Millions of people all over the world use social networking sites like Facebook, Bebo and MySpace to meet, chat and message each other on line. But how safe is it to share personal information like this and how can you protect your privacy?
Whether you are using a networking site, internet dating or just chatting on a forum, the chances are you are putting personal information online. Once it’s out there you may not be able to control what happens to it. This could pose a risk to your privacy or even your personal safety.
So before you create a profile, post a picture or tell the online world what you’ve been doing, think about how to make sure you’re safe online.
The Data Protection Act
Any website which collects information from you has to follow the principles in the Data Protection Act. Among other things, this law means they must:
- keep your information safe
- keep it accurate and up to date
- not collect irrelevant information
- only keep it for as long as they need it
- only send it to countries that can promise to protect it in the same way that they have to and
- not use it in a way you might not expect.