Computer Science

Freedom of Information and Computer Misuse

How does technology impact us?

The law, data protection and copyright

Cultural impacts

Privacy and surveillance

Environmental impact

Ethical impact

Impacts on society

What years are the FIA and CMA from respectively?

What type of organisation has to answer FIA requests?

The Freedom of Information Act was introduced to enable the public to find out secrets that were held by the public sector.

The Freedom of Information Act was introduced to give any member of the public the right to access any information recorded by public sector organisations.

The Freedom of Information Act was introduced to give company owners the right to access any tax records held about them.

The Freedom of Information Act was introduced to protect public sector organisations from time-wasters.

Which of these statements describe the purpose of the Freedom of Information Act?

Yes, because level 1 is just accessing, and level 2 is accessing with intention to commit further offences

Are you breaking the CMA if you just look and don’t damage anything?

Unlimited fines, several years in prison, or both, depending on how severe the offence is

What type of punishment can being convicted of the top level of CMA result in?

Level 1 — Unauthorised access to computer material

Level 2 — Unauthorised access with intent to commit or facilitate commission of further offences

Level 3 — Unauthorised acts with intent to impair, or with recklessness as to impairing, operation of computer, etc

Which level and description most accurately fits this contravention of the Computer Misuse Act? “Falling appointments at a hair salon traced back to ex-employee Marion Harrington continuing to access registrations on the company email account months later."

This lesson will be removed by the end of the Spring Term 2026.

Freedom of Information and Computer Misuse

Lesson outcome

This lesson will be removed by the end of the Spring Term 2026.