A Level Computer Science OCR Practice Exam

What is a potential risk of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act on consumers?

1. Improved internet security

2. Increased surveillance and privacy breaches

3. Enhanced trust in ISPs

4. Boosted consumer protection laws

The correct answer is: Increased surveillance and privacy breaches

The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) primarily aims to give government authorities the power to conduct surveillance and gather intelligence, which can lead to an increase in monitoring of individuals’ online activities. This heightened level of surveillance may result in significant privacy concerns for consumers, as their personal data and communications can be accessed without their explicit knowledge or consent. The act essentially allows for a broader scope of surveillance, which means that consumers may feel their privacy is compromised. This can lead to a sense of distrust towards both the governments that implement such surveillance measures and the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that might be required to facilitate this monitoring. As a consequence, consumers could become more apprehensive about their online activities, fearing that they are being watched, which is a direct impact of such regulations on their everyday lives. In contrast, while improved internet security, enhanced trust in ISPs, and boosted consumer protection laws might sound beneficial, they do not align as closely with the implications of RIPA as concerns about privacy breaches do.