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
02 Sep 2024
Navigating the shifting sands of open source
As open source matures, the Cloud Native Computing Foundation is grappling with issues ranging from licence rug-pulling and the rise of artificial intelligence to the changing dynamics of open source contributions Continue Reading
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Opinion
22 Jul 2024
Fundamental guardrails to address AI risk and value
Leveraging existing governance approaches and current success will make AI governance less daunting while supporting business goals Continue Reading
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News
24 Nov 2021
Apple sues under-fire malware firm NSO
Lawsuit alleges spyware firm NSO Group targeted Apple’s users, adding to the pressure on the under-fire company Continue Reading
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News
24 Nov 2021
Police tech introduced with little scrutiny or training
A Lords inquiry into the adoption of advanced algorithmic technologies by police in England and Wales has been told that new tools are being introduced without proper training and with little scrutiny of their impacts Continue Reading
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News
23 Nov 2021
FTTH Council Europe calls on policymakers for measures to reap full-fibre rewards
Industry organisation with a mission to advance ubiquitous full-fibre connectivity across Europe welcomes publication of the European Commission’s latest ‘Digital economy and society index’ and calls for demand-side measures to boost take-up of fibre networks Continue Reading
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News
19 Nov 2021
UK government announces safety tech challenge fund winners
The Safety Tech Challenge Fund winners will now develop technologies to limit the spread of child abuse material in encrypted environments, which the government has claimed will not be repurposed for other uses Continue Reading
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News
19 Nov 2021
GCHQ, NSA chiefs recommit to counter cyber threats
UK and US intelligence services reaffirm a joint commitment to disrupt and deter new and emerging cyber threats Continue Reading
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News
18 Nov 2021
UK government enshrines law to strip out ‘high-risk’ suppliers’ tech from networks
UK Telecommunications (Security) Act receives Royal Assent, mandating stronger legal duties on telecoms firms to protect the UK’s networks and giving the government new powers to control use of high-risk suppliers Continue Reading
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News
18 Nov 2021
Sky ECC provided free cryptophones to a Canadian police force
Internal emails disclosed in a US court show how Sky Global supplied sample encrypted phones to a Canadian police force before its phone users became subject to an international police investigation Continue Reading
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News
18 Nov 2021
Cryptophone supplier Sky Global takes legal action over US government website seizures
Canadian tech company Sky Global has filed a legal motion claiming that the US government unlawfully seized the company’s internet sites following police investigations into the use of its cryptophones by organised crime Continue Reading
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News
16 Nov 2021
One-fifth of NCSC-supported cyber incidents linked to Covid-19
National Cyber Security Centre has helped to thwart multiple cyber incidents that could have seriously disrupted the UK’s response to the pandemic Continue Reading
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News
15 Nov 2021
UK government proposes new rules for digital supply chain security
Proposals could see IT service providers legally required to adhere to the NCSC’s Cyber Assessment Framework, among other things Continue Reading
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News
15 Nov 2021
Openreach in consultation over next stage in transition to fibre
BT-owned UK broadband provision firm accelerates plan to stop selling copper-based broadband and traditional voice services, aiming to use five pilot areas to develop and test approaches for mass-migrating end-users to new digital offers Continue Reading
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News
15 Nov 2021
Government bodies refuse FOI requests on basis of misleading database search times, says academic
The Information Commissioner’s Office tells tribunal it would need to bring in external experts to search data using an Excel spreadsheet Continue Reading
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News
15 Nov 2021
CaixaBank system normal after migration of millions of customer accounts
Spain’s CaixaBank has successfully completed the migration of millions of Bankia customers to its systems Continue Reading
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News
12 Nov 2021
New law needed to rein in AI-powered workplace surveillance
MPs and peers call for new legislation to regulate the growing use of artificial intelligence in the workplace, which is being used to surveil workers’ performance and behaviour Continue Reading
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News
12 Nov 2021
Ofcom introduces rules to ease rural broadband development
