Who is allowed to look?
A school keeps pupil records. A phone company carries millions of calls. A police force asks to see who phoned whom. Each has rules to follow.
Four UK laws set the rules for the people who keep data safe, and for those who may look at it.
Key words
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| Network | Devices joined together so they can share data. |
| UK GDPR | The UK law, with the Data Protection Act 2018, that sets rules for personal data. |
| Legislation | Laws made by Parliament. |
| Personal data | Facts about a real person who can be named from them. |
| Regulator | A body that checks that a law is followed. |
| Information Commissioner's Office | The UK regulator for data protection. Short form: ICO. |
| Security event | Something that happens that could affect security. |
| Incident | An event that harms or could harm a service. |
| Investigatory powers | Powers of the police and agencies to get information and data. |
| Public authority | A government body, such as a council, a police force or an NHS trust. |
| Communications provider | A company that runs a phone or internet network or service. |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can say what four UK laws are for, and match each one to a situation.
Starter: what you already know
Have a go
Starter: what you already know
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
Data Protection Act 2018
The Data Protection Act 2018 works with the UK GDPR. It gives duties to any firm that holds personal data.
It must protect the data against cyber attacks. It must detect security events. And it must cut the impact of an incident.
The ICO is the regulator. A breach that risks harm to people must usually be reported within 72 hours.
Investigatory Powers Act 2016
The Investigatory Powers Act 2016 puts into one law the powers of police and agencies. They use them to get data on communications.
It updates how the powers are approved and checked. A judge reviews the strongest warrants. And it makes the powers fit the digital age.
Check: the first two Acts
Have a go
Check: the first two Acts
4 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.