AS/A Level ICT Rising year 12 lesson July 2008

ICT is a dynamic subject ICT is always evolving. As technology develops, there are new possibilities for how ICT can be used. Consequently, ICT stories are always in the news. As an A-Level ICT student you should keep up-to-date with what’s going on and develop your own opinions. To illustrate this we are going to look at data protection and privacy issues.

Our Surveillance society goes online While our offline activities are tracked by CCTV cameras, Oyster cards and RFID tags, the details of our online searches and purchases accumulate in databases that know more about us than we'd tell our closest friends. Many of us also broadcast our lives through blogs and social networking sites.

Big Brother A massive government database holding details of every phone call, and time spent on the internet by the public is being planned as part of the fight against crime and terrorism. The proposal will raise further alarm about a “Big Brother” society, as it follows plans for vast databases for the ID cards scheme and NHS patients.

Big Brother activity Watch this video clipvideo clip Soon you will be asked to get into four groups You will have 15 minutes to research and discuss this topic The group must then report back to the class Get into groups now!

Big Brother Links Our surveillance society goes online Big Brother database for phones and s Microsoft seeks patent for office ‘spy’ software Microsoft seeks patent for office ‘spy’ software Privacy rights fragile in 2007 Respecting privacy and protecting the public from crime Respecting privacy and protecting the public from crime Living in a surveillance society MPs probe ‘Surveillance society’

Summer Activity Find an interesting news story that relates to ICT Prepare a short (max. 5 minute) presentation Make an information sheet (max. 2 sides of A4) that explains the story in your own words. Include your sources.