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 Nov 2024
ORG urges ICO to revise public sector enforcement approach
The Open Rights Group is urging the Information Commissioner’s Office to revise its light touch approach to public sector data protection issues, arguing that its experimental policy of limiting its enforcement actions to reprimands and notices, rather issuing fines, is allowing bad practices to continue largely unabated Continue Reading
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News
20 Nov 2024
Government issues strategic priorities for online safety regulator Ofcom
Technology secretary Peter Kyle sets out the government’s strategic priorities for how Ofcom should approach regulating online safety, including embedding safety by design and supporting innovation in technologies to help protect people online Continue Reading
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News
17 Mar 2022
Online Safety Bill introduced in Parliament
The government has introduced its long-awaited Online Safety Bill in Parliament, alongside new criminal offences and sanctions for tech company execs Continue Reading
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News
16 Mar 2022
Biden signs ransomware reporting mandate into law
CNI operators in the US must now report cyber attacks within 72 hours, and ransomware payments within 24 hours Continue Reading
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News
16 Mar 2022
Estonian anti-money laundering software pilot reaps benefits
Estonian startup and local banks have successfully piloted a data-sharing platform that prevents money laundering Continue Reading
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News
16 Mar 2022
German authorities warn on Kaspersky but stop short of ban
Germany authorities warn Kaspersky users to consider alternatives to the firm’s flagship antivirus software, citing national security concerns and the war on Ukraine Continue Reading
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News
15 Mar 2022
Meta fined €17m over EU data breaches
The Irish Data Protection Commissioner has fined Meta after finding it in breach of GDPR rules Continue Reading
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News
15 Mar 2022
Cross-party group of MPs calls on Loan Charge contractors to participate in call for evidence
The Loan Charge and Taxpayer Fairness All Party Parliamentary Group is seeking input from contractors about the real-world toll the loan charge policy is having on them Continue Reading
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News
15 Mar 2022
IR35 private sector reforms one year on: Assessing the impact on the UK’s tech talent pool
With the first anniversary of the IR35 reforms taking effect in the private sector fast approaching, IT contractors set out how the changes have affected their ability to find work in the UK Continue Reading
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Opinion
15 Mar 2022
Achieving agility, collaboration and data control in the cloud
Organisations have historically had to make a trade-off between the proven benefits of the cloud and maintaining full control of their data, but with the right strategy it is possible to have both Continue Reading
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News
11 Mar 2022
Majority of UK adults support legal right to disconnect
The introduction of ‘right to disconnect’ legislation to stop employees having to engage in work-related electronic communications outside their normal hours remains popular in the UK Continue Reading
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News
11 Mar 2022
Police EncroChat cryptophone hacking implant did not work properly and frequently failed
Surveillance operation against EncroChat encrypted phone network had repeated technical failures Continue Reading
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Opinion
10 Mar 2022
National Cyber Strategy misses the mark in one important way
The National Cyber Strategy is full of fine words, says Petra Wenham, but as the old expression goes, fine words butter no parsnips, and it misses the mark in one very important way Continue Reading
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News
09 Mar 2022
Paid-for advertising measures included in Online Safety Bill
New measures to deal with fraudulent paid-for advertising have been included in the government’s draft Online Safety Bill, marking the fourth extension in two months Continue Reading
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News
09 Mar 2022
Strategic Review of Policing: Police tech needs better ethical scrutiny
The Strategic Review of Policing confirms the central role that tech will be playing going forward, but warns of the need for greater ethical scrutiny to ensure public trust Continue Reading
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News
08 Mar 2022
UK government forges closer links with Japan, proposes laws to accelerate mobile
Agreement with Japan aims for closer cooperation to solve global telecoms supply chain issues, including support for R&D collaboration on future tech such as Open RAN and 6G Continue Reading
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E-Zine
08 Mar 2022
Using technology to protect human rights
In this week’s Computer Weekly, we investigate how technology is being used to tackle human rights abuses worldwide. We offer a step-by-step guide to disaster recovery in the cloud era. And we examine the vital, and successful, role of digital and data in the UK Covid-19 vaccine roll-out. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
07 Mar 2022
Ukraine joins Nato cyber knowledge hub
Ukraine is to become a contributing participant in Nato’s Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence Continue Reading
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News
04 Mar 2022
Scrapping NHS Digital a backward step for patient data rights
Former NHS Digital chair Kingsley Manning has spoken out over proposals to fold NHS Digital into NHS England, saying that more oversight is needed to safeguard patient data in light of recent events Continue Reading
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News
04 Mar 2022
Microsoft stops sales of products and services to Russia
Citing sanctions and cyber security concerns, Microsoft has become the latest company to withdraw from the Russian market Continue Reading
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Opinion
04 Mar 2022
Assessing the aims of the Government Cyber Security Strategy
The clear aims of the Government Cyber Security Strategy are welcome, but are they realistic or achievable? Continue Reading
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News
03 Mar 2022
Direct action is a risky business for Ukraine's volunteer hackers
Hackers have been responding to Ukraine’s call to create an IT army, but there are many reasons why taking direct action in a kinetic conflict is a bad idea Continue Reading
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Feature
03 Mar 2022
English Channel surveillance used ‘to deter and punish migrants’
Instead of opening safe and legal routes to the UK, the country’s border control ecosystem is deploying surveillance technologies in the English Channel to deter migrant crossings, it is claimed Continue Reading
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News
02 Mar 2022
Ban predictive policing systems in EU AI Act, says civil society
A coalition of civil society groups has called on European lawmakers to use the upcoming Artificial Intelligence Act as an opportunity to ban predictive policing systems Continue Reading
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News
01 Mar 2022
DCMS opens consultation on telecoms cyber standards
Proposed rules will set out the specific measures telecoms providers need to take to fulfil their legal duties under the Telecommunications Security Act Continue Reading
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News
01 Mar 2022
Workplace surveillance ‘spiralling out of control’, says TUC
Trade union body pushes for workers to be consulted on the implementation of new technologies at work, warning that invasive surveillance practices are getting out of hand Continue Reading
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News
28 Feb 2022
EU big tech laws put in context by Russian invasion of Ukraine
Pressure is mounting on EU institutions to cut back regulations they are preparing to impose on US big tech firms while forming laws to create a single digital market Continue Reading
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News
28 Feb 2022
Online Safety Bill updated to deal with anonymous abuse
Social media companies will be forced to deal with anonymous abuse online by the introduction of new measures in the Online Safety Bill Continue Reading
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News
25 Feb 2022
Irish data watchdog calls for ‘objective metrics’ for big tech regulation
Helen Dixon, Ireland’s data protection commissioner, says EU regulators must agree on metrics to measure the effectiveness of data protection regulation Continue Reading
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News
25 Feb 2022
Mid-band 5G forecast to deliver $610bn GDP growth by 2030
Study shows 5G mid-band spectrum will play a key role in meeting demand for enhanced mobile broadband and fixed wireless access, but to satisfy demand for 5G services by 2030, government action is crucial Continue Reading
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News
23 Feb 2022
Paid-for advertising still not covered in Online Safety Bill
Consumer group Which? calls again for government to include measures against scam paid-for advertising in the Online Safety Bill Continue Reading
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News
23 Feb 2022
Attempted burglary exposes risk of NatWest customer data in former worker’s home
Former Royal Bank of Scotland employee offers bank a compromise in her dispute over the return of confidential customer information Continue Reading
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News
23 Feb 2022
Tech acquisition to be major priority for UK police
Policing minister cites technology as major focus for future of UK police, in comments made ahead of the publication of the Strategic Review of Policing in England and Wales Continue Reading
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News
21 Feb 2022
Zoom gains NCSC Cyber Essentials Plus and NHS security badges
Video platform Zoom has added a number of UK-specific cyber certifications to help it demonstrate its platform is safeguarded against common threats Continue Reading
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News
21 Feb 2022
Union pushes for collective bargaining around technology and data
Prospect union releases guidance on how workers and unions can engage employers over the use of technology at work, with particular emphasis on the need to include technology provisions in collective bargaining agreements Continue Reading
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Opinion
21 Feb 2022
Technology is the key to the door of levelling up the UK
We finally have a better idea of what the government’s ‘levelling-up’ policy means in practice – but national progress on digital adoption will be a key measure of its success Continue Reading
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News
21 Feb 2022
Open banking surpasses five million UK customers
Upwards of five million people in the UK are using open banking services as the financial sector’s fintech revolution gathers pace Continue Reading
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News
21 Feb 2022
New consultation on legal direction to restrict use of Huawei in UK telecoms networks
UK government is consulting on its proposed legal instruments to mandate the removal of all Huawei equipment from 5G networks by the end of 2027 Continue Reading
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News
18 Feb 2022
Lawyers say ‘unprecedented’ secrecy deprived EncroChat defendants of fair trials
Lawyers from seven countries say it is impossible for their clients to challenge the accuracy, authenticity, reliability and legality of the evidence against them Continue Reading
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News
17 Feb 2022
Risk of UK digital broadband divide growing
Report from communications regulator warns that amid rising cost of services, millions of low-income families in the UK are missing out on a £144 annual broadband saving Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Feb 2022
It takes a village: Protecting kids online is everyone’s responsibility
The rapid uptake of smartphones among children has contributed to the increasing number of cases of cyber bullying and online grooming. Is this an educational issue or a cultural problem, and can modern enterprise help? Continue Reading
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News
16 Feb 2022
BlackCat ransomware gang claims responsibility for Swissport attack
Ransomware gang is trying to offload 1.6TB of data stolen from aviation services firm Continue Reading
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News
16 Feb 2022
CIO interview: Steve Williams, M&A lead and IT director, Waterstons
Steve Williams is applying decades of CIO experience to the advice he gives businesses during major mergers and acquisitions Continue Reading
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News
15 Feb 2022
UK finance regulator effects changes to ‘buy now, pay later’ contract terms
BNPL finance providers have agreed to make their contracts with consumers fairer, amid concerns Continue Reading
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News
11 Feb 2022
Finance Bill Sub-Committee blames IR35 for ‘concerning’ rise in umbrella company contractors
The House of Lords Finance Bill Sub-Committee has shared the findings of its latest inquiry into the impact the IR35 reforms have had on the way contracting works Continue Reading
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News
11 Feb 2022
How the European Commission is responding to chip crisis
The global supply of semiconductors is still constrained, and this is having a direct impact on European manufacturers Continue Reading
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News
11 Feb 2022
CMA secures final Privacy Sandbox guarantees from Google
The CMA has secured a final set of Privacy Sandbox commitments from Google relating to the proposed removal of third-party cookies from its Chrome browser Continue Reading
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News
10 Feb 2022
IR35 reforms: HMRC slammed for ‘over-collecting tax’ from non-compliant public sector bodies
HMRC has moved to play down claims it is collecting more tax than it is due when tackling non-compliance with the IR35 reforms in the public sector Continue Reading
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News
10 Feb 2022
How diplomatic immunity silenced the prosecutor who coordinated Sweden’s EncroChat probe
Defence lawyers claim Swedish court decision not to hear evidence from a Swedish prosecutor leaves important legal questions unanswered over international police operation to hack EncroChat cryptophone network Continue Reading
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News
10 Feb 2022
UK second in money laundering hall of shame
Banks need to step up their anti-money laundering processes if billions of pounds’ worth of criminal activity is to be prevented Continue Reading
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News
10 Feb 2022
IR35: NAO slams HMRC’s ‘haphazard’ roll-out of off-payroll reforms to public sector
National Audit Office’s 60-page report on the 2017 roll-out of the IR35 reforms claims HMRC’s actions made non-compliance a ‘highly likely’ outcome for public sector bodies Continue Reading
