granted

6. The Computer Misuse Act
This act is designed to make hacking into a computer system illegal and subject to penalties. This act makes it an offence to gain unauthorised access to a computer system or to make unauthorised modifications to computer materials.
Modifying computer material the Act specifies as:
Interfering with a system so that it doesn't run properly
Making changes to the system to prevent others accessing the system
Making changes to the software or data
Penalties of up to five years imprisonment and fines apply.

7. Health and Safety Regulations
An employer must:
provide adjustable screens
provide anti-glare screen filters
provide adjustable chairs
provide foot supports
make sure lighting is suitable
make sure workstations are not cramped
plan work at a computer so that there are frequent breaks
pay for appropriate eye and eyesight tests by an optician
Note: These regulations do not apply to students in schools or colleges.

8. Health and Safety Regulations
General regulations for the use of electrical appliances apply in a computer room:
no trailing wires to trip over
food and drink should not be placed near a machine
electrical sockets must not be overloaded
there must be adequate space around each computer
appropriate heating and ventilation must be provided
effective lighting must be
provided with no glare or reflections