The main legislation governing computer use (data protection, the Computer Misuse Act and copyright law) and the ethical and cultural issues raised by computing.

A Unit 1 legislation question. Data protection legislation controls how organisations collect, store and use people's personal data, requiring it to be kept accurate, secure, and used only for stated, lawful purposes, and giving individuals rights over their own data (1 mark for protecting personal data, 1 mark for a principle such as kept secure or used only for its purpose). The Computer Misuse Act makes it a criminal offence to gain unauthorised access to computer systems or data (hacking), to access them intending to commit a further crime, or to make unauthorised changes to data, such as spreading malware (1 mark for unauthorised access, 1 mark for unauthorised modification/intent). Markers reward the protection of personal data and the criminalising of unauthorised access. A common error is to swap the two laws.

A Unit 1 copyright question. Copyright (and intellectual property) legislation protects the work of creators, such as software, music, films, images and writing, giving them the right to control how their work is copied, shared and used (1 mark for protecting creators' work, 1 mark for the right to control copying/use). An example of breaking it is illegally copying or downloading software, music or films without permission (piracy), or using someone's code or images in your own product without a licence (1 mark for a valid example). Markers reward protecting creators' rights over their work and a sensible example of infringement. A common error is to confuse copyright with data protection, which is about personal data rather than creative work.