Unit 4- Assignment 3
P5, P6, M2
BTEC BUSINESS LEVEL 3
LEGAL ISSUES IN BUSINESS

Data Protection Act 1998

Freedom of Information Act 2000

Computer Misuse Act 1990
 Unauthorised
access to computer materials
 Unauthorised access to computer systems with
intent to commit another offence
 Unauthorised modifications of computer material
LEGAL ISSUES (IN BRIEF)
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Data Protection Act 1998- this act ensures information
held about people is used correctly. There are 8
different criteria that a business must follow (see pg
139)
Freedom of Information Act 2000- this gives individuals
the right to request information about them that is held
by a public authority- e.g. You have the right to see your
medical records.
Computer Misuse Act 1990- this act makes it illegal to
carry out certain activities on a computer, e.g. Hacking,
misusing software, gaining access to secure files.
ETHICAL ISSUES IN BUSINESS
Use of Email
 Internet
 Whistle Blowing
 Organisational Policies
 Information Ownership

ETHICAL ISSUES
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Email- a code of practice is common in businesses- this
gives employees guidelines about appropriate use of
email.
Internet- similar to email- employees are guided as to
what they can and cannot do when using the internet.
Whistle Blowing- this is when an employee raises
concerns about business practice, these concerns can
be raised to management or sometimes the press.
Organisational policies- business set policies regarding
information to ensure they use information ethically.
Information ownership- employees are responsible for
the information they have. E.g staff information.
P5- EXPLAIN HOW A BUSINESS FOLLOWS THE
ETHICAL AND LEGAL ISSUES ASSOCIATED
WITH BUSINESS INFORMATION

Explain each issue and then explain how a business
ensures it follows these policies, this could be through
staff training, through staff policies, through routine
checking and reprimanding staff if necessary

Legal issues should include Data Protection Act, Freedom
of Information Act, Computer Misuse Act 1990. Explain
how the organisation follows these acts, what practices
are put into place to ensure the business follows these.

Ethical information should include; use of email, internet,
whistle blowing, organisational policies. Explain how
theses issues have an effect on how the company
produces information/ the information they provide.
OPERATIONAL ISSUES

Security of Information

Backups

Health and Safety

Organisational Policies

Costs
OPERATIONAL ISSUES
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Security of Information- This ensures digital information, records
and knowledge management is kept secure by a business.
Including confidential information left on the train!!
Backups- a business needs to minimise the risk of loosing vital
information using a reliable backup system. This should be
common practice in any business
Health and Safety- IT equipment must be used safely, this requires
a number of criteria for staff who are required to spend a large
amount of time using IT equipment.
Organisational Policies- these are individual business policies that
relate to using information.
Cost- this needs to be considered, businesses may see the benefit
of implementing some or all of these measures but they do come at
a cost, either additional resources needed or the cost of
development.
P6- EXPLAIN THE OPERATIONAL ISSUES IN
RELATION TO THE INFORMATION A BUSINESS
USES.

Using the same business explain which
operational issues they follow and how these
are implemented in the business.
M2- ANALYSE THE LEGAL, ETHICAL AND
OPERATIONAL ISSUES IN RELATION TO THE
USE OF BUSINESS INFORMATION.
 You can incorporate this into P5 and P6, you
need to explain how the company will deal
with each of these issues –
 What
effects will it have on the business?
 What action will it cause the business to take?