<Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Status: Current legislation </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Text of the Data Protection Act 1998 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk </Th> </Tr> <P> The Data Protection Act 1998 (c 29) is a United Kingdom Act of Parliament designed to protect personal data stored on computers or in an organised paper filing system . It follows the EU Data Protection Directive 1995 protection, processing and movement of data . Individuals have legal rights to control information about themselves . Most of the Act does not apply to domestic use, for example keeping a personal address book . Anyone holding personal data for other purposes is legally obliged to comply with this Act, subject to some exemptions . The Act defines eight data protection principles to ensure that information is processed lawfully . </P> <P> The 1998 Act replaced the Data Protection Act 1984 and the Access to Personal Files Act 1987 and implemented the EU Data Protection Directive 1995 . </P>

Explain why legislation is necessary to protect the rights of individuals