IT legislation and regulation
Understanding the law as it applies to IT management can be one of the hardest task for IT leaders, but the growing burden of regulatory compliance makes it essential. Legislation and regulation affects enterprise IT in many ways, not just in long-standing tasks such as contracts and software licensing. We examine the latest legal development and how they affect IT managers, and talk to the experts in IT legislation and regulation to explain what it means to your organisation.
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News
20 Dec 2024
Interview: How Green Cargo’s IT switched tracks to logistics success
Green Cargo CIO Ingo Paas took a few turns to establish his company as a composable enterprise able to flex and react quickly Continue Reading
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News
20 Dec 2024
Top 10 data and ethics stories of 2024
Here are Computer Weekly’s top 10 data and ethics stories of 2024 Continue Reading
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Blog Post
18 Sep 2018
What does a fintech do when the most experienced coders don’t want to code?
What do you do when the coders you want would rather manage than code? Continue Reading
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News
17 Sep 2018
Danske Bank invests in anti-money laundering systems following Estonian problems
Danske bank improves its anti money laundering software, utilising artificial intelligence and machine learning Continue Reading
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News
13 Sep 2018
No Deal Brexit could mean changes for telecoms industry and mobile roaming
No Deal Brexit planning guidance documents say there could be changes to the UK electronic communications regulatory framework, and sets EU mobile roaming cap at £45 per month Continue Reading
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News
13 Sep 2018
GCHQ mass surveillance regime was in breach of human rights law, European court rules
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has ruled that the UK’s collection of bulk interception of communications data lacked adequate oversight and safeguards and was in breach of human rights law Continue Reading
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News
13 Sep 2018
TechUK blasts European Parliament-backed revamp of EU-wide copyright laws
Tech industry trade body claims the changes spell bad news for web users, after European Parliament MEPs vote in favour of plans to modernise the copyright laws for the digital age Continue Reading
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Blog Post
13 Sep 2018
The UK can and must be a world leader in ethical regulation of the digital revolution
The digital revolution is challenging the regulatory environment across every westernised, developed economy. Governments in the EU, UK, France, Germany and the US are each trying to take a lead in ... Continue Reading
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News
13 Sep 2018
Tech Nation startup programme demonstrates richness of UK fintech
A Tech Nation programme to support the UK's financial technology startups demonstrates the increasingly diverse range of business-to-business products and services available through the country's fintech community Continue Reading
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News
12 Sep 2018
FCA warns it cannot manage financial crime risks without sharing data with EU
FCA admits it will be unable to manage financial crime effectively if it cannot share data with EU authorities. Continue Reading
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News
10 Sep 2018
Government positive to Science and Technology Committee’s report on algorithms
The government has issued its overwhelmingly positive response to the Science and Technology Committee’s report on the use of algorithms in decision making, published earlier this year Continue Reading
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News
07 Sep 2018
BA praised for swift GDPR-aligned action on data breach
British Airways has been praised for its swift response to a customer data breach, which could be the first test case under the EU’s GDPR and new UK GDPR-aligned data protection laws Continue Reading
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News
30 Aug 2018
US and UK days away from European Parliament ultimatum to suspend data transfers to the US
Threat to Privacy Shield as the European Union and US approach a critical European Parliament deadline to suspend data transfers from the EU to the US Continue Reading
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News
29 Aug 2018
Improving security is top driver for ISO 27001
Organisations are implementing the ISO 27001 standard in recognition of the fact that cyber attacks are increasingly inevitable and that it is best to be well-prepared to fend off attacks and mitigate their effect Continue Reading
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News
28 Aug 2018
Challenge to anti-GDPR immigration exemption in DPA to go ahead
Two human rights groups are challenging a controversial clause in new UK data protection legislation that they say is in conflict with the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights and undermines the General Data Protection Regulation Continue Reading
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News
28 Aug 2018
Finland government to review public procurement laws
Finland's government is putting its procurement laws under the spotlight after a major IT fraud Continue Reading
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News
24 Aug 2018
Corbyn suggests tech tax to fund BBC
Labour leader says big technology companies and ISPs should contribute to a fund for public interest journalism Continue Reading
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News
23 Aug 2018
No Deal Brexit papers warn of stark future for UK tech
The government has published the first of its No Deal Brexit contingency planning notices, containing sobering messages for the UK technology industry Continue Reading
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News
22 Aug 2018
Nearly a third of organisations still not GDPR ready
As the UK and other states implement the EU’s GDPR, many organisations admit they are still not fully compliant, but most claim to be able to respond to data subject access requests Continue Reading
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Opinion
22 Aug 2018
Better the data you know – how GDPR is affecting UK tech companies
As the dust settles from the General Data Protection Regulation, the implications for technology firms in the UK are becoming clearer Continue Reading
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News
21 Aug 2018
UK cryptocurrency exchange enlists Rackspace for Microsoft Azure cloud move
London Block Exchange taps up Rackspace to assist with two-month Microsoft Azure migration as it sets about shoring up its platform against demand spikes Continue Reading
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News
20 Aug 2018
Planned Australian law raises tech firms’ security concerns
A digital industry group representing some of the world’s largest tech firms is opposed to proposed Australian laws aimed at compelling them to help security agencies and police Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Aug 2018
National Archives races to create electronic archive of EU law before Brexit
The National Archives faces challenges converting the EU's enormous library of laws into a publicly accessible UK archive ahead of Brexit. The Archives’ digital director, John Sheridan, explains how Continue Reading
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News
16 Aug 2018
Trump sparks speculation after repealing cyber attack restraints
The US president has sparked speculation about US policy on launching cyber attacks by repealing Obama-era restraints, underlining the need for international rules on cyber warfare Continue Reading
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News
15 Aug 2018
IR35 tech compliance will take private sector 'over a year' to achieve, warns accounting trade body
The Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) cautions HM Revenue & Customs against rushing out IR35 reforms to the private sector, claiming it will take most businesses at least one tax year to ready their software systems for the move Continue Reading
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News
14 Aug 2018
Driverless cars heading for Bromley and Croydon
A 10-month data-gathering exercise will pave the way for an autonomous vehicle ride-sharing service to start operation in 2019 Continue Reading
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News
13 Aug 2018
ICO strengthens commitment to technology and innovation
Information Commissioner’s Office has demonstrated its commitment to technology and innovation by appointing a new executive director to focus on this area Continue Reading
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News
10 Aug 2018
Butlin’s warns of potential personal data breach
Holiday camp chain blames cyber breach on a phishing attack, implying that attackers were able to steal user credentials to access customer data – and underlining the need for security awareness training Continue Reading
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News
09 Aug 2018
Ex-HMRC tax inspector sounds alarm over suitability of IR35 online status checker tool
As the private sector consultation on IR35 draws to a close, a former HM Revenue & Customs inspector calls into further question the suitability of the government's online tool for assessing contractors’ tax status Continue Reading
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E-Zine
09 Aug 2018
CW Benelux: Netherlands to experiment with self-driving trains
In this issue, read how Dutch railway operator ProRail will test self-driving trains on a small set of railroad tracks to learn if they can be part of the country’s notoriously busy network. Also, find out how a network of smart towns and cities is growing in the Netherlands, and why Dutch organisations are being urged to unite to fight DDoS attacks. Continue Reading
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News
06 Aug 2018
Starling raises the fintech stakes with banking-as-a-service
Challenger bank enables companies outside the financial sector to offer their customers savings and current accounts via the bank’s APIs Continue Reading
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News
06 Aug 2018
Half of UK consumers to exercise GDPR rights within a year
More than half of UK consumers will exercise their General Data Protection Regulation rights within a year and almost two-thirds will retract or review data use because of the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal, a study shows Continue Reading
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News
03 Aug 2018
Advertised broadband speeds dropping across UK
Since new advertising standards around broadband were introduced in May 2018, most providers have cut the speeds they advertise, or stopped making speed claims altogether Continue Reading
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News
02 Aug 2018
Government launches digital economy competition review
Obama’s former chief economic advisor will lead panel on competition in the digital economy to ensure regulations are fit for purpose Continue Reading
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Opinion
02 Aug 2018
Security Think Tank: Risk tolerance key to security outsourcing policy
What critical security controls can be outsourced, and how do organisations – SMEs in particular – maintain confidence that they are being managed effectively and appropriately? Continue Reading
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News
31 Jul 2018
UK business overestimating level of consumer trust, study shows
UK consumer trust is low, with the majority of UK businesses admitting to selling customer data, a report reveals Continue Reading
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News
31 Jul 2018
Comms providers may be forced to notify out-of-contract users
Providers of landline, broadband, TV and mobile services will have to notify their customers when they approach the end of their minimum contract period under proposed new rules Continue Reading
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News
31 Jul 2018
Dixons Carphone ups data breach figure to 10 million
Dixons Carphone now believes the number of personal data records affected in 2017’s data breach is nearly 10 times greater than initially thought Continue Reading
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News
31 Jul 2018
Briton ran pro-Kremlin disinformation campaign that helped Trump deny Russian links
A British IT manager and former hacker from Darlington ran a disinformation campaign that duped former US intelligence agents and provided Donald Trump with manufactured “evidence” to deny that Russia interfered with the US election Continue Reading
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News
30 Jul 2018
Government to fund six connected vehicle simulation projects
The government has announced the winners of an R&D contest for connected vehicle simulation and modelling capabilities Continue Reading
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News
27 Jul 2018
Openreach doubles down on full-fibre broadband roll-out
In its first annual review since splitting from BT, Openreach has recommitted to its targets for full-fibre broadband Continue Reading
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News
27 Jul 2018
BT bounces back in strong first quarter
After a run of bad news, there were some bright spots in BT’s first quarter financial results Continue Reading
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Blog Post
26 Jul 2018
UK should worry if digital products become part of the global trade and tariff debate
Amid the global debate about trade tariffs, prompted by US president Donald Trump’s unorthodox economic policies, it’s little remarked that the digital economy is largely untouched by the ... Continue Reading
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News
26 Jul 2018
Facebook stock price falls on slowing growth forecast
Facebook’s stock price has fallen dramatically in response to a forecast