Information_Technology_Acts

Information Technology Acts While looking back at the age of technology, it is apparent how important technology has become to not just adults or business, but it has become equally as important to every man, women and child. In today’s society it is almost vital for every home to have computer access, it is used for budgeting, paying bills, school work, and social networking to name only a few. Privacy has become a major issue for all uses around the world. The two acts of research that I have chose to focus on would be the children’s online privacy protection act (COPPA) of 1998, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996. The internet has become a important tool to school age children. It allows them greater access to extended learning tools, such as reading and math assistance. It is used to research in writing papers about every subject imaginable. While there are great uses for the computer and the internet, it has also become a major danger for children of all ages. Minors are becoming victims of identity theft, pornographic material, and online predators. In 1998 congress found a need to filter the use of computers and the internet, the Children’s Internet protection Act, of 1998 was introduced to congress and was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in December of 2000. The Children’s Internet Protection Act was put in place to allow parent greater access to monitor and control what the children are exposed to online. To keep children identity and exposure safe from predators that could harm them. Today schools are required to block or filter internet access to any programs or internet access that would be considered offensive they are also required to track and monitor all internet activity (American Library Association [ALA], 2003). Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has become a vital issue in the medical industry. Patient’s rights are an important aspect of personal medical care. While the main goal of HIPAA was to make health insurance, more portable when changing jobs and when making the health care system more accountable for costs to reduce waste and fraud, this has caused more issues in patient privacy (University of Miami, 2005). Insurance information is currently all over the internet, which can lead to personal medical information being shared with companies or parties that can use the information against the patient. To mainstream the amount of information that is being shared over the internet, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS has adopted a support of electronic exchange of both administrative and financial transactions for health care through the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). All information will be routed through one of two EDI sources, an Electronic clearinghouse or they will be required to register with CoreSource. By mainstreaming the information with the Electronic Data Interchange, it minimizes the chance of personal information being exchanged on the internet. Information Technology has progressed in many different ways that make privacy issues better for everyone. Keeping our personal information safe, keeping our children safe from harm are only a few ways we have benefited from the Privacy Acts that have been implemented.