Each of us has a lot of personal information stored about us - birth; marriage; employment; bank details; driving details; taxes; etc...

Safeguards to help prevent the misuse of files of personal data include...

• password system of access
• access to files should be audited - details of who accessed the files and when.

Computer users who store personal data must register with the Data Protection Register. The information they store must

• be obtained and processed fairly and lawfully
• be held only for a specific purpose
• be adequate, relevant to that purpose and not more than necessary.
• be kept accurate and up-to-date
• not be held longer than required.
• be processed in accordance with the rights of the individual
• be protected with the proper security.
• not be transferred to countries outside the EEC.

The individual whose data is stored

• should be notified of the existence of the data
• has the right to view data stored
• has the right to have data corrected or erased.

Exemptions from the Data Protection Act :

• data used for recreational purposes eg club members
• data which may affect national security
• data used to fight crime
• data used for calculating wages or pensions
• data used for distributing information eg mailing lists