UK comms regulator aims to address key issue preventing proliferation of gigabit broadband to hard-to-reach places Continue Reading
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News
12 Nov 2021
Oversight of biometrics and surveillance should not go to ICO
Biometrics and surveillance camera commissioner Fraser Sampson has panned the UK government’s proposed plan to absorb the functions of those roles under the remit of the information commissioner Continue Reading
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News
11 Nov 2021
Finance ombudsman overturns more than three-quarters of bank decisions on APP fraud
The financial services ombudsman is siding with customers in over 75% of complaints against banks that refuse to repay losses to authorised push payment fraud Continue Reading
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Opinion
11 Nov 2021
The ICO is right to push back against government meddling
Some criticisms of the ICO are justified, but the answer to that is not to give Whitehall more oversight over the data protection regulator, argues legal expert Edward Machin Continue Reading
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News
10 Nov 2021
EU artificial intelligence regulation risks undermining social safety net
Europe’s proposed artificial intelligence regulation will not adequately protect people from European governments' increasing use of the technology in social security decisions and resource allocation, says Human Rights Watch Continue Reading
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News
09 Nov 2021
Yoti develops age estimation algorithm for under-13s
Age estimation technology developed by Yoti is being pitched as a way of helping social media platforms and other online businesses protect younger internet users from harm Continue Reading
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News
09 Nov 2021
More than 90% of Virgin Media O2’s network now gigabit-ready
After switching on gigabit-capable services for 1.6 million more homes, UK cable provider claims to be within touching distance of enabling its entire network to access broadband download speeds of up to 1.13Gbps Continue Reading
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News
09 Nov 2021
Blockchain technology will help banks will cut cross-border payment costs by $10bn in 2030
The use of blockchain technology in cross-border payments will save global banks $10bn in 2030, according to research Continue Reading
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News
09 Nov 2021
US seeks to extradite REvil affiliate who attacked Kaseya
US Department of Justice unseals charges against a Ukrainian national accused of being behind the summer 2021 REvil ransomware attack on Kaseya Continue Reading
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News
09 Nov 2021
Government and Post Office should stop discussing Horizon victim compensation and pay it
The first hearing in the Post Office Horizon scandal public inquiry hears why victims should be paid compensation immediately Continue Reading
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News
08 Nov 2021
Gig economy workforce nearly trebles over five years
Over four million people in England and Wales now work for gig economy platforms at least once a week, marking a nearly threefold increase since 2016 Continue Reading
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Opinion
08 Nov 2021
Watching me, watching you – challenging the rise of digital surveillance at work
Unprecedented levels of digital monitoring at work is embedding a culture of surveillance, despite workers’ opposition to the practices, says Prospect Union Continue Reading
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News
05 Nov 2021
Digital secretary calls for permanent online safety committee
Digital secretary commits to establishing ongoing oversight of the Online Safety Bill and its implementation, and suggests the grace period on criminal liability for tech company execs should be shortened from two years to a maximum of six months once it’s enacted Continue Reading
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News
05 Nov 2021
US offers $10m reward for intel on DarkSide ransomware gang
US government puts up a $10m reward for information on the DarkSide ransomware gang, the group that attacked Colonial Pipeline six months ago Continue Reading
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News
05 Nov 2021
Police interview former Fujitsu staff for second time in potential perjury investigation
Former Fujitsu staff who gave evidence in subpostmaster trials have been questioned by police for a second time Continue Reading
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News
04 Nov 2021
The Netherlands works on resilience with large-scale national cyber exercise
For the Netherlands, the biggest challenge in a large-scale cyber crisis is to maintain speed while exercising due care Continue Reading
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News
03 Nov 2021
Spyware firm NSO and others added to US banned Entity List
US government bans target Israeli spyware makers and cyber firms in Russia and Singapore Continue Reading
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News
03 Nov 2021
Facebook self-imposes facial recognition moratorium
