IT for government and public sector

Google Cloud signs MoU to accelerate take-up of AI by UK defence sector

Google Cloud is continuing to make in-roads into the UK public sector after signing MoU with The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

London Tech Week: Keir Starmer calls for AI job loss discussion

Labour leader sees a need for a broad regulatory framework and a frank discussion with business to inform policy around job losses arising from artificial intelligence Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Delayed Making Tax Digital programme to cost taxpayers extra £1.5bn

HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) Making Tax Digital programme, which is running several years behind schedule, is expected to cost five times more than planned, National Audit Office (NAO) report finds Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

UKtech50 2023: The most influential people in UK technology

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we reveal the 13th annual UKtech50 list of the most influential people in UK technology. This year’s award goes jointly to the secretaries of state for science, innovation and technology – Michelle Donelan and her maternity cover, Chloe Smith. Also, we examine the mounting legal challenges faced by the emergence of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Ada Lovelace Institute warns against Covid app reuse

There are a number of lessons policy-makers should take away from the use of apps developed as part of the Covid-19 response Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Rishi Sunak calls for urgency in building out UK tech

The UK prime minister used his speech during London Tech Week to discuss funding tech, attracting talent and AI safety Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

UK-US Atlantic Declaration bolsters tech and data collaboration

Joe Biden and Rishi Sunak agree greater collaboration on responsible artificial intelligence, quantum computing and Open RAN Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

UK and US move closer to transatlantic data bridge deal

The British and American governments have committed, in principle, to a new data bridge agreement that will ease the free flow of personal data across the Atlantic Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

University of Manchester hit by cyber attack

The University of Manchester has been hit by a cyber attack of an undisclosed nature Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

CDEI publishes portfolio of AI assurance techniques

The UK’s Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation has published a variety of case studies to show how different assurance techniques can build and maintain trust in artificial intelligence systems Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Netherlands enables contactless payments on entire public transport network

All modes of public transport now accept payments using contactless technology after the completion of major project in the Netherlands Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Regulatory ‘lacuna’ around facial recognition threatens rights

The UK is heading for a “legal quagmire” around live facial recognition if the government and regulators do not take action to rein in use of the technology before it becomes ubiquitous Continue Reading

By

• Kingsley Hayes, Keller Postman UK

Government and industry figures meet to discuss AI regulation

Tech industry figures are broadly supportive of the need for artificial intelligence to be regulated, but despite growing consensus, there is still disagreement over what effective AI regulation looks like Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

UKtech50 2023: The most influential people in UK technology

Computer Weekly has announced the 13th annual UKtech50 – our definitive list of the movers and shakers in the UK tech sector Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

UKtech50 2023 winner: Michelle Donelan/Chloe Smith, secretary of state, DSIT

Computer Weekly looks at the achievements and successes of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, as its secretary of state is recognised as the most influential person in UK technology for 2023 Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Open banking regulator sets out next steps

Plans for ongoing evolution of the UK open banking sector have been set out by regulator in bid to grow the open banking sector in a ‘safe, scalable and economically sustainable way’ Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Payments regulator makes APP fraud reimbursement mandatory

UK payments regulator confirms changes to rules around repaying customers who lose money to authorised push payment fraudsters Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Government to test rural broadband options with £7m fund

Government to fund tests of technologies that could be issued to improve internet connectivity for rural communities Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Indian IT services giant takes UK teachers’ pensions contract from Capita

Tata Consultancy Services bolsters its growing UK public sector customer base with key contract win Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

ESA uses NetApp as-a-service for space data ‘hot’ archive

The European Space Agency collects data from millions of miles away. It must get storage right when there’s no chance of a u-turn to take more photos or re-record data Continue Reading

By

• Yann Serra, LeMagIT
• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

TechUK publishes ‘UK tech plan’ for next government

Technology businesses are calling on UK politicians to devise a ‘comprehensive, forward-thinking strategy’ to realise the benefits of technology ahead of the next general election Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Workers ‘deeply uncomfortable’ with digital surveillance at work

