IT legislation and regulation
Understanding the law as it applies to IT management can be one of the hardest task for IT leaders, but the growing burden of regulatory compliance makes it essential. Legislation and regulation affects enterprise IT in many ways, not just in long-standing tasks such as contracts and software licensing. We examine the latest legal development and how they affect IT managers, and talk to the experts in IT legislation and regulation to explain what it means to your organisation.
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News
20 Dec 2024
Interview: How Green Cargo’s IT switched tracks to logistics success
Green Cargo CIO Ingo Paas took a few turns to establish his company as a composable enterprise able to flex and react quickly Continue Reading
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News
20 Dec 2024
Top 10 data and ethics stories of 2024
Here are Computer Weekly’s top 10 data and ethics stories of 2024 Continue Reading
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News
10 Nov 2022
Scrutinising AI requires holistic, end-to-end system audits
Understanding the full impacts of artificial intelligence requires organisations to conduct end-to-end social and technical audits of their systems, but the process comes with a number of challenges Continue Reading
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News
10 Nov 2022
Loan charge contractors hit with fresh loan repayment request from new firm
IT contractors who participated in loan-based remuneration schemes and were previously pursued to repay loans issued to them by a company called Felicitas Solutions are now being chased for payment by a new entity Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Nov 2022
The world's oldest cryptocurrency exchange prefers doing business in Luxembourg
One of the newest niches in fintech, cryptocurrency exchanges may fare very well in Luxembourg Continue Reading
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News
09 Nov 2022
UK’s National Cyber Advisory Board convenes for first time
Government convenes National Cyber Advisory Board to further its goals of making the UK one of the safest places to live and work online Continue Reading
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News
07 Nov 2022
Department for Education escapes £10m fine over data misuse
Department entrusted data on 28 million children to a company called Trustopia, which turned out to be anything but trustworthy, but has escaped a £10m fine under new rules Continue Reading
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News
04 Nov 2022
UK government approach to space industry lacks coherence and investment
As satellite broadband industry rockets, report from Commons Science and Technology Committee criticises government’s failures in key technical areas and continues to question value to taxpayer of OneWeb joint venture Continue Reading
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News
03 Nov 2022
Global coalition reaffirms commitment to fight ransomware
Representatives of 36 countries, as well as the EU, attended the second International Counter Ransomware Initiative Summit in Washington DC Continue Reading
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News
02 Nov 2022
Shadow digital secretary outlines Labour’s tech priorities
Labour’s digital and technology plans focus on reining in the power of the tech giants, boosting connectivity across the UK, and improving online safety Continue Reading
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Opinion
02 Nov 2022
Can crypto recover from the crash of 2022?
What does the crypto wipeout of 2022 mean for an increasingly turbulent economy and can crypto bounce back in the months and years ahead? Crucially, how will regulators react? Continue Reading
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News
01 Nov 2022
Report reveals ‘clear gaps’ in UK’s broadband safety net
Latest update on progress of broadband roll-out guarantees from April to September 2022 shows worrying signs that as the cost-of-living crisis rolls on, swathes of the UK population could be priced out of gaining acceptable broadband Continue Reading
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News
01 Nov 2022
NCSC looks back on year of ‘profound change’ for cyber
The NCSC ramped up its support for UK plc in the past 12 months, but it was events beyond the UK’s borders that proved the most impactful Continue Reading
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Opinion
01 Nov 2022
The rise and risks of sovereign data strategies
Data and analytics leaders need to understand what is happening now to mitigate risk and exploit data-driven opportunities Continue Reading
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Opinion
31 Oct 2022
How to build consumer trust with a privacy-by-design approach
Undertaken with the right mindset and technology, privacy by design delivers value to consumers and builds trust for the long term Continue Reading
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Opinion
31 Oct 2022
The risk of losing our EU data adequacy agreement is real