Facebook and Meta have committed to halting their use of facial recognition technology and deleting the biometric data of more than a billion people by the end of 2021, but will retain the underlying algorithms and software for potential use in future products Continue Reading
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News
03 Nov 2021
UK’s Labour Party hit by third-party data breach
Data on Labour Party members was recently compromised in an apparent cyber attack on a third-party data processor Continue Reading
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News
02 Nov 2021
Electronic waste excluded from COP26 agenda
Data sanitation industry group calls on UK government to add electronic waste to the climate summit’s agenda Continue Reading
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News
02 Nov 2021
Convicted Silk Road admin stripped of £500k in crypto earnings
Jailed Silk Road administrator Thomas White, aka Cthulhu, has been ordered to hand over more than £490,000 of illicit earnings Continue Reading
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News
01 Nov 2021
MPs and Lords grill Facebook over online safety efforts
Facebook answers British lawmakers’ questions about the social media giant’s efforts to ensure the safety of its users, as part of legislative security of the government's proposed online safety bill Continue Reading
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News
01 Nov 2021
Payments through open banking could end card dominance
Payments made through open banking will eat into those made using cards as the next five years sees an acceleration in adoption Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Oct 2021
Online Safety Bill puts user protection onus on platform providers
The Online Safety Bill will place new duties and responsibilities on online platforms accessible from the UK, but as it currently stands, it contains several grey areas Continue Reading
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News
29 Oct 2021
UK government to drive gigabit broadband to half a million more rural UK homes
Project Gigabit quarterly update Autumn 2021 reveals the estimated sequencing, scope and dates for the English Phase 3 rural projects which will see 570,000 more rural premises in line for full-fibre broadband. Continue Reading
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News
29 Oct 2021
Fibre to the fore for fixed broadband in Q2
Though varied across different markets, overall quarterly global fixed broadband growth returns to normal at the end of the second quarter of 2021 Continue Reading
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News
28 Oct 2021
CIA sought revenge against Julian Assange over hacking tool leaks, court hears
The CIA discussed kidnapping Julian Assange after WikiLeaks published thousands of documents revealing its arsenal of hacking tools, defence lawyers tell a London court Continue Reading
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News
28 Oct 2021
Illegal state surveillance in Africa ‘carried out with impunity’
Analysis of surveillance laws and practices in six African countries finds that existing privacy laws are failing to protect citizens from illegal digital surveillance, which is being facilitated and enabled by global tech companies Continue Reading
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News
27 Oct 2021
‘No-one extradited from UK to US has committed suicide,’ US tells court in Assange appeal
US government claims that a district judge has given WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange a ‘trump card’ to avoid extradition Continue Reading
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News
27 Oct 2021
Government commits millions to security investment
Spending Review adds more than £750m of funding to improve cyber security resilience across government Continue Reading
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Definition
27 Oct 2021
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is the U.S. government agency that oversees the nation's securities industry. Continue Reading
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News
27 Oct 2021
Russian IT market growing steadily after pandemic
Russia’s enterprise IT sector is recovering steadily after a slowdown caused by Covid-19 Continue Reading
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News
26 Oct 2021
DarkMarket takedown results in 150 arrests
A coordinated operation by law enforcement has seen 150 taken into custody amid allegations of buying or selling illicit goods on the dark web Continue Reading
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News
26 Oct 2021
Thought Machine: Google-inspired banking fintech to unicorn and beyond
UK fintech unicorn Thought Machine is transforming the IT of large traditional banks, while working with fledgling digital-only challengers Continue Reading
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News
22 Oct 2021
MEPs vote to expand Europol data mandate
The European Parliament has voted in favour of expanding Europol’s mandate to process data and develop AI tools, but critics claim it contradicts a previous vote which opposed using new technologies to predict crime Continue Reading
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News
21 Oct 2021
German regulator imposes limit on number of new customers digital bank can sign each month
BaFin limits the number of new customers that digital bank N26 can enrol until it is reassured on issues it has raised about the company Continue Reading
