1.

Computer Misuse Act 1990 :

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1990/18/contents
Covers unauthorised access to a computer, computer material, or changing computer material.
For information on relevance to Universities see:
http://www.lancs.ac.uk/iss/governance/rules/cmisuse.htm
https://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/ias/resources/policies/misuseact
https://www.ucb.ac.uk/handbook/university-rules-and-regulations/computer-misuse-policy.aspx
https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/dpfoioffice/a-ztopics/computermisuseact/
https://docs.gre.ac.uk/rep/information-and-library-services/computer-related-legislation
Related articles
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/07/20/uk_computer_misuse_statistics/
https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2016/11/talktalk-hack-boy-admits-7-charges-computer-
misuse-act.html
https://thenextweb.com/uk/2012/05/17/uk-facebook-account-hacker-hit-with-12-month-prison-
sentence/

Local context

http://www.slcert.gov.lk/Downloads/Acts/Computer_Crimes_Act_No_24_of_2007(E).pdf
http://srilankalaw.lk/Volume-II/computer-crime-act.html
https://www.srilankalaw.lk/?id=239&lang=en

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 2. Data Protection Act 1998
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/29/contents
https://www.gov.uk/data-protection
Has 8 principles setting out the circumstances under which an organisation can legitimately ask
for personal data, what personal data they can ask for, and how they use and store the personal
data. For a guide to what this means for business see:
http://www.getsafeonline.org/businesses/data-protection-act/
https://www.gov.uk/data-protection
New Act: EU GDPR regulation
https://eugdpr.org/
https://gdpr-info.eu/

Local context
http://www.southasiaathudson.org/blog/2018/7/17/sri-lankas-need-for-a-data-privacy-law
https://www.gov.lk/elaws/wordpress/CMSWrapper/content/elaws?appcod

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 3. Freedom of Information Act (2000)

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/contents

The Freedom of Information Act gives individuals the right to ask any public sector organisation
for all the recorded information they have on any subject. Anyone can make a request for
information – there are no restrictions on age, nationality or where a person lives.
Individuals can request information from publicly funded organisations that work for the welfare
of the whole population, eg: government departments, local councils, schools, colleges and
universities, health trusts, hospitals and doctors’ surgeries, publicly funded museums, the police,
and others. See:
https://www.gov.uk/make-a-freedom-of-information-request/organisations-you-can-request-
information-from
(If individuals ask for information about themselves the request comes under the Data Protection
Act.)

Local context
http://www.slpi.lk/right-to-information-act/

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 4. Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/contents
Covers different types of intellectual property and the rights of the owners of intellectual
property, and the cases where intellectual property may legitimately be used.

Local context
https://www.hg.org/legal-articles/intellectual-property-law-in-sri-lanka-21205

5. Human Rights Act, 1998

https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/human-rights/human-rights-act
Sets out fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals in the UK, such as: liberty and security;
respect for private/family life/home/correspondence; freedom on thought, belief and religion;
freedom of expression; protection from discrimination, among others.
Local context
http://hrcsl.lk/english/hrcsl-act/

6. The Equality Act 2010

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/contents

The Equality Act 2010 replaced all previous equality legislation such as the Race Relations Act,
Disability Discrimination Act and Sex Discrimination Act.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/RightsAndObligations/DisabilityRights/
DG_4001068

Extra links

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http://groundviews.org/2016/03/28/a-meaningful-right-to-equality-and-non-discrimination-
recognising-sexual-and-gender-identities/

7. Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/23/contents

Governs the use of covert techniques by public authorities, such as the police or government
departments. If they need to do this to obtain private information about someone, they must do it
in a way that is necessary, proportionate, and compatible with human rights.

8. Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998

Covers ‘whistleblowing’, i.e. revealing information that is considered to be in the public interest.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/23/contents and for information on how it works for
an organisation see:
http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Our_regulatory_activity/Reporting_issues/pida.aspx

9. The Privacy and Electronic Communications 2011 (EC Directive) Regulations (E-
Privacy Regulation)
Covers unsolicited email/faxes; automated calls; traffic data; loyalty schemes.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/1208/pdfs/uksi_20111208_en.pdf