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News
10 Feb 2022
Call for easier consolidation as Ofcom investigates UK mobile market shake-up
UK communications regulator sets out initial thinking on how the UK mobile market might develop and how networks might need to evolve to meet future demand Continue Reading
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News
09 Feb 2022
Minister defends digital economy legislation before Lords
A digital minister has said that the UK’s forthcoming digital markets legislation is ‘superior’ to similar efforts in the EU, but could not commit to a specific time frame for when it will be introduced to Parliament Continue Reading
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Opinion
09 Feb 2022
Five key tech trends for digital leaders in 2022
The past two years have seen a surge in investment that will bring new challenges to digital leaders over the next year Continue Reading
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News
08 Feb 2022
The Security Interviews: Building the UK’s future cyber ecosystem
As the government lays out the next iteration of its Cyber Security Strategy, we speak to Plexal and Lorca’s Saj Huq about his work building a cyber ecosystem to support the UK’s future ambitions Continue Reading
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News
08 Feb 2022
Parasol data breach: Contractors rage as fallout from umbrella cyber attack continues
Contractors working for the Parasol umbrella company are querying why it has taken so long for news of the firm's data breach, which is linked to a cyber attack on its systems five weeks ago, to come to light Continue Reading
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News
08 Feb 2022
Porn sites will be legally required to verify users’ ages
Porn sites could be legally obliged to verify that their users are 18 or over under proposed online safety rules, in UK government’s second attempt to prevent children from accessing pornography online Continue Reading
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News
08 Feb 2022
Right to disconnect and less monitoring key to better remote work
The World Health Organisation and International Labour Organisation warn against invasive workplace surveillance and promote right to disconnect in joint briefing on how to promote healthy and safe remote working Continue Reading
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Feature
08 Feb 2022
Cloud-era disaster recovery planning: Staff training, incident and media management
In the third in a series on cloud-era disaster recovery, we set out the key components of DR staff awareness and training programmes, as well as incident management and dealing with the media Continue Reading
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Opinion
07 Feb 2022
The UK-Australia FTA shows the UK means business on digital trade policy
The new free-trade agreement with Australia could be setting the precedents for what a modern digital trade policy will look like for the UK Continue Reading
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News
07 Feb 2022
Umbrella IT contractors urged to seize on court ruling to reclaim withheld holiday pay
The outcome of a court ruling concerning a holiday pay dispute between Pimlico Plumbers and one of its former employees could have costly implications for the umbrella company sector, it is claimed Continue Reading
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07 Feb 2022
Umbrella company cyber attacks prompt fresh calls for sector regulation to protect contractors
With the umbrella company industry increasingly finding itself under attack from cyber criminals, contracting market stakeholders embark on a fresh round of calls for the industry to be regulated Continue Reading
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News
07 Feb 2022
Global IT companies ready to fight for Russian market
International IT firms have begun the process of complying with the latest regulations imposed on them by the Russian government Continue Reading
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News
07 Feb 2022
Met police deploy facial recognition in Westminster
Police facial recognition deployment resulted in four arrests, but questions remain about the necessity, proportionality and legality of the technology’s use Continue Reading
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News
03 Feb 2022
EC proposes new directive to improve gig economy work conditions
Gig economy workers in Europe could be entitled to more rights and better workplace protections under a directive proposed by the European Commission Continue Reading
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News
03 Feb 2022
6GHz Wi-Fi spectrum critical to enable Australian technology innovation
Global spectrum organisation calls on Australia to set aside the full 1200MHz of available 6GHz spectrum for Wi-Fi applications under the country’s communications and media authority licensing framework Continue Reading
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News
03 Feb 2022
Brookson and Parasol cyber attacks: Contractor complaints about delayed payments continue
Several weeks on from the suspected ransomware attack that blighted two of the umbrella industry’s biggest players, contractors are still chasing their missing money Continue Reading
