Professional Practices: Assignment # 03
Professional Practices: Assignment # 03
Professional Practices: Assignment # 03
Professional Practices
Assignment # 03
Question
b. Thoroughly study Data Protection Act 1984 and 1998. Elaborate on the
amendments done in Data Protection Act 1994.
Ans:
The amendments done in the data protection act 1994 are as followed:
The Data Protection Act of 1998/1994 superseded the Data Protection Act of 1984, which
only protected digital material and computers to a limited extent. The new Act has the
same basic framework as the previous one, with a statement of data protection principles
being central. The text of a number of the principles in the Acts of 1984 and 1998 reveals
some substantial changes in wording and renumbering, although the text of a number of
the principles stays unchanged.
As we can see the amendments in the act by comparing the two tables, table 1 and table 2.
We can see the amendments done in the 1994/1998 Data Protection Act.
Data Protection Act 1998
1. Data information that has been recorded in a format that can be processed by
equipment that operates automatically in response to instructions. (Same as act 1984
but is amended as) It is a part of a relevant file system or an accessible record,
which comprises manual records.
2. Personal data consists of information on a living person who can be recognized from
such information (Same as act 1984 but is amended as) including opinions and
intents
3. Data Controller—one who determines the purposes for which and how any personal
data are or are to be, processed.
4. Data Processor—anyone who processes data on behalf of the data controller who is
not an employee of the data controller.
5. Data Subject—an individual who is the subject of personal data. (Same as act 1984)
6. Processing—obtaining, recording, or holding the information or data or carrying out
any operation or set of operations on the information or data, including (a)
organization, adaptation, or alteration of the information or data, (b) retrieval,
consultation, or use of the information or data, (c) disclosure of the information or
data by transmission, dissemination, or otherwise making available, or (d) alignment,
combination, blocking erasure, or destruction of the information or data.
7. Data Protection Commissioner
8. Notification—all provisions apply regardless of notice, but in the vast majority of
circumstances, notification of registrable particulars will be necessary.