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News
20 Oct 2021
Lloyds Bank closes more branches as customers migrate to digital channels
Banking group has announced more closures as part of the ongoing reduction of its branch network Continue Reading
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News
20 Oct 2021
American Express announces global hybrid working model
US credit card giant is latest corporate to formalise hybrid working following the success of informal policies introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic Continue Reading
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News
20 Oct 2021
Police IT buyers should compel suppliers to prove AI claims
House of Lords told that UK law enforcement bodies should use their position as buyers to compel private sector suppliers to divulge more information about how their AI-powered technologies work Continue Reading
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News
18 Oct 2021
How Samlesbury, Lancashire became the home of the National Cyber Force
The National Cyber Force, a new branch of the military, is gearing up to fight battles in cyber space from the fields of Lancashire. Its presence is expected to bring a high-tech renaissance to the region Continue Reading
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News
14 Oct 2021
UK government to provide full-fibre broadband to 1,000 schools
New programme aims to give access to gigabit broadband speeds to UK schools while connectivity to nearly 7,000 hospitals, libraries, police stations and other public buildings will be upgraded by the end of March 2022 Continue Reading
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News
14 Oct 2021
FCSA clarifies anti-tax avoidance stance of offshore Charter change for umbrella firms
The Freelancer and Contractor Services Association (FCSA) has published a revised version of its membership Charter to reinforce its commitment to ensuring its members do not operate offshore tax avoidance schemes Continue Reading
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Opinion
14 Oct 2021
Encryption protects the marginalised – and it’s under threat
Encryption keeps marginalised groups connected and safe, but new regulatory attempts to break it put them at risk Continue Reading
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News
12 Oct 2021
BCS calls on government to retain protections against AI
BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, wants the government to retain protections that allow people to have decisions about them made by an AI reviewed by humans if needed Continue Reading
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News
11 Oct 2021
Covid-19 will loom over cyber strategy for years to come
In remarks delivered to a Chatham House conference, NCSC head Lindy Cameron reflects on the security challenges facing the UK, and sets out some plans for the future Continue Reading
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News
11 Oct 2021
IR35: FCSA defends Charter change that lets umbrella firms operate offshore setups
Umbrella company accreditation body has moved to clarify the rationale behind a recent tweak to its membership charter amid accusations it could harm the sector’s reputation and encourage offshore tax avoidance Continue Reading
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News
11 Oct 2021
Sensitive documents to stay with whistleblower after deadline for agreement for their return passes
A deadllne to agree the safe return of the sensitive banking details of former and current NatWest Group customers has passed without agreement Continue Reading
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News
11 Oct 2021
Singapore refreshes cyber security strategy
The city-state updates its national cyber security strategy to shore up the security of critical infrastructure and enterprises while growing its cyber security industry, among other goals Continue Reading
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News
08 Oct 2021
Craft beer specialist Brewdog fixes serious app vulnerability
Vulnerability in brewer’s mobile app could have resulted in serious consequences for its shareholders and customers Continue Reading
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News
08 Oct 2021
NatWest admits to weaknesses in anti-money laundering systems
Bank pleads guilty to failures concerning the laundering of hundreds of millions of pounds, but says it has since improved its anti-money laundering systems Continue Reading
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News
07 Oct 2021
ICO expresses concerns over its future independence
In its response to the government’s data protection consultation, the Information Commissioner’s Office has raised worries over its future ability to function independently of government interference Continue Reading
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News
07 Oct 2021
Twitch data breach investigations continue
Investigations are ongoing into a 125GB data breach that hit livestreaming platform Twitch, apparently the work of hacktivists Continue Reading
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News
06 Oct 2021
MEPs approve report opposing certain uses of AI by police