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News
03 Feb 2022
French Supreme Court raises constitutional questions over EncroChat hacking secrecy
Conseil Constitutionnel to decide whether ‘defence secrecy’ over state EncroChat cryptophone hacking breaches French constitution Continue Reading
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News
02 Feb 2022
Mechanism underlying cookie popups found in breach of GDPR
A fundamental element of the mechanism by which the advertising industry requests tracking consent from web users has been found in breach of the General Data Protection Regulation Continue Reading
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News
02 Feb 2022
UK government slammed for not living up to broadband promises
Broadband industry criticises UK government for not living up to its promises as new connectivity goals announced Continue Reading
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News
02 Feb 2022
Reforms needed to tackle economic crime, says Treasury Committee
The Treasury Committee is disappointed at progress towards tackling economic crime and fraud in both the online and offline worlds, and is calling for more action Continue Reading
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News
02 Feb 2022
Nationwide Building Society streamlines digital onboarding through API
Building society is improving its digital onboarding process through application programming interface-based technology from a US startup Continue Reading
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News
02 Feb 2022
MPs call on government to ‘push harder’ and ‘act faster’ amid online fraud epidemic
MPs on the Treasury Committee want the government to act quickly to reduce the amount of money being stolen through online fraud Continue Reading
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News
02 Feb 2022
British Council data exposed by third-party cyber failure
The British Council entrusted confidential data on its students to a third-party and was let down Continue Reading
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News
01 Feb 2022
Met Police faces legal action over Gangs Matrix
Campaign group Liberty is taking legal action against the Met over its use of the Gangs Matrix, claiming it is driven by racial stereotypes and disproportionately affects people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds Continue Reading
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News
01 Feb 2022
Dutch software engineers join campaign for research funding
Software researchers from all over Europe are sounding the alarm: to maintain a strong international competitive position, more financial resources must be committed to software research Continue Reading
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News
31 Jan 2022
Data on children of armed forces personnel exposed in breach
Data on 4,142 children of serving armed forces personnel was exposed in a data breach at the Ministry of Defence Continue Reading
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News
28 Jan 2022
Cyber skills gap affecting data privacy practice, finds ISACA
Organisations are struggling to fill both legal and technical privacy roles, with potentially damaging consequences, according to a report Continue Reading
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News
27 Jan 2022
UK spectrum sharing should be a spectrum policy priority, says UK SPF
UK Spectrum Policy Forum and Ofcom makes call for mobile spectrum sharing to be a policy priority as demand is expected to increase in the coming years Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Jan 2022
Navigating PIPL: European businesses plot their next steps into China
How does China’s strict new Personal Information Protection Law impact European businesses? Continue Reading
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News
27 Jan 2022
Umbrella company cyber attacks prompt fresh calls for sector regulation to protect contractors
With the umbrella company industry increasingly finding itself under attack from cyber criminals, contracting market stakeholders embark on a fresh round of calls for the industry to be regulated Continue Reading
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News
26 Jan 2022
MPs to debate landmark IoT security law
Proposed bill mandates tighter protections for connected products, and adds new rules for broadband roll-out into the bargain Continue Reading
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News
26 Jan 2022
Vodafone UK to begin 3G switch-off in 2023
UK mobile operator gives notice that it will begin to retire its legacy network in a year’s time, with 4G and 5G networks to get coverage and speed boost from repurposing of 3G spectrum Continue Reading
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News
25 Jan 2022
More evidence needed to establish 5G’s green credentials
Research paper from UK university cautions that received wisdom of sustainability associated with next-generation mobile technology is not currently backed up by a strong, publicly available, fully transparent evidence base Continue Reading
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News
25 Jan 2022
Cyber Essentials programme gets biggest update since launch
NCSC implements a thorough revision of its Cyber Essentials scheme to reflect the changing security landscape Continue Reading
