What Is Internet and Cyberspace Law?

Use of the internet has become a big part of everyday life. People order from Amazon or other online businesses daily without thinking about it. Access to the internet comes with hackers and data breach risks, which can affect your privacy.

Internet and Cyberspace Law Issues

The internet gives us many ways to conduct business and gain information on various topics. Unfortunately, this access to information comes with risks. Those risks may need help from cyber lawyers, business lawyers, or internet law experts.

First is the unprecedented ability to gather and maintain large amounts of data. In the past, basic information on a person was difficult to find. Now computers can store large amounts of information. Data mining algorithms can use the data to create complete portraits of people. Data protection has become a huge issue for service providers, companies, and people. Many lawmakers are looking at policies that allow for privacy while still allowing some use of the data.

Computers and the internet affect many other areas of law and cause legal issues. The ability to copy and send out copyrighted works presents new issues for intellectual property lawyers. Those include copyright infringement and stolen trade secrets.

Cyberbullying

The internet allows everyone to connect, but sometimes that can be bad. People can use social media and email to bully others or gang up on someone anonymously. This is especially true for teenagers, which is not good for their mental health. As a parent, you should watch for warning signs and talk to your teens if things seem out of line. You should also consider asking for legal advice, as many states now have criminal laws involving cyberbullying. You may be able to file charges against the person who is causing the problems.

Terms to Know

• Identity Theft: A crime that happens when someone uses another person's data, like their Social Security number or credit card number, to conduct business.
• Phishing: A crime using a false identity to convince unsuspecting people to disclose personally identifying information.
• Malware: Software that attacks a computer so it can't operate properly and allows criminals access to your personal information.

Related Practice Areas

• Intellectual Property: Intellectual property can get stolen over the internet because it's so easy to copy data.
• Privacy Law: The internet allows entities to take information that was once private or semi-private.
• Business and E-Commerce Law: The internet allows companies to reach customers and create business opportunities, but corporations must do so safely.
• Consumer Law: Some vendors use the internet to scam consumers and sell products not meeting the U.S.'s safety standards.
• Criminal Law: Stealing another person's identifying information and using it without permission is a crime. Cyberbullying is also a crime in many states.

Check out these articles for more related information:

• Cyber Crimes
• Cyberspace Harassment
• The Ethical Considerations of Cybersecurity

If you have internet-related concerns, you should speak to a lawyer with experience in information technology, small business, or criminal issues. They will be able to help you figure out what to do.