European policymakers have approved a report on the use of AI in criminal matters, rejecting several amendments in the process that would have made it easier for police to potentially conduct predictive analytics and biometric surveillance Continue Reading
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News
06 Oct 2021
US lawmakers propose ransomware reporting rules
Former presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren lends her support to a bill that would require corporate ransomware victims to disclose more information about their attacks to the authorities Continue Reading
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Opinion
06 Oct 2021
Security Think Tank: Responsible vulnerability disclosure is a joint effort
By working hand-in-hand, developers and security researchers can both play a vital role in ensuring newly-discovered vulnerabilities are addressed appropriately, writes Paddy Francis of Airbus CyberSecurity Continue Reading
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News
06 Oct 2021
Gaming service Twitch hacked, data leaked
Users of livestreaming platform Twitch may be at risk after a 125GB torrent of data was leaked Continue Reading
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News
05 Oct 2021
CIO interview: Lisa Heneghan, chief digital officer, KPMG
KPMG UK’s digital leader says that in her 25-year career she has never known a more exciting time to work in IT Continue Reading
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Opinion
05 Oct 2021
Invest in cyber security with confidence using a structured approach
Cyber security has never been more challenging or important in rapidly changing business, regulatory, IT and threat environments. There is a need for a more structured approach to investment Continue Reading
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Opinion
05 Oct 2021
Keeping the UK in the global race to adopt digital identity
The UK government’s proposed digital ID trust framework is a step in the right direction, but more is needed to ensure the successful adoption of digital identity across the economy Continue Reading
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Opinion
05 Oct 2021
ICO cookie consent: How will the plan affect businesses?
A data privacy and compliance expert considers what the ICO’s proposals for an overhaul of cookie consent procedures could mean for businesses Continue Reading
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News
04 Oct 2021
Two arrests made in European ransomware investigation
Unnamed ransomware operation was disrupted last week in Kiev, Ukraine, following a coordinated investigation Continue Reading
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News
01 Oct 2021
Met Police purchase new retrospective facial-recognition system
Retrospective facial-recognition software purchased for £3m by the Met Police will be deployed in coming months amid continuing controversy around the use of biometric technologies by law enforcement bodies Continue Reading
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News
01 Oct 2021
BEIS urged to prioritise funding to protect umbrella workers in government Spending Review
In an open letter to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, umbrella regulation draft policymakers Rebecca Seeley Harris and James Poyser urge the government to prioritise funding for a single enforcement body Continue Reading
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News
01 Oct 2021
IR35: Giant Group cyber attack prompts renewed calls for statutory regulation of umbrella companies
As details about the fallout from the cyber attack on the Giant Group umbrella company emerge, stakeholders say the incident should prompt the government to expedite regulating contractor payroll processing firms Continue Reading
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News
30 Sep 2021
Digital bank fined by regulator due to weak anti-money laundering controls
German digital bank is fined by financial services regulator for failing in relation to its anti-money laundering practices Continue Reading
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News
30 Sep 2021
UK consumers would collectively pay over £1bn a year for control of their data
UK consumers are willing to pay a small fee per month to have control of the data they share with Google and Facebook Continue Reading
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News
29 Sep 2021
Russia arrests prominent cyber security executive
Founder and CEO of cyber security firm Group-IB detained in Moscow on treason charges Continue Reading
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News
28 Sep 2021
Digital regulators need discrete but cooperative remits
The UK’s information commissioner has told MPs that digital economy regulators need discrete remits backed up by strong information sharing powers to both provide clear focus as well as allow for greater cooperation between their disparate but interlinked regimes Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Sep 2021
Ultimate questions require ultimate understanding in the quantum era
In The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Deep Thought calculates the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything as ‘42’. But what of quantum computing? Continue Reading
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News
27 Sep 2021
Dubai International Finance Centre’s data protection law to be boosted by new federal regulation
New UAE data protection regulation on the horizon a year after a Dubai-specific law came into force Continue Reading
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News
24 Sep 2021
IR35 reforms: HMRC confirms compliance checks under way in financial services, oil and gas sectors
Less than six months after the roll-out of the IR35 reforms to the private sector, HMRC has confirmed it has started writing letters to companies requesting details of their compliance procedures Continue Reading
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Opinion
24 Sep 2021
Facial recognition cannot be a standalone authentication method
As more organisations look to facial recognition to improve their digital identity practices, they must remember that it cannot stand in isolation Continue Reading
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News
24 Sep 2021
London publishes guidelines for ethical use of smart city tech
Latest draft of the ‘Emerging Technology Charter for London’ encourages local authorities, public services and technology companies to improve how they implement technology in the capital Continue Reading
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News
23 Sep 2021
MoD in second leak of Afghan citizens’ data
A second breach of data relating to Afghan citizens at risk of Taliban reprisals has been reported by the Ministry of Defence Continue Reading
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News
22 Sep 2021
AI cannot be regulated by technical measures alone
The regulation of artificial intelligence must address the power of tech companies, as technical measures alone will not be enough to prevent the harms caused by AI-driven technologies, says report Continue Reading
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Opinion
21 Sep 2021
Managing cyber risk through integrated supply chains
High-profile supply chain cyber attacks have caused huge disruption this year. PA Consulting’s Carl Nightingale considers key questions business leaders should be asking of their organisations Continue Reading
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News
21 Sep 2021
US sanctions Suex crypto exchange over ransomware links
US Treasury cracks down on cryptocurrency exchange that supposedly facilitated proceeds from multiple ransomware gangs Continue Reading
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News
21 Sep 2021
UK government claims ‘gigaboom’ as next-gen broadband reaches one in two premises
Hot on the heels of major expansion in fibre networks across the nation by a number of leading operators, government data shows 50.2% of UK premises are now able to access gigabit-capable broadband, up from 6% in 2019 Continue Reading
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News
21 Sep 2021
Dutch scientist receives top award for work on digital media’s effect on society
Utrecht University media scientist José van Dijck wins the Spinoza Award and funds for her research into the effects of social media on society Continue Reading
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News
21 Sep 2021
Spanish police bust Mafia-linked phishing gang
A joint operation between European authorities has dismantled a cyber criminal gang with links to the Italian Mafia Continue Reading
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News
21 Sep 2021
BlackMatter gang ramps up attacks on multiple victims
A wave of new BlackMatter ransomware attacks is hitting organisations around the world, even as the US authorities mull new sanctions on ransom payment infrastructure Continue Reading
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E-Zine
21 Sep 2021
The cities planning for ethical use of AI
In this week’s Computer Weekly, we talk to tech leaders in Barcelona and London about a collaboration to ensure ethical use of AI in the era of smart cities. The UK government wants to reform data protection law – we assess the implications. And we examine the latest best practice in hybrid cloud. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
20 Sep 2021
NGO Fair Trials calls on EU to ban predictive policing systems
The use of artificial intelligence to predict criminal behaviour should be banned because of its discriminatory outcomes and high risk of further entrenching existing inequalities, claims Fair Trials Continue Reading
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Opinion
16 Sep 2021
IR35 reforms: Tech firms warned off relying on high-risk compliance workarounds
Several months have passed since the onset of the IR35 reforms in the private sector, but compliance with the rules remains an ongoing process, warns Brookson Legal’s Matt Fryer Continue Reading
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Blog Post
16 Sep 2021
The UK government data protection reforms - good for business, but are they good for you?
This is a guest post by Computer Weekly security editor Alex Scroxton, which features in the 21 September issue of the Computer Weekly digital magazine as its leader column. It is hard to sum up ... Continue Reading
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News
16 Sep 2021
European president outlines tech vision to drive Europe
President of the European Commission has set out plans for a stronger European economy, with less reliance on US and Chinese tech giants Continue Reading