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News
25 Jan 2022
Retailers mired by manual data integration
Retail relies on third-party data sources to drive business decisions and competitive pricing, but many struggle to pull in this data Continue Reading
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News
24 Jan 2022
MPs say Online Safety Bill fails to tackle full range of harms
A DCMS select committee has warned that the Online Safety Bill should be expanded to cover more types of harmful content, such as child abuse material designed to circumvent content removal Continue Reading
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News
21 Jan 2022
Tinder algorithm charging users more based on age
Popular dating app Tinder could have broken data protection and equality laws by using personal data about people’s age to set different prices Continue Reading
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News
21 Jan 2022
Mandiant analysts: Russia-backed APTs likely to ramp up attacks
More cyber attacks like those perpetrated against targets in Ukraine are to be expected, and they may become more destructive Continue Reading
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News
21 Jan 2022
Cyber pros: Don’t revel in REvil’s downfall just yet
The arrests of REvil’s alleged kingpins is a welcome step, but as with any disruption to cyber criminal activity, it is never wise to assume law enforcement action means the threat has passed entirely Continue Reading
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News
21 Jan 2022
MoJ faces ICO enforcement over subject access requests backlog
Ministry of Justice receives enforcement notice from information commissioner over ‘substantial’ backlog of subject access requests described as being of ‘significant concern’ Continue Reading
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News
20 Jan 2022
Updated cyber security regulations proposed for managed services sector
The Network and Information Systems regulations are to be updated to include MSPs and outsourcers, following a spate of supply chain attacks Continue Reading
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News
20 Jan 2022
Advantages of traditional banks are weakening amid digital challenge, says FCA
Weakening of the advantages enjoyed by traditional banks over the years is “driven by digital innovation and changing consumer behaviour”, says regulator Continue Reading
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News
20 Jan 2022
UK parliamentary committee casts doubt on government’s gigabit connectivity targets
UK parliamentary committee pours scorn on Department of Culture, Media and Sport’s confidence in meeting targets for gigabit connectivity Continue Reading
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News
19 Jan 2022
Investigators find Beijing 2022 app riddled with security flaws
Security flaws in Olympic app may put personal health data at risk of compromise in a man-in-the-middle attack Continue Reading
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News
19 Jan 2022
Content removal will not stop misinformation, says Royal Society
Censorship of scientific misinformation online could exacerbate feelings of distrust, so government should look at information literacy and funding fact checkers instead, says report Continue Reading
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News
19 Jan 2022
Twelve million jobs to be lost to automation in Europe by 2040
Millions of current jobs in Europe will be carried out by robots as software robots automate processes Continue Reading
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News
18 Jan 2022
Police take down VPN linked to multiple ransomware hits
German police led a multinational effort to seize and take down the LabVPN service, which was allegedly used by cyber criminals to facilitate ransomware attacks Continue Reading
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News
17 Jan 2022
Test police algorithms in court rather than legislate, Lords told
Police algorithms and their impacts should be tested and challenged in court, rather than controlled by new laws, says policing minister Continue Reading
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News
17 Jan 2022
Umbrella firm Parasol confirms ‘malicious activity’ as root cause of ongoing systems outage
Umbella company confirms a ‘malicious activity on its network’ as the root cause of a systems outage that has delayed salary payments to thousands of contractors across the UK Continue Reading
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Podcast
14 Jan 2022
Podcast: 2022 compliance preview – GDPR goes global
We talk to Mathieu Gorge, CEO of VigiTrust, about what’s looming in compliance, with regulations based on the principles of the General Data Protection Regulation plus the concept of cyber accountability Continue Reading
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News
14 Jan 2022
Umbrella company Brookson self-refers to NCSC following cyber attack on its network
Contractor payroll, accounting and compliance firm confirms its networks have been targeted by an ‘extremely aggressive’ cyber attack that has resulted in some of its systems being proactively taken offline Continue Reading