Legal and HR Issues

Legal and HR Issues

The law may not be the most precisely sharpened instrument with which to
strike back at hackers…, but sometimes blunt instruments do an adequate job.'
Introduction
As computer and electronic systems have taken a dominant role in the
way businesses now function, the commercial and the public
perception of electronic crime (often referred to a cyber crime) has
resulted in the development of new laws (both domestic and
international) and the instalment of multiple regulatory bodies.
Legal Issues
To protect both public and private interests, a comprehensive
regulatory environment has been developed to include data protection,
computer misuse, controls on cryptography and software copyright.
Some of the legal issues these regulations are designed to cover include:
• Theft.
• Protection of privacy.
• Freedom of information.
• Fair credit reporting/data protection.
• Public decency.
• Telecommunications.
• Computer crime.
Most developed countries now have a law against computer misuse
whereby viruses, unauthorized access and unauthorized alteration are
treated as a criminal offence. Generally, 'unauthorized' also covers
employees deliberately exceeding their authority. However, the
prosecution has to prove the accused knew they were unauthorized.
International Cyber Crime
International cyber crime is broken down into 6 legal areas:

• Computer Fraud
• Computer Forgery
• Damage to Computer data or Computer Programmes
• Computer Sabotage
• Unauthorized Access
• Unauthorized Interception