Employees express discomfort towards employers’ use of various digital surveillance and monitoring techniques, which are often powered by artificial intelligence Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

UK has time limit on ensuring cryptocurrency regulatory leadership, says Parliamentary report

Parliamentary report makes 53 recommendations to the government's plans to regulate cryptocurrency Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Medical regulator drops probe into NHS whistleblower Peter Duffy amid dispute over email evidence

The General Medical Council has dropped an investigation into an NHS whistleblower who exposed widespread clinical harm at Morecambe Bay Trust amid questions over disputed email evidence Continue Reading

By

• Tommy Greene

Sweden is developing its own big language model

Artificial Intelligence Sweden is leading an initiative to build a large language model not only for Swedish, but for all the major languages in the Nordic region: Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Icelandic, and Faroese Continue Reading

By

• Pat Brans, Pat Brans Associates/Grenoble Ecole de Management

AI interview: Dan McQuillan, critical computing expert

Critical computing expert Dan McQuillan speaks to Computer Weekly about the top-down imposition of artificial intelligence on society, and how AI is a fundamentally political technology shaped by humanity’s most reactionary tendencies Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Met Police director of intelligence defends facial recognition

The Met Police’s director of intelligence has appeared before MPs to make the case for its continuing use of facial-recognition technology, following announcements from the force and the Home Office that they intend to press on with its adoption Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

UK, US and Australia jointly trial AI-enabled drone swarm

British, American and Australian military organisations have trialled the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in drones in a collaboration designed to drive their adoption of AI-powered military tools Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Downstream breaches of Capita customers spreading

As many as 90 organisations that used Capita services have now reported data breaches arising from various security incidents at the outsourcer Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Birmingham council leader admits £100m budget hole in ERP upgrade

City council’s plans to replace flagship SAP system, which has been running since 1999, is not going to plan Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Cabinet Office publishes response to data sharing for digital ID consultation

The majority of respondents to government’s consultation on data sharing for digital identity are critical to the plans and concerned about data privacy, but Whitehall’s response says many of the responses ‘were driven by anti-digital commentaries’ Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Alert over Chinese cyber campaign targeting critical networks

A Chinese threat actor known as Volt Typhoon has been observed infiltrating CNI networks in a cyber espionage campaign, according to intelligence Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Starmer pledges to reform the NHS through technology

The Labour Party wants to create an NHS powered by ‘groundbreaking technology’, with genomics testing for every baby, modernising appointment booking and overhaul incentives for tech adoption Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Post Office scandal – cover-up a ‘dark chapter’ in government, corporate and legal history

Third phase of public inquiry into Horizon IT scandal reveals extent of Post Office and Fujitsu cover-up of software problems that went on to write ‘as dark a chapter in our governmental, corporate and legal history as can be imagined’ Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Facebook owner Meta fined record €1.2 billion over EU-US data transfers

Decision could have implications for other companies using Standard Contractual Clauses to share data between Europe and the US Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Worker-focused AI Bill introduced by backbench MP Mick Whitley

Using the 10-minute motion rule, backbench Labour MP Mick Whitley has introduced a worker-focused artificial intelligence (AI) bill to Parliament, which outlines a similar approach to AI being advocated by unions in the UK Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Spanish lawyers claim police hacking of EncroChat cryptophones breaches human rights law

Lawyers speaking at the Madrid Bar Association question the legality of a cryptophone hacking which has led to arrests of organised criminals in multiple countries Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly
• Ter García

National semiconductor strategy: Balancing skills, migration and security

The UK government is putting £1bn into semiconductor research and design over the next 10 years to develop a robust chip sector Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Campaigning former subpostmaster fears compensation for scandal victims will be delayed to 2025

The man who exposed the Post Office scandal fears a long delay for victims due to compensation process being "bogged down by bureaucracy" Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Defra's tech review reveals legacy IT issues across government

The Public Accoubts Committee recently found that Defra has been unable to measure inefficiencies due to running legacy IT Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Home Office pushes for more police facial-recognition deployments

An independent report commissioned by the biometrics commissioner of England and Wales reveals that the UK policing minister is pushing for wider adoption of facial-recognition technology by police, and further criticises the government’s proposed changes to surveillance oversight Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Plexal launches Cyber Runway 3.0 accelerator programme

The latest iteration of Plexal’s government-backed cyber security startup accelerator will run four work streams to boost startups at various stages of maturity and growth Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

No10 Innovation Fellowship Programme ramps up AI focus

Second round of the programme, run jointly by Number 10 and the Government Digital Service, focuses on AI and automation Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

UK renews tech and science deal with Japan

Deal focuses on innovation and will see countries collaborate on networking and investment, joint R&D programmes, and exchange schemes Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Why we need a secure side door for encrypted apps, not a back door  

Splitting a decryption key into multiple fragments held by 'guardians', including privacy rights group, may be an answer to policing encrypted messages Continue Reading

By

• Andersen Cheng

MEPs vote in raft of amendments to EU AI Act

The proposed amendments to the EU’s AI Act have garnered a mixed reception from both industry and civil society, with the former seeing it as too stringent and the latter as not stringent enough in many areas, despite positive progress in others Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Post Office lawyer bragged how team ‘destroyed attack on the Horizon system’ and put woman in prison

A senior Post Office lawyer appeared gleeful in email about how his team helped prosecute a subpostmaster who was sent to prison Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Investigatory Powers Tribunal finds NCA EncroChat hacking warrants were lawful

Investigatory Powers Tribunal refers questions over whether messages obtained from the EncroChat encrypted phone network are legally admissible back to the criminal court Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

AI outcry intensifies as EU readies regulation

Policymakers are battling to keep pace with AI developments, while experts warn of societal impact Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Journalists’ confidential communications subject to unlawful spying, court hears

Campaign group Liberty and the National Union of Journalists tell Court of Appeal the government has not gone far enough to protect confidential journalist information and sources from surveillance Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Fujitsu staff had ‘unrestricted and unauditable’ remote access to Post Office branch systems

Fujitsu engineers could make changes to Post Office branch accounts without anyone knowing Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

UKtech50 2023: Vote for the most influential person in UK technology

Our judges have selected the top 50 leaders from a shortlist of more than 300 people – now it’s your chance to tell us who you think is the most influential person in UK technology Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Black Basta ransomware attack to cost Capita over £15m

Exceptional costs arising from the March 2023 Black Basta ransomware attack on the systems of outsourcer Capita will be somewhere between £15m and £20m, the organisation says Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

UKtech50 2023: The longlist of the UK’s influential tech leaders

Each year, Computer Weekly launches a search for the most influential people in UK IT, asking the tech community who it thinks should be in the top 50 – here is the longlist of everyone nominated for 2023 Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Chat control: EU lawyers warn plans to scan encrypted messages for child abuse may be unlawful

Leaked legal advice warns that European ‘chat control’ proposals to require tech companies to scan private and encrypted messages for child abuse are likely to breach EU law Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Capita pension clients told data may have leaked

Capita has told trustees of some of the pension funds for which it provides outsourced services that their customer data may have been stolen by the Black Basta ransomware operation Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

HMRC confirms potential April 2024 end date for double-taxation issue in IR35 compliance cases

HM Revenue & Customs launches eight-week consultation on plans to roll out a legislative tweak that would put a stop to the government tax collection agency over-collecting tax in IR35 non-compliance cases Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

The ethics of military AI

In this week’s Computer Weekly, as the defence sector looks into using artificial intelligence to create autonomous weapons, we examine the risks and ethics of military AI. Amazon Web Services is under fire for not providing vital emissions data to customers – we investigate the issues. And we find out what IT security teams can learn from a year of cyber warfare in Ukraine. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Government is playing ‘psychic war’ in battle over end-to-end encryption

Peers hear that the UK government is being deliberately ambiguous about its plans to require technology companies to scan the content of encrypted messages Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

More Post Office software-related convictions overturned takes total to 86

A total of 86 former subpostmasters wrongly prosecuted for financial crimes after computer errors showed phantom losses have had convictions overturned Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Police Scotland receive formal notice about cloud system

Scotland’s biometrics watchdog has issued Police Scotland with an information notice over its deployment of a cloud-based digital evidence system, following disclosure of major data protection concerns by Computer Weekly Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

UK government introduces Digital Markets Bill to Parliament

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill will seek to level the playing field in digital markets by empowering regulators with new tools and powers to directly enforce competition and consumer protection laws Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Post Office paid IBM millions when it ended proposed contract to replace Horizon

The Post Office ended a proposed contract with IBM to replace its controversial Horizon system after work had already started Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

UK taskforce set to drive generative AI safety and opportunities

The government has committed £100m to helping the UK develop and build out generative artificial intelligence capabilities Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Emergency alert test review confirmed after ‘small number’ of mobile users excluded

In wake of emergency alert test on 23 April, government confirms review into why some 4G and 5G mobile phones were excluded Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Finland and Estonia deepen cross-border digital partnerships

Finland and Estonia, two global tech pioneers, are increasingly sharing their expertise Continue Reading

By

• Gerard O'Dwyer

UK biometrics watchdog questions police cloud deployments

The UK biometrics commissioner has warned that policing and justice bodies must be able to demonstrate ‘immediately and unequivocally’ that their cloud deployments are lawful Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

UK Emergency Alert Test sparks cyber fraud warning

Fraudsters and scammers are likely to use the upcoming test of the UK's new mobile Emergency Alert system as bait in their attacks, while misinformation and conspiracy theories spread Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

New GovAssure cyber regime launches across UK government

An enhanced cyber security regime is being put in place to better protect UK government IT systems from growing threats Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Capita customer data was stolen in March ransomware attack

Capita says it has uncovered evidence of data exfiltration from a small proportion of its server estate following a cyber attack at the end of March Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

TUC says government is failing to protect workers from AI harms

TUC issues warning about artificial intelligence leading to more widespread workplace discrimination if the right checks are not put in place Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Surrey and Sussex police spared fines after recording 200,000 phone calls without people’s knowledge

Police forces escape potential £1m fines following change of policy by ICO to protect the finances of public sector bodies Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

IT Priorities 2023: Budget optimism among EMEA IT leaders

IT leaders across the EMEA region are optimistic that their budgets will increase over the coming year Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Global finance firms take part in NATO cyber attack simulation

Global financial services organisations take part in NATO annual event which simulates cyber attacks on critical infrastructure Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

CyberUK 23: Alert over mercenary Russian threat to CNI

Russian hacktivists supportive of their government’s war on Ukraine are turning their attention to disruptive or destructive attacks on critical infrastructure in the UK, the NCSC has warned Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Fintechs get more certainty about open banking’s future direction

Fintechs have welcomed the UK open banking regulators recommendations for the future of the sector Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Reduced spending on cloud services weighs European IT services market down

Reduced spending on cloud services in the EMEA region meant a year-on-year drop in total IT and BPO services spend Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Tech companies and NGOs urge rewrite of Online Safety Bill to protect encrypted comms

The Online Safety Bill faces amendments in the House of Lords amid concerns that it could weaken the security of end-to-end encrypted communications for UK citizens Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Why IAM systems are crucial for securing multicloud architecture

As business tools evolve into cloud-based services, organisations are finding themselves becoming ever more reliant on the cloud, but how can data be secured across so many different platforms? Continue Reading

By

• Peter Ray Allison

Government launches Smart Data Council to lower utility bills

The council aims to find ways to use and encourage uptake of smart data to make it easier to switch utility providers and save money Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Thousands at risk from critical RCE bug in legacy MS service

Thousands of organisations worldwide are at risk from three vulnerabilities – one critical – in a legacy Microsoft service that they may not be aware they are running Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Sweden and Finland make advances in quantum computing

Separate Swedish and Finnish quantum computing projects make promising advances in the technology of the future Continue Reading

By

• Gerard O'Dwyer

ICO responds to UK government AI regulation plans

The ICO has officially responded to the government’s plans for regulating artificial intelligence as outlined in its recent whitepaper, but called for clarity on certain aspects before the proposals are taken further Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

UK police double down on ‘improved’ facial recognition

The Met and South Wales Police have doubled down on their use of facial recognition technology after research found improved accuracy in their algorithms when using certain settings, but civil society groups maintain that the tech will still be used in a discriminatory fashion Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

April Patch Tuesday fixes zero-day used to deliver ransomware

A zero-day in the Microsoft Common Log File System that has been abused by the operator of the Nokoyawa ransomware is among 97 vulnerabilities fixed in April’s Patch Tuesday update Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Gartner: Rebalance cyber investment towards human-centric elements

Security decision-makers need to reprioritise their investment outlooks towards people, rather than technology, according to the latest market forecast from Gartner Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Bank of England starts recruiting Britcoin team

The Bank of England is recruiting people to join its team focused on the development of a digital pound Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Anne Keast-Butler named as new director of GCHQ

The government has appointed current MI5 deputy director general Anne Keast-Butler to head signals and cyber agency GCHQ Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

UKtech50 2023: Help us find the most influential people in UK IT

Computer Weekly’s annual search for the 50 most influential people in UK IT is back – let us know who you would like to nominate for this year’s list Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Scotland links its tech scaler programme with the NHS

As part of the deal, firms part of the tech scaler programme aimed at helping startups scale up will be given access to NHS regional test beds Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Security Think Tank: Adopt a coherent framework for ID first security

With IAM central to enabling appropriate access to cloud-based services, identity first security is becoming a key trend for IAM in the cloud. Continue Reading

By

• Andrew Peel

Controversial Fujitsu contract with Post Office extended after technical challenges moving to cloud

The Post Office has extended a contract with Fujitsu after being unable to resolve technical issues related to migrating its IT to the cloud Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

DWP appoints former Boots IT chief Richard Corbridge as CDIO

In his new role as the chief digital and information officer for the Department for Work and Pensions, Corbridge will be responsible for a £1.4bn annual budget Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Government to pump more than £100m into digital social care

As part of its Better Care Fund framework, the government has allocated £100m to accelerate digitisation in social care, £50m to improve data, as well as £35m for the creation of an innovation and improvement unit Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Government on the hunt for national tech adviser

Applicants for the role, which pays up to £135,000, will need to have “deep experience” of innovation and technology development, along with a “fantastic network” in the sector Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

CCRC says ‘door open’ for more reviews of subpostmaster convictions

The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has told former Post Office workers the door is still open for them to come forward if they were prosecuted for financial crimes based on evidence from Horizon software Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Quick-acting Rorschach ransomware appears out of nowhere

Emergent Rorschach ransomware strain is highly advanced and quite unusual in its capabilities, warn researchers, who say they have been unable to link it to any other known strains Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Scottish police tech piloted despite major data protection issues

Scottish policing bodies are pressing ahead with a data sharing pilot despite data protection issues around the use of US cloud providers, placing sensitive personal data of tens of thousands of people at risk Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

CGI signs up to prison leaver employment initiative

IT supplier is working with training company specialised in helping prison leavers to find recruitment in the tech sector Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Developers say Apple and Google are running app store monopolies

Coalition for App Fairness and its members speak to Computer Weekly about alleged anti-competitive practices of Apple and Google in their respective app stores, and call for urgent regulatory action to level the playing field Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor