Internet Abuses
By August Bequai
The Internet has proven to be both a blessing and a problem for America’s current workplace. Management and employees alike-(both in government and the private sector)-more out of ignorance, rather than malice, find themselves afoul of the law and their workplace regulations.
Here are some laws to take note of, and avoid legal entanglements. To cite a few of these:
1. Federal Computer Fraud & Abuse Act (18 U.S.C. 1030): provides tough penalties for individuals who employ computers to commit frauds, acts of sabotage, and other misconduct. Pranksters are no exception.
2. Electronic Funds Transfer Act (15 U.S.C. 1693): provides penalties for those individuals who tamper with electronic funds transfers in interstate or foreign commerce. Direct deposits are covered.
3. Credit Card Abuse Act (18 U.S.C. 1029): covers frauds and related activities which employ access devices.
4. Wiretaps (18 U.S.C. 2510-2258): makes it a crime for private individuals to tap into communications between otherparties. Electronic Communications Privacy Act (18 U.S.C. 2701): makes it a crime to access without proper authorization stored data belonging to others. Hackers should take note.
5. Use of Computers to Make Threats (18 U.S.C. 875): threatening your ex-girlfriend or boyfriend via the Internet could get you in deep trouble.
Those with an avid interest in IT security issues should check out the following:
1. International Journal of Law & Information Technology (Oxford University) at http://www3.oup.co.uk/inttec/hdb
2. Computer Law Review & Technology Journal at http://www.smu.edu/-csr/articlesd.html
3. Journal of Computers & Security (Oford, England) at www.elsevier.com/locate/cose
The above should keep your plate full for a while.
Tags: employees, federal laws, internet abuses, it security