Internet Law
Internet law is closely related to the laws that relate to other similar areas of broadcasting, retail, and information handling, and in many cases, internet laws are identical to those covering the offline world for such things as data protection, defamation,copyright infringement and trademarks.
Data protection
- The Data Protection Act 1998 covers personal data that finds itself on the Internet, and any web site that collects personal information will need to comply with the Act.
- Personal information is any information that relates to a living individual who can be identified from that information or from that and other information in the web site owner’s possession, or likely to come into our possession.
- Personal information can include an email address or telephone number, or information about people's personal experiences and opinions.
- Personal data, the Data Protection Act says, should only be kept should only be kept for the minimum length of time necessary and appropriate to the uses for which it has been agreed.
- Technologies like encryption, along with good data handling practises, can help to ensure that personal data remains secure and private.
What is a Data Use notice?
- Any web sites that collect personal information should include a Data Use notice. This needs to describe all the purposes for which the information collected will be used, and includes information collected via cookies or other covert software.
- If any of the information collected is going to be used for promotion, marketing, research or any other secondary purpose, the data usage notice must give individuals the opportunity to agree to it. This means an ‘opt-in’ box needs to be included in the notice.
Copyright
- Copyright law covers the internet just as it covers magazines, newspapers or other media. Organisations are advised to place appropriate copyright and trademark notices on their web sites to indicate ownership of material.
- Businesses are also urged to register relevant domain names as early as possible to avoid the problem of fighting the cyber squatters. But as domain names prepare to be liberalised in 2010, this will become a tougher challenge, because web addresses could theoretically end in any word.
The Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA)
- In 2000, Congress enacted CIPA, which took effect in April 2001, requiring schools and libraries receiving federal technology funds to install pornography-blocking software on their computers.
- Several states have tried to pass legislation that would protect children by reducing the amount of unsolicited email or spam that comes their way.
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