Name

Data projection and ethics

Institution

Course

Date

Data Protection

Overview

Data protection requires that comprehensive solution be availed for the organization and individuals to collect and store information in real reliable systems. This requires safeguarding data through viable planning. This may require data reliable data back up and protection. These protections required for data are regulated by the data protection Act (1998). While these Acts seemed comprehensive at the time of legislation, they have come to show that there are a number of loop holes that can be exploited by various interest groups to achieve their ends (Strobl, Cave, &, Walley, 2000) .

Data protection Act

Data protection Act is based upon principles, these principles are broad, but cover the key areas that the data protection stipulates. Bellow is the list of principles:

Fair processing of personal data:

This Act requires that any personal data be processed in fair and lawful manners. However, it stipulates that unless the conditions in the second schedule are met, the personal data should not be processed. It also provides that the personal data should not be processed if the data are sensitive. This may mean practicing restraints when using or processing the personal data.

Law full purposes

The data protection Act also provides that the data shall only be obtained and used for legal purpose. The purpose for obtaining the data should also be specific. However, users of data shall be liable to legal redress incase the data are processed in incompatible manners with the purposes.

Adequate and relevant data

While data may be legal, they must also be adequate and relevant for the specific purpose for which they are obtained. Excessive data are illegal or a contravention to the Act.

Accurate and, up to date:

It is also requirement that the personal data be accurate to provide exceptionally meaningful information according to the subjects. Data is tremendously critical factors in the lives of man; therefore, inaccurate data may lead to disastrous decision and ends. The subject should also update data; any data in the database that is obsolete may not be desirable in the data base. The use of old data may be limited to the provision of evidence and not for decision humankind. Therefore, databases should be kept current (Akeroy, 1991) .Duration for protection:

The Act also requires that the personal data be kept for the appropriate duration of data. Any data that is processed and kept; longer that appropriate is deemed legal and, may not be advisable to be used for any purposes

Right of data subjects:

The rights of the data subjects are also stipulated in the Act. While this Act is quite wide in respect to the right of data subject, it is imperative to ensure that the right of the subjects is upheld at all times when processing and or using the personal data.

Appropriate technical and organizational measures:

Data is precious and valuable to both corporation and individuals. Any unauthorized and unlawful processing of personal information is legal. This also provides for the accidental loss of personal data, if used it might mean that the personal data used against the rights of the subjects shall as accidental loss, destruction and damage of personal data is a contravention of the personal data (Lee, 1993).

Transfer:

Personal data are not supposed to be transferred to foreign countries unless there are proper frameworks for ensuring that the level of protection of the personal data is adequate. The rights and freedoms of the data subjects must always be protected irrespective of the data territory

Ethics

Data protection is also regulated by ethical codes. The ethical codes are the moral philosophies that regulate the systematization, defense and protection of the rights of the data subjects and users. These ethical codes are intertwined with the data protection Act. Therefore, alignment with the data protection Act leads to alignment with the ethical codes of computing (Godejord, 2008).

Bibliography

Akeroyd, A. V. (1991) ‘Personal information and qualitative research data: Some practical and ethical problems arising from data protection legislation’, in N. G. Fielding and R. Lee (eds) Using Computers in Qualitative Research, London: Sage Publications Ltd, pp. 89-106.

Lee, R. M. (1993) Doing Research on Sensitive Topics, London: Sage Publications Ltd.

Strobl, J., Cave, E. and Walley, T. (2000) ‘Data protection legislation: interpretation and barriers to research’, British Medical Journal 321(7261): 890-892.

Per Arne Godejord, (2008).”Getting Involved: Perspectives on the Use of True Projects as Tools for Developing Ethical Thinking in Computer Science Students,” International Journal of Technology and Human Interaction 4.2 22-34