While some may welcome the government’s ambition to shake up the UK’s data protection regime, Westminster should be wary of drifting too far from the path charted by our US and European partners Continue Reading
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Feature
31 Oct 2022
AI experts question tech industry’s ethical commitments
The massive proliferation of ethical frameworks for artificial intelligence has done little to change how the technology is developed and deployed, with experts questioning the tech industry’s commitment to making it a positive social force Continue Reading
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Podcast
28 Oct 2022
Top 50 women in UK tech, IR35 Truss fiasco – Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast
The team reflects on the announcement of the Most Influential Women in UK Technology 2022, the IR35 reforms being scrapped, then not, and Dreamforce & Oracle Cloud World in the US Continue Reading
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News
27 Oct 2022
NHS to get new national CISO
The Department for Health and Social Care is seeking a new national CISO, who will be tasked with providing strategic cyber leadership, direction and expertise across DHSC and the wider NHS Continue Reading
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News
27 Oct 2022
Santander calls for cooperation to tackle APP fraud
New report puts forward key recommendations that the banking sector, government and other industries could take to tackle authorised push payment fraud Continue Reading
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News
26 Oct 2022
ICO warns against using biometrics for ‘emotional analysis’
ICO warning highlights risk of ‘systemic bias’ and discrimination associated with organisations using biometric data and technologies for emotion analysis Continue Reading
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News
26 Oct 2022
Reported Horizon errors should have been ‘show-stopper’, public inquiry told
Subpostmasters should have been given the benefit of the doubt over unexplained losses, but were hounded to pay money back, with lives ruined and innocent people prosecuted Continue Reading
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Opinion
26 Oct 2022
The Conservatives are laughing at cyber security pros
If causing a security breach is a resigning matter, then you shouldn’t expect to get your old job back a week later. Unless you’re a Conservative home secretary, apparently Continue Reading
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News
26 Oct 2022
Australia budget closes in on digital divide, cyber resilience
Australia’s latest budget is geared towards providing better broadband connectivity in regional and rural areas, shoring up the cyber security posture of its businesses and plugging tech talent shortages, among other areas Continue Reading
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News
25 Oct 2022
One in five tech workers subject to workplace surveillance
Digital surveillance is now a common feature of the UK’s post-pandemic economy, says Prospect Union, adding to growing calls for workers to be given a greater say over how technologies are deployed in the workplace Continue Reading
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News
25 Oct 2022
US authorities charge two Chinese spies over telco security probe
Two Chinese nationals have been charged with attempting to obstruct the criminal prosecution of a prominent Chinese telecoms firm Continue Reading
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News
25 Oct 2022
UK finance regulator investigates big tech finance threats and benefits
The UK financial services regulator is gathering information about the benefits and targets of big tech firms offering financial services Continue Reading
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News
25 Oct 2022
Germany: European Court of Justice asked to rule on legality of hacked EncroChat phone evidence
Berlin’s Regional Court has asked the European Court of Justice to answer questions about whether the use of hacked EncroChat phone evidence complies with European law Continue Reading
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News
25 Oct 2022
Digital-first businesses more willing to accept some fraud
Companies founded in the past 20 years appear more willing to accept higher levels of fraudulent activity during the customer onboarding process, according to a report Continue Reading
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News
24 Oct 2022
Complacency biggest cyber risk to UK plc, says ICO
Information commissioner John Edwards warns against complacency as his office issues a multimillion-pound fine to a building company that failed to prevent a ransomware attack Continue Reading
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News
20 Oct 2022
Broadband majors, altnets respond to cost-of-living crisis
With latest UK inflation figures set to see comms contracts rise, industry reacts to mitigate against worst effects of price rises for customers and staff Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Oct 2022
What do the US’s new software security rules mean for UK organisations?
The White House announced recently that all software supplied to the US government and its agencies needs to be secure, so what does this mean for the UK and EU security sectors? Continue Reading
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News
20 Oct 2022
Parliamentary committee launches inquiry into AI governance
MPs will examine the impacts of artificial intelligence throughout the UK economy and how governance of the technology can be improved ahead of the government publishing its formal regulatory proposals Continue Reading
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News
20 Oct 2022
NatWest data breach whistleblower demands bank pay data controller fee to ICO
Whistleblower calls for NatWest to pay the Information Commissioner’s Office annual data controller fee, as the personal details of 1,600 current and former NatWest customers remain under her bed Continue Reading
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E-Zine
18 Oct 2022
How Russia hacked a former MI6 spy chief
In this week’s Computer Weekly, Russian hackers leaked emails and documents from British government, military, and intelligence officials – we examine the implications. New EU laws will govern online safety and the use of AI, but what do they mean for organisations? And we look at the growth in checkout-free shopping. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
17 Oct 2022
IR35 reforms repeal scrapped: Government labelled ‘spineless’ over u-turn
The contracting community has not taken kindly to the news that the government is rowing back its plans to repeal the IR35 reforms in the private and public sectors Continue Reading
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News
17 Oct 2022
Government u-turns on plans to scrap IR35 reforms in public and private sector from April 2023
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt confirms that the planned repeal of the IR35 reforms in the public and private sector is cancelled Continue Reading
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News
12 Oct 2022
Finance regulator cracks down on use of messaging apps
The Financial Conduct Authority is taking a closer look at how staff at banks are using WhatsApp in work Continue Reading
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News
12 Oct 2022
ICO selectively discloses reprimands for data protection breaches
Data protection experts question ICO’s selective approach to publishing formal reprimands for contravening the law, after FoI request reveals the Cabinet Office was among the organisations reprimanded Continue Reading
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E-Zine
11 Oct 2022
Government bins IR35 reforms – what you need to know
In this week’s Computer Weekly, after the government scrapped its IR35 reforms, we examine what IT contractors need to know. With hybrid working, employee experience is a priority – we look at how it meshes with customer experience initiatives. And we assess the options for unstructured data storage in the cloud and on-premise. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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Opinion
10 Oct 2022
IT Sustainability Think Tank: What IT leaders need to know about greenwashing
How can IT leaders separate fact from fiction when weighing up a tech supplier’s sustainability claims? And, crucially, what are the dangers or risks that enterprises face if they do not do their due diligence on the green claims of their providers? Continue Reading
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News
10 Oct 2022
Ukraine and EU explore deeper cyber collaboration
A Ukrainian delegation has met with officials from the EU’s ENISA cyber agency to explore deeper cooperation on cyber security issues Continue Reading
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07 Oct 2022
IR35 reforms to be scrapped: What IT contractors need to know
News of the government’s plans to scrap the IR35 reforms took the contracting world by surprise, but IT contractors are being warned against making hasty changes to the way they work just yet. Continue Reading
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News
06 Oct 2022
EU rolling out measures for online safety and AI liability
The European Council has approved the passage of the Digital Services Act to protect people’s rights online, while the European Commission has announced proposals to help those negatively affected by artificial intelligence to claim compensation Continue Reading
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News
05 Oct 2022
Italian Supreme Court calls for prosecutors to disclose information on Sky ECC hacking operation
Italy’s Supreme Court says Italian prosecutors and police should disclose information on how they obtained intercepted messages from the Sky ECC cryptophone network Continue Reading
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Opinion
05 Oct 2022
Everything you wanted to know about the metaverse
Possession may be nine-tenths of the law, but the unique qualities of digital assets mean they do not easily fit into the age-old legal concept of ownership Continue Reading
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News
04 Oct 2022
IR35 reforms to be scrapped: What IT contractors need to know
News of the government’s plans to scrap the IR35 reforms took the contracting world by surprise, but IT contractors are being warned off making hasty changes to the way they work just yet Continue Reading
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News
04 Oct 2022
Tories to replace GDPR
IT industry reacts to the government’s plan to replace the pan-European data protection regulation Continue Reading
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News
04 Oct 2022
Next phase of open banking already gathering pace
Open banking has had a major impact on the banking industry as finance forms harness data to provide better services, but the next phase of open finance promises even more Continue Reading
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News
04 Oct 2022
Vodafone confirms Three UK merger talks
UK’s mid-sized operators begin negotiations on consolidation to gain the scale to accelerate roll-out of 5G in the UK, expand broadband connectivity to rural communities and small businesses, and offer stronger competition Continue Reading
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Opinion
03 Oct 2022
IR35 reforms repeal: How it stands to benefit the tech sector’s SMEs and contractors
Government’s planned repeal of IR35 reforms could help alleviate a lot of the uncertainty and pressure on the tech sector’s SMEs Continue Reading
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News
30 Sep 2022
Surveillance tech firms complicit in MENA human rights abuses
Research finds companies are profiting from surveillance technologies that facilitate human rights abuses against migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in the Middle East and North Africa, with little to no oversight Continue Reading
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News
28 Sep 2022
Online Safety Bill needs complete overhaul, say rights groups
Civil society groups write to new digital minister to challenge various aspects of the upcoming Online Safety Bill, which they say threatens rights to privacy and freedom of expression Continue Reading
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News
26 Sep 2022
How Russian intelligence hacked the encrypted emails of former MI6 boss Richard Dearlove
Hack by Russian-linked ColdRiver group exposed former MI6 chief Richard Dearlove’s contacts and email communications with government, military, intelligence and political officials Continue Reading
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News
26 Sep 2022
Data analysis and artificial intelligence key industrial strategy missions for Labour
Shadow business secretary announces Labour’s proposed industrial strategy, in which data would take a central role Continue Reading
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News
23 Sep 2022
Mini-Budget 2022: HMRC tells firms to update payroll software ahead of November NI tax cut
HMRC is urging employers to ensure their payroll software systems are updated now, before the reversal of the previous government’s National Insurance tax hike kicks in Continue Reading
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News
22 Sep 2022
Ofcom turns its attention to the hyperscalers
The regulator sees its role expanding into emerging areas of communications technologies and public cloud services Continue Reading
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News
22 Sep 2022
Privacy Pledge signatories dream of alternative internet
A group of privacy-focused organisations have come together to establish a set of principles for taking the internet back from big tech and surveillance capitalism Continue Reading
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News
21 Sep 2022
Contractors call for IR35 review and tax cuts in Chancellor’s mini-Budget
The contractor community is patiently awaiting the outcome of this Friday’s mini-Budget, with hopes for some concrete details on the Prime Minister’s proposed IR35 review and news of a corporation tax cut Continue Reading
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News
21 Sep 2022
European Central Bank working on prototypes of digital Euro interfaces
European Central Bank’s digital Euro investigation phase is at the point of developing and testing systems that might interface with consumers Continue Reading
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News
15 Sep 2022
EU Cyber Resilience Act sets global standard for connected products
European Commission lays out proposed security regulations on device and software security to better protect consumers and drive global standards Continue Reading
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News
15 Sep 2022
New player pioneers ‘active cyber insurance’ for UK market
Arrival of US-based insurer Coalition in London will supposedly offer SMEs more options when it comes to cyber security insurance Continue Reading
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News
15 Sep 2022
Organisations failing to account for digital trust
The vast majority of businesses are well aware of the importance of digital trust, yet very few have a dedicated staff role responsible for it, report finds Continue Reading
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News
15 Sep 2022
US charges three Iranians over CNI cyber attacks
Three Iranian nationals have been indicted over a spate of ransomware attacks against organisations in the US, UK, Israel and Iran Continue Reading
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News
14 Sep 2022
Ex-CISA head Krebs: Disrupt ransomware support networks to win the war
Speaking at an event hosted by data protection specialist Rubrik, former CISA director Chris Krebs calls for the security community to work collectively to kick out the supports from under ransomware gangs Continue Reading
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News
12 Sep 2022
Contractors lack confidence in prime minister to follow through with promised IR35 review
Contractor poll suggests lack of faith among freelancers about new prime minister Liz Truss honouring her pledge to review the IR35 rules Continue Reading
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News
12 Sep 2022
Mistakenly transferred $504m to be returned to Citigroup
Judge rules that creditors should return $504m that was accidentally transferred to them by Citigroup Continue Reading
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News
08 Sep 2022
NCSC CyberUK event heads to Belfast in 2023
National Cyber Security Centre’s annual CyberUK roadshow is crossing the Irish Sea to Belfast in April 2023 Continue Reading
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News
08 Sep 2022
The changing role of CIO in Sweden
New technologies and evolving business models are changing the missions of IT leaders around the world – and in most cases, the result is slightly different from one country to another Continue Reading
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News
07 Sep 2022
Albania cuts diplomatic ties with Iran after cyber attack
In a global geopolitical first, the Albanian government has severed diplomatic ties with Iran and expelled its ambassador after it was targeted by an APT backed by Tehran Continue Reading
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News
06 Sep 2022
Campaigners call on Truss to change UK’s archaic hacking laws
The CyberUp coalition, a campaign to reform the Computer Misuse Act, has called on Liz Truss to push ahead with needed changes to protect cyber pros from potential prosecution Continue Reading
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News
06 Sep 2022
New prime minister Liz Truss urged to press on with IR35 and loan charge policy reviews
Contracting stakeholders are calling on Liz Truss to make good on her pledge to undertake a review of the IR35 rules when she became prime minister Continue Reading
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E-Zine
06 Sep 2022
Out with the old at Asda
In this week’s Computer Weekly, we talk to Asda’s CIO, Carl Dawson, about the supermarket’s cloud-oriented renovation of its technology stack. We narrate the security woes at Twitter. And we examine best practices for data backup. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
05 Sep 2022
UK payments upgrade to add more than £3bn to GDP, but much more on offer
UK GDP will increase when its ageing payments infrastructure is replaced with the latest technology to enable real-time payments Continue Reading
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News
05 Sep 2022
Huge leap to contactless payments in past three years
Covid-19 pushes the use of contactless payments for face-to-face transactions to 90% of total Continue Reading
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News
02 Sep 2022
HMRC to review how IR35 works in practice following PAC criticism
Several months have passed since the Public Accounts Committee issued its damning report on the fallout from the introduction of the IR35 reforms in the public sector, and HMRC has shared its feedback on its contents Continue Reading
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News
01 Sep 2022
Swedish Electronics Protection Act coincides with major cyber spend
Swedish cyber security law comes at a time of heavy government investment Continue Reading
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News
01 Sep 2022
Arm sues Qualcomm over Nuvia tie-up
Qualcomm hopes to integrate Nuvia’s technology into its system-on-a-chip products based on Arm cores – but Arm says this infringes its IP Continue Reading
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News
31 Aug 2022
Four years into GDPR, Norway hopes for safer data transfer to US
Much of the data on the internet ends up on US servers at some point, and that is not always compatible with the General Data Protection Regulation, says Norwegian data protection authority Continue Reading
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News
30 Aug 2022
UK government presses on with new cyber rules for telcos
Government has finalised new security rules for telecoms companies and will move to make them binding in the near future Continue Reading
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News
30 Aug 2022
One Login digital identity project makes headway
Government services are lining up to work with the GDS on its One Login digital identity system, according to its director of digital identity, Natalie Jones Continue Reading
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News
24 Aug 2022
Alleged Twitter security failings spell trouble ahead
Twitter’s former security head, Peiter Zatko, has alleged a number of serious cyber failures at the social media platform, raising the spectre of investigations and sanctions Continue Reading
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News
23 Aug 2022
Altice gets regulatory green light for added stake in BT
Despite previous worries by UK government of potential threat to levelling-up agenda on broadband, corporate regulatory probe finds no issue with increase in stakeholding by long-rumoured potential buyer of UK incumbent telco Continue Reading
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News
22 Aug 2022
Contracting market weighs in on Liz Truss pledge to review IR35 rules if she becomes prime minister
As Liz Truss continues her Conservative Party leadership campaign, she tells the national press of her plans to review the IR35 rules should she succeed Boris Johnson as prime minister Continue Reading
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News
22 Aug 2022
Lloyd’s to end insurance coverage for state cyber attacks
Lloyd’s of London has instructed its members to exclude nation state cyber attacks from insurance policies beginning in 2023, saying they pose unacceptable levels of risk Continue Reading
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News
18 Aug 2022
LexisNexis sued by immigration advocates over data practices
Four immigration advocacy groups launch lawsuit in Illinois alleging data broker’s collection, aggregation and sale of people’s personal data, including non-public information, to corporations and government bodies Continue Reading
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News
15 Aug 2022
Lawyers and journalists sue CIA and Mike Pompeo over Assange surveillance claims
CIA and its former director sued over allegations that they authorised unlawful spying on US citizens when they visited WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London Continue Reading
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News
15 Aug 2022
How clean data helps Southern Water identify vulnerable customers
Escalating prices means households around the country are having to tighten spending, with many struggling to pay their bills. Water4All, a consortium led by Southern Water, is using data to identify low-income and vulnerable households so they can be better supported Continue Reading
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News
15 Aug 2022
England and Wales councils unprepared for PSTN withdrawal in 2025
Freedom of information act request reveals worrying finding that over half of councils in England and Wales have no strategy for the prospective withdrawal of traditional PSTN communications networks Continue Reading
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News
15 Aug 2022
Report reveals consensus around Computer Misuse Act reform
A study produced by the CyberUp campaign reveals broad alignment among security professionals on questions around the Computer Misuse Act, which it hopes will give confidence to policymakers as they explore its reform Continue Reading
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News
15 Aug 2022
UK government aims to allow struggling families access to cheaper broadband
New support scheme designed to enable customers to give permission to broadband providers to confirm their eligibility for cheaper deals Continue Reading
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News
15 Aug 2022
FCSA appoints independent panel to bolster dispute resolution protocols for umbrella firms
In a statement to Computer Weekly, the Freelancer and Contractor Services Association says the panel will provide umbrella companies with a route to appeal against the decisions made by its CEO Continue Reading
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News
12 Aug 2022
Department of Health investigates bias in medical devices and algorithms
The government has launched a review to look at the problem of discrimination in medical devices and decision-making software Continue Reading
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News
12 Aug 2022
Online Safety Bill ‘not fit for purpose’, say tech experts
IT specialists lack confidence that legislation compelling tech firms to tackle online harms will work as intended, with only a small minority believing ‘harmful but legal’ content can be effectively and proportionately policed by internet platforms Continue Reading
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News
10 Aug 2022
UK to surveil convicted migrants with facial recognition
A Home Office scheme to biometrically scan the faces of convicted migrants who have already carried out punishments has come under fire from privacy and human rights groups for being discriminatory Continue Reading
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News
09 Aug 2022
HS2 sets aside £9.5m to cover cost of IR35 non-compliance
HS2 has become the latest public sector entity to have fallen foul of the IR35 rules, with its accounts confirming that it is anticipating a tax bill of £9.5m for failing to assess the status of contractors provided to it by a third party Continue Reading
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News
08 Aug 2022
Internet giants in favour as Ireland tightens rules on datacentres
Irish premier Michael Martin has insisted its temporary squeeze on datacentre construction is not a moratorium on the industry Continue Reading
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Opinion
05 Aug 2022
The dangers of the UK’s illogical war on encryption
The unintended consequences of the Online Safety Bill will have a dramatic effect on our ability to communicate securely, including in Ukraine, where it is needed most Continue Reading
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News
04 Aug 2022
Financial services regulator opens digital delivery centre in Leeds
The Financial Conduct Authority is increasing the number of tech experts in its workforce through a new digital delivery centre in Leeds Continue Reading
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Opinion
04 Aug 2022
Reimagining ethical digital technology
With ever-increasing digitisation leading to greater dependence on a range of digital technologies, enterprises need to urgently look at how they can incorporate ethical and social considerations into the tech they develop Continue Reading
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News
03 Aug 2022
New EU due diligence law needs amending to stop tech sector abuse
European corporate due diligence directive seeking to transform how companies approach their human rights and environmental risk is welcome, but without further changes, it will fail to effectively curb tech firms’ harmful practices, claims international non-profit Continue Reading
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News
02 Aug 2022
UK regulator urged to address broadband loyalty penalty issue
Citizens Advice calls on UK comms regulator to take action after loyalty penalties of £451m were revealed for broadband customers and £83m for mobile customers paying a bundled contract including a handset Continue Reading