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
07 Jun 2019
Edtech in the Nordics offers students alternative learning journeys
Pioneering attitude to technology innovation across business and society lends itself to adoption in education across the region Continue Reading
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News
06 Jun 2019
Ofcom’s Sharon White to step down at Christmas
Chief executive will leave her role at the telecoms regulator at the end of 2019 Continue Reading
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Opinion
05 Jun 2019
Is GDPR worth the cost?
Regulations have costs, which are meant to be recouped by the expected benefits. But who decides whether this is a good deal? Ultimately, it’s you Continue Reading
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News
05 Jun 2019
Amal Clooney calls on business and tech to solve world issues
Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney urged technologists to look at how they can tackle issues that governments have failed to address Continue Reading
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News
03 Jun 2019
Consumer comms providers sign Ofcom’s new fairness pledge
The UK’s biggest communications service providers have signed up to a series of new commitments pledging to put fairness to customers at the heart of their business Continue Reading
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News
03 Jun 2019
Nordics block European Commission tech tax levy to protect digital investment
The Nordic EU countries have formed a powerful voice against the European Commission’s plans on digital service tax. Continue Reading
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Feature
31 May 2019
Data governance: The importance of getting it right
With ever-increasing storage capacity, organisations are needing to take more control of their file management systems with thorough data governance policies. Otherwise, they run the risk of project data being exposed Continue Reading
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News
31 May 2019
Facebook loses bid to halt European court decision on EU-US data sharing
Irish Supreme Court dismisses attempt by Facebook to prevent the European Court of Justice considering the validity of US-EU data transfers, after Austrian lawyer Max Schrems argued that they put the privacy of EU citizens at risk Continue Reading
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News
30 May 2019
2.3 billion business and consumer data files exposed online
In the year since the GDPR compliance deadline, the number of data files exposed online without adequate protection is up more than 50% due to misconfigured security controls, report reveals Continue Reading
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News
29 May 2019
ICO to shortlist Sandbox applicants
Privacy watchdog’s Sandbox service aims to help develop innovative and beneficial products and services that are privacy compliant Continue Reading
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News
28 May 2019
Many search engine users unaware of personal data collection
Many users of online search engines are still unaware that data is being collected about them for personalised advertising, a study has revealed Continue Reading
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News
28 May 2019
Swedes need to keep a week’s cash under the bed
The Swedish population is being advised to keep enough cash at home to last a week in case of problems such as online banking crashes Continue Reading
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News
26 May 2019
Australian firms coming to grips with AI ethics
Australian businesses are warming up to AI, but just two in five have standards and guidelines for AI ethics, a study finds Continue Reading
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News
24 May 2019
GDPR: Are we there yet?
A full year since the General Data Protection Regulation was implemented, there has not been the severe punitive action expected by many and personal data breaches continue to happen, leaving many wondering if any progress has been made Continue Reading
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News
24 May 2019
Effect of GDPR yet to be felt, says law firm Hogan Lovells
Despite the fact that the GDPR has been in full effect for a year, the true effect of the regulation is yet to be felt and organisations should ensure they keep their eye on the ball, says leading privacy law firm Continue Reading
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News
24 May 2019
Ofcom makes new proposals to liberalise access Openreach’s ducts and poles
The telecoms regulator is proposing new regulations on accessing Openreach’s infrastructure that it hopes will incentives others to roll out ultrafast networks quicker Continue Reading
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News
24 May 2019
No real change a year into GDPR, says privacy expert
A year after the GDPR compliance deadline, many organisations still have a lot of work to do to make real changes and shift focus away from fines to business value and gain, says PwC’s GDPR and data protection lead Continue Reading
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News
23 May 2019
IBM’s investment in automation pays off in GDPR’s first year
The first year of the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation has demonstrated the value of IBM’s investment in machine learning-based automation and the importance of having the right strategy and systems in place, according to the firm’s data protection officer Continue Reading
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News
20 May 2019
GDPR an opportunity to improve data systems and processes
A year after the official implementation of the GDPR, it is important to highlight the positive opportunities that compliance provides and the insights breach reports are providing, say Deloitte consultants Continue Reading
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News
20 May 2019
Google cuts off Huawei from Android ecosystem
Google decision follows an executive order signed by President Trump, but Huawei insists US businesses and consumers will be the real losers Continue Reading
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News
20 May 2019
ICO to support GDPR certification schemes
The UK data protection watchdog is accepting enquiries from organisations considering developing GDPR certification schemes, which the ICO says could help recipients achieve competitive advantage Continue Reading
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E-Zine
16 May 2019
CW APAC: Expert advice on data management
Data is growing exponentially, so managing it well is crucial to business success. In this handbook, Computer Weekly looks at how companies and data management experts are tackling data challenges, studies the findings of Gartner’s CDO study, and finds out how organisations are augmenting data management through artificial intelligence and machine learning. Continue Reading
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Opinion
16 May 2019
Are there any positives from the first year of GDPR?
A year has passed since the new EU data protection law came into force. What have we learned in that time that can help organisations deliver benefits from the regulation? Continue Reading
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News
16 May 2019
Fujitsu sets out to restore trust in technology
Trust in technology, how to recapture it, and how to ensure AI doesn’t overstep its bounds were the big messages on the opening day of Fujitsu Forum in Tokyo Continue Reading
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News
15 May 2019
Facebook engaged in ‘calculated’ campaign to eliminate competition, claims businessman
A US businessman is seeking damages from Facebook after accusing the social media company of unfairly blocking “humorous” Facebook pages which generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in advertising revenue Continue Reading
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News
13 May 2019
Security standard for surveillance cameras set for launch
A long-overdue cyber security standard for the manufacturer of surveillance cameras is on track for an official launch in June Continue Reading
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News
10 May 2019
Dutch businesses not yet implementing NIS Directive
Little urgency to comply with the Network and Information Systems Security Act, which seeks to protect the Netherlands’ vital infrastructure and digital services from cyber attack Continue Reading
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News
09 May 2019
Facebook co-founder: ‘It is time to break up Facebook’
Co-founder of Facebook, Chris Hughes, has published an op-ed in The New York Times calling for Facebook to be broken up, as it faces investigations from the US Federal Trade Commission Continue Reading
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News
09 May 2019
Deutsche Börse harnesses Microsoft cloud
German stock exchange signs deal with Microsoft that will not only benefit the exchange, but other organisations in the sector that are considering cloud migration Continue Reading
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Blog Post
08 May 2019
Open banking take-up in the Netherlands less than expected because government promoted GDPR so well
The Dutch government promoted GDPR so much to the public that take up of open banking has been low Continue Reading
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Blog Post
08 May 2019
Is BT’s boss about to make his mark with new full-fibre targets?
BT’s new chief executive, Philip Jansen, is to revise Openreach’s targets for its full-fibre broadband network roll-out upwards when he reveals BT’s full-year financial results on Thursday 9 May, ... Continue Reading
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News
07 May 2019
HMRC begins deleting unlawful voice biometric data
HM Revenue and Customs is to forge ahead with Voice ID despite beginning to delete the largest state-held voice biometric database gathered without consent after UK privacy and data protection watchdog issues order Continue Reading
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News
03 May 2019
Zero trust: A 21st century security model
Traditional corporate security models date back to a time when there were fewer, lower-level threats, but a zero trust model is better suited to the 21st century, according to the originator of the idea Continue Reading
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News
02 May 2019
Why IT departments miss basic IT security hygiene
IT departments are failing to patch security holes in software because of a disconnect between security and operations teams, survey finds Continue Reading
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News
02 May 2019
Defence secretary sacked over Huawei leak
Defence secretary Gavin Williamson has been sacked after leaking confidential discussions over the use of Huawei networking equipment Continue Reading
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News
01 May 2019
Middle East Interview: Bahrain fintech drive gathers speed
Bahrain wants to be a launchpad into the wider region for financial technology firms looking to scale Continue Reading
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News
30 Apr 2019
UK gears up for new laws on IoT security
The UK plans to introduce measures to require that basic cyber security features are built into internet-connected devices Continue Reading
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News
29 Apr 2019
Privacy and data protection an opportunity, says entrepreneur
Organisations should see data protection and privacy compliance as an opportunity to build trust with customers, according to startup One.Thing.Less Continue Reading
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News
26 Apr 2019
Facebook faces fresh privacy actions from regulators
Facebook faces legal action from Canada after it dismissed regulators’ findings that it failed to protect customer privacy. The firm has set aside $5bn to settle a privacy action in the US and faces a new investigation in Ireland Continue Reading
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News
26 Apr 2019
Huawei leak inquiry launched
Cabinet secretary Mark Sedwill has instituted an inquiry aimed at discovering who leaked confidential discussions about UK mobile operators’ use of Huawei in their future 5G networks to the press Continue Reading
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News
25 Apr 2019
NCSC and ICO pledge to support data breach victims
The UK’s cyber security agency and privacy watchdog have agreed to work together to improve support for data breach victims and enhance cyber guidance Continue Reading
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News
25 Apr 2019
No final decision taken on Huawei 5G ban, government claims
Culture secretary tells MPs that a final decision on use of Huawei in UK 5G networks has not been taken, and says government is taking the leak of confidential discussions at the National Security Council very seriously Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Apr 2019
Mobile phones and health: is 5G being rolled out too fast?
European countries are rolling out 5G mobile communications at breakneck speed as they seek to gain a competitive edge over the US and Asia. But some scientists have raised questions about the effects of 5G mobile phone radiation on public health and are calling for a precautionary approach Continue Reading
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News
24 Apr 2019
PM May approves Huawei for use in 5G networks despite opposition
The UK’s National Security Council has approved the use of Huawei’s networking equipment in parts of the country’s 5G mobile networks in spite of widespread opposition Continue Reading
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News
17 Apr 2019
Apple and Qualcomm settle up as Intel quits 5G chip business
Apple and Qualcomm have set aside their ongoing litigation and struck a deal to work together on future 5G iPhones, leaving Intel in the lurch Continue Reading
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News
17 Apr 2019
Middle East CIOs optimistic as budgets increase and digital transformations expand
Cyber security and risk management will see the biggest increase in spending, but digital transformation of businesses is a major driver of investment, survey shows Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Apr 2019
Politics, privacy and porn: the challenges of age-verification technology
The age-verification requirements of the Digital Economy Act are to come into force in July this year, but registering people’s personal details for accessing age-restricted content carries significant risks and challenges Continue Reading
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News
17 Apr 2019
Morrisons to launch fresh appeal against breach liability ruling
Supermarket chain Morrisons is to launch a second appeal against a High Court ruling that found it liable for a data leak by a former employee Continue Reading
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News
16 Apr 2019
Huawei cyber security chief John Suffolk: It’s not our culture to be aggressive
John Suffolk, global cyber security and privacy officer at China-based telecoms equipment supplier Huawei, tells Huawei Analyst Summit growth is the best answer to US criticism Continue Reading
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News
15 Apr 2019
Facebook takes extraordinary legal steps to contain document leak
Facebook targets journalists and news organisations for computer searches Continue Reading
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News
15 Apr 2019
CityFibre loses court battle over ‘fake fibre’
CityFibre has been knocked back by the courts in its dispute with the ASA over the use of the word ‘fibre’ in broadband ads Continue Reading
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News
12 Apr 2019
Bounty UK fined £400,000 for sharing personal data unlawfully
UK pregnancy and parenting club fined for “unprecedented” level of unauthorised sharing of personal data by operating as a data broking service Continue Reading
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Opinion
08 Apr 2019
The dominance of big tech might not always be such a bad thing
Governments increasingly talk about regulating big tech to preserve competition, but an alternative view says that big tech only exists because there is already sufficient competition in the market Continue Reading
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News
08 Apr 2019
GDPR at a critical stage, says information commissioner
The ICO is calling on data protection officials to help kick off the next phase of the GDPR by embedding sound data governance at its annual conference, where another DPO was recognised for excellence Continue Reading
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News
05 Apr 2019
Huawei ban will cost UK plc £6.8bn, delay 5G
If the UK government decides to impose tighter restrictions, or an outright ban on the use of Huawei in national 5G networks, the country faces severe consequences, according to a report Continue Reading
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News
03 Apr 2019
Employees lack awareness of corporate data-sharing policies
IT leaders believe their organisations are highly likely to lose data in the next 12 months due to accidental data breaches Continue Reading
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Opinion
02 Apr 2019
Goliath vs Goliath and the complexities of 5G intellectual property
Is Apple the good guy or the bad guy? It has violated patents and had its wrist slapped by the courts (bad), yet its products are still available for adoring fans to buy (good) Continue Reading
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News
02 Apr 2019
Huawei reports record numbers despite tumultuous year
Huawei has become one of the world’s largest technology companies by revenue, suggesting the accusations over its ties to the Chinese government are failing to have much impact Continue Reading
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News
01 Apr 2019
CLA calls for government intervention on rural 4G coverage
Country Land and Business Association urges government to consider broadband-style interventions to improve 4G mobile network coverage in rural areas Continue Reading
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News
01 Apr 2019
Broadband compensation rules come into force
Regulations that guarantee consumers’ rights to automatic compensation from broadband providers when things go wrong have come into force, and many suppliers have a lot of work to do Continue Reading
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News
01 Apr 2019
Zuckerberg calls for new internet regulation
Facebook chief calls for new internet regulation in four key areas to define clear responsibilities for people, companies and governments, including more GDPR-aligned data protection rules Continue Reading
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News
29 Mar 2019
ICO kicks off sandbox beta to support innovation
The UK’s privacy watchdog has launched the first phase of an initiative aimed at enhancing data protection while supporting business innovation Continue Reading
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Opinion
29 Mar 2019
Should we be worried that half of UK organisations don’t have a policy for the safe use of AI?
As artificial intelligence becomes more mainstream, business leaders must be aware of the risks and make sure their firms do not build bias into AI algorithms Continue Reading
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News
28 Mar 2019
Huawei making no progress on addressing security concerns
Huawei has made no material progress on addressing the issues identified last year by the NCSC, according to the latest highly critical report from its HSCEC Oversight Board Continue Reading
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Opinion
28 Mar 2019
What are the options for regulating internet companies?
The UK – and other countries – are likely to introduce new regulations for internet and tech companies like Facebook and Google. We consider what sort of rules they might introduce Continue Reading
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News
27 Mar 2019
Mind the overlap between GDPR and ePD, warns privacy lawyer
Organisations need to be aware of the overlaps between European data protection and privacy rules, and which takes precedence, a privacy lawyer warns Continue Reading
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News
26 Mar 2019
Europe passes controversial Copyright Directive
The European Parliament has passed a new Copyright Directive, including a number of highly controversial articles Continue Reading
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News
25 Mar 2019
Mike Lynch heads to High Court to defend against HP allegations
The UK’s biggest fraud case commences, with the former CEO of Autonomy, Mike Lynch, attempting to clear his name Continue Reading
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News
22 Mar 2019
Facebook security policy and practices unfit, say infosec pros
Confidence in Facebook’s ability to keep users’ data safe has once again been shaken by revelations of poor password protection practices, prompting calls for a security review Continue Reading
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News
21 Mar 2019
Towards a full-fibre Britain: the view from inside Openreach
Openreach chairman Mike McTighe discusses progress on the national full-fibre broadband roll-out, the impact of Brexit, how to better engage with the CSP community, and why dark fibre isn’t the cure-all they might want it to be Continue Reading
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News
20 Mar 2019
EC fines Google €1.49bn for abusing ad market dominance
The European Commission has fined Google for abusive practices in online advertising dating back to 2006 Continue Reading
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News
15 Mar 2019
Brexit complicating already complex data protection
GDPR impact is yet to be felt and data protection is set to become increasingly complex, with Brexit adding even more complexity that could be overwhelming, warns head of international privacy association Continue Reading
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News
14 Mar 2019
Avoid infosec mistakes of the past, urges Robert Hannigan
Technology innovators need to avoid security mistakes of the past by building in integrity so that products and services can be used with trust and confidence, says former GCHQ director Continue Reading
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News
14 Mar 2019
Met Police collaborated with US prosecutors in WikiLeaks investigation
The Metropolitan Police has confirmed it exchanged information on WikiLeaks staff in the UK with the US Department of Justice, which is conducting criminal investigations into the organisation Continue Reading
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News
13 Mar 2019
ICO pledges to support innovation
UK data privacy watchdog is increasingly gearing up to support innovation to ensure developers of tech and digital services do not lose society’s trust Continue Reading
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News
13 Mar 2019
Bank of England’s large IT spend partly due to use of manual processes and legacy systems
The Bank of England admits there is room for improvement when it comes to IT efficiency Continue Reading
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News
12 Mar 2019
Openreach exploring options for copper network shutdown
Openreach has begun to assess how and when it might be able to shut down its copper broadband network Continue Reading
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Feature
11 Mar 2019
Making unified threat management a key security tool
As data protection becomes critical to businesses, we look at how unified threat management can be a useful tool, providing it is selected and deployed correctly according to business needs Continue Reading
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News
09 Mar 2019
Malaysia takes broad base approach to 5G security
The country’s telco regulator is taking a industry-wide look at security implications of 5G, preferring not to target any particular supplier Continue Reading
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News
09 Mar 2019
ICO data raises doubts over UK firms’ ability to manage breaches
Most ICO data breach reports late and incomplete prior to full GDPR implementation, FoI request data reveals, raising doubts about breach prevention, detection and response capabilities Continue Reading
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News
08 Mar 2019
House of Lords committee calls for creation of a digital authority to oversee regulation
The proposed regulatory framework would coordinate regulators, assess rules and make recommendations to respond to developments in digital services Continue Reading
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E-Zine
08 Mar 2019
CW Europe: Robots deliver savings for Dutch postal service
In this issue we look at how Dutch delivery company PostNL is reaping huge efficiency savings by using robotic technology to automate time-consuming administrative tasks, Facebook’s opposition to the referral of questions about the legality of data transfers between Europe and the US to the European Court of Justice, and how Oslo is thriving from a unique combination of business agility, a cultural receptiveness to technology, and a social desire to do good. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
07 Mar 2019
Vodafone defends its use of Huawei as 5G trials go live
As Vodafone begins trials of a live 5G service in Bristol, Cardiff and Liverpool, the operator’s CTO and general counsel have defended their use of Huawei equipment in Vodafone’s network and challenged its detractors to produce evidence of spying Continue Reading
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News
07 Mar 2019
ICO head still in top three of DataIQ data leader list
The UK’s information commissioner remains in the top three data leaders after claiming top spot in 2018 in the DataIQ 100 list of most influential data leaders, but GDPR is not the only focus in the industry Continue Reading
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News
05 Mar 2019
IR35 reforms: HMRC urges private sector to start prepping now for April 2020 roll-out
HM Revenue & Customs is canvassing views about how best to press ahead with the introduction of the IR35 reforms to the private sector, and is urging those likely to be affected by the move to start getting ready Continue Reading
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News
05 Mar 2019
US doubles down on Huawei fears as Chinese prepare to sue
US secretary of state Mike Pompeo has reinforced his attacks on Huawei as the firm apparently prepares to sue the US government over its federal-level ban Continue Reading
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Podcast
05 Mar 2019
Podcast: The Computer Weekly Downtime Upload – Episode 6
In this week’s episode of The Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast, the team talks about Mobile World Congress, Facebook’s latest data privacy row, the Ocado and M&S partnership, and how the technology industry can tackle unethical data use Continue Reading
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News
04 Mar 2019
Cyber awareness of UK boards found wanting
Boards of many of the UK’s biggest firms must do more to be cyber aware, according to a government report. Continue Reading
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News
02 Mar 2019
Facebook asked George Osborne to influence EU data protection law
Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg invited one of the chancellor’s children to Facebook’s office as part of a intensive lobbying programme to influence European data protection legislation Continue Reading
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News
01 Mar 2019
Facebook facing 10 GDPR investigations in Ireland
Ireland’s Data Protection Commission has revealed it has 10 active probes into Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, as well as Apple, LinkedIn and Twitter, on its books Continue Reading
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News
01 Mar 2019
New broadband speed regulations come into force
Internet service providers must now tell consumers how fast their broadband service will be before they sign a contract, under new Ofcom rules Continue Reading
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News
22 Feb 2019
Facebook planned to spy on Android phone users, internal emails reveal
Facebook planned to use its Android app to track the location of its customers and to allow advertisers to send political advertising and invites to dating sites to ‘single’ people, confidential documents show Continue Reading
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News
22 Feb 2019
US may cut off countries that use Huawei in 5G networks
US secretary of state Mike Pompeo has said America may scale back or cut military and diplomatic ties with countries that use Huawei equipment in national 5G networks Continue Reading
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Blog Post
20 Feb 2019
Upgraded Bank of England system that gives more fintechs the same rights as banks, due in 2025
While fintechs get their platforms up and running in months the Bank of England’s core system replacement will take best part of a decade. Continue Reading
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News
19 Feb 2019
Activist Lauri Love’s computer ‘contained hacked data’, says judge
Lauri Love, who has been accused of hacking into US government computer systems, has lost a legal action against the NCA for the return of his computers and storage device Continue Reading
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News
19 Feb 2019
IT Priorities 2019: Cyber security and risk management among top priorities for 2019
This year’s Computer Weekly/TechTarget IT Priorities research shows that cyber security and risk management are among the top investment priorities Continue Reading
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News
18 Feb 2019
DCMS Select Committee claims Facebook ‘deliberately frustrated’ fake news inquiry
Facebook’s UK public policy manager defends its participation in MPs' inquiry into the spread of fake news and disinformation online, which concludes by declaring an end to self-regulation by social media firms Continue Reading
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News
12 Feb 2019
IR35 reforms: Contractors lack confidence in private sector to manage April 2020 rule change
Research from IR35 consultancy Qdos suggests contractors lack confidence in the ability of private sector firms to adequately determine how they should be taxed after April 2020 Continue Reading
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News
11 Feb 2019
Lauri Love takes legal action against NCA for return of seized computers
Lauri Love, a former engineering student who won a battle with the US Department of Justice against extradition to the US to face hacking charges, is suing the UK's intelligence agency, the NCA, for the return of his seized computers Continue Reading
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News
07 Feb 2019
Government legislates to bring back roaming charges in no-deal Brexit
All four UK operators have said they have no plans to reintroduce roaming charges, but EE, O2 and Vodafone have not committed themselves not to do so Continue Reading