bLaCkIcE's Conundrum

Computer Misuse Act!!!

Last Wednesday, I finally learn something interesting regarding the law on information n technology in S'pore. We basically went through the entire Computer Misuse Act, a set of law that is meant to protect intellectual properties in the digital era. I must say, some of the law is very general. So general that I couldn't believe it. In fact, it was during the lesson that i learned how many laws have i broken in the past. And if i were to be charged, I would have been condemned to life-long jail term!!! The law is set in such tricky(ok.. maybe it isn't tricky.. but it's full of traps :p) way that you can be charged in one of thousands of ways.... No wonder lawyers are scheming ppl.... :P

For example, your classmates are having a presentation soon and you happen to sit in on one of their practise session. They left their powerpoint slides unattended as they go for a short toilet break. Out of curiosity, you browse through their slides on their laptop and then return to the original slide. By doing so, you are liable to be charged under the Act and maybe fined $5000 or 2 years in jail.. or both at the same time. ... and if any damage was done to the slides, the sentence will be even worse.... now i'm not gonna touch anyone's computer esp those LAWYER's :P

For mango and 022.....remember the time when we studied in the seminar room at S3 b4 the exams? We used the computer terminal in the seminar room rite...... hehe .. was there a word "For tutors only" on the monitor? hehe..... I was informed that by using the computer when there's such instruction, we have violated the law!! tat means a $5000 fine for each of us.. or worse....... 2 year jail term.... scary leh..... for repeated offence.... it's double the amount..... :P

Law is meant to protect us.... but after knowing the law, it seems tat we are even more restricted than ever? There's just so many things tat u cannot do but will do it so naturally...This reminds me of I.Robot where the computer uses the argument of controlling human as a way to improve our lives..... a distorted logic that enabled the robots to bypass the 3 basic law imposed on them by their creators. Protect or restrict? It's a fine line indeed...... just like our parents-child relationship....... or any other relationship..... where there's no clear cut way to determine right or wrong.........

posted by bLaCkICe @ 9:53 PM