Many countries have created legislation or have passed laws about the use of computers and data.
Scope
These laws are usually concerned
Protecting data about people; Hacking computer systems; Protecting copyright and patents. Censorship of the internet Health and safety
Legislation and laws in various countries
Australia
Privacy Act 1988 - concerns data about people
Copyright Act 1968
Copyright Amendment (Digital Agenda) Act 2000
Canada
Criminal Code of Canada
Germany
Bundesdatenschutzgesetz BDSG (Federal Data Protection Act) - concerns data about people 202(c) - anti hacking legislation
United States
FISMA (Federal Information Security Management Act) - describes how government organisations should handle data about people GLBA (Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act) - describes how financial organisations should handle data about people HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) - describes how medical insurance organisations should handle data about people Data Security Act 2007 Digital Millennium Copyright Act 1998 USA PATRIOT Act 2002 Identity Theft Enforcement and Restitution Act Computer Fraud and Abuse Act
United Kingdom
The Data Protection Act 1998 - will prevent people's information getting spread around the world, preventing the likeliness of crimes toward said person. The Computer Misuse Act 1990 - covers hacking with amendments that were added later. The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 - covers copyright. The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 - covers central and local government looking at workers' email security etc. The Communications Act 2003 is often used when people send offensive emails etc. The Digital Economy Act 2010 - covers software piracy. The Malicious Communication Act 1988 - Covers sending mail, physical or electronic, with the intent of causing distress or anxiety. IT law