IT Law and Society Overview

IT Law

• Understanding how internet technologies function is crucial for professionals in the field of information technology.
• IT law is essential for understanding the legality of actions within the digital landscape.
• Legal violations in the digital realm can have significant consequences.

What is Law?

• Law is defined differently across cultures and time periods.
• Examples:
  • Rules for societal conduct, enforceable by authority
  • Tools for social conflict resolution
  • Tools for societal cooperation improvement

Law and Society

• Humans are social beings.
• Society functions through shared rules (prescriptions and sanctions)
• The legal system is a fundamental element of social order:
  • Binds members through rules; resolves conflicts; promotes social well-being.
• Rules, religion, morality, and customs influence each other in a society.

IT Law: Definition

• IT Law (Information Technology Law) studies legal issues related to computer use, particularly on the internet.
• It involves adapting existing legal frameworks to technological advancements.

Internet Governance

• Internet governance lacks global authority.
• Various private and public entities work cooperatively.
• Internet governance encompasses rules, norms, and decision-making processes.
• The Internet governance has to assure global connection without specific global government.

Essential Rules in EU Data Protection Law

• Processing data is lawful and transparent.
• Data processing has to have a specific purpose.
• Data processing needs to be limited to what is necessary.
• Data must be accurate and up-to-date.
• Data must not be used in ways not initially agreed on.
• Data has to be stored only for as long as needed.
• Data protection must be kept by technical and organizational safeguards.
• Additional rules apply to sensitive data

Cookies

• Web cookies are messages from websites that improve digital experience.
• Cookies track user activity.
• Laws require webpages to be transparent about cookie use and obtain user consent.

Data Protection Officer (DPO)

• Companies handling sensitive data or large-scale monitoring need a DPO.
• DPOs advise companies on data protection issues, monitor compliance, and handle data protection requests.

Sanctions

• Non-compliance with data protection rules can result in sanctions.
• Sanctions can be fines, warnings, bans, or other measures.
• Severity depends on the infringement's nature and how it affected data subjects.

Contracts

• Contracts related to IT are diverse.
• Contracts can involve software, hardware, or online services.
• Digital contracts are regulated by legal frameworks