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15 SOCIETY, LAW AND ETHICS
Chapter Outline
15.1 Digital Footprints 15.2 Social Networks
15.3 Cyber Threats 15.4 Malware
15.5 Browsing the Web Safely 15.6 Data Protection
15.7 Open Data 15.8 Licensing
15.9 Cybercrime 15.10 Indian Information Technology Act (IT Act) 2000
15.11 Technology and Society
Introduction
We live in the age of information technology. The use of Internet-enabled devices has increased manifold over the past
decade. This has led to an increase in web services for communication, resource sharing, and e-commerce. Technology
has substantially changed the way we communicate with each other, share information, and do business. Many of us
use services such as email, video conferencing, online shopping, social networking, and e-banking for our day-to-day
work. In this chapter, we will study various types of social networks and their impacts on society. However, one must
be cautious while using online services. People with malicious intentions might harm you for personal gain, and some
people may harm you just for fun. For example, an intruder might entice you to install a malicious app on your phone
so they can steal your password and use it to make money or spread rumours on social media using your Facebook
account. Similarly, a malicious app may harm you by installing malware on your system that could secretly spy on you.
We will explore ways to protect ourselves from security breaches. To protect our intellectual resources, we will talk
about security measures such as copyrights, patents, and trademarks in the context of cybercrimes like plagiarism,
copyright infringement, and trademark violation. We will also study the Indian IT Act 2000, which provides a legal
framework for the use of IT-enabled services and prescribes legal remedies and punishments for violating the law.
15.1 Digital Footprints
A digital footprint is a trail of personal data that one leaves behind while using the Internet. It could
include things like the sites you visit, how long you stay on each site, and the personal information you
use to log in to a portal. It includes information that you share voluntarily on social media posts, blog
profiles, online forms, etc., as well as information that is collected without your knowledge through
cookies or other tracking apps. Various applications may collect your footprint in two different ways.
While the information you leave willingly is known as an active digital footprint, the information that
companies collect without your knowledge or approval is known as a passive digital footprint.
Society, Law and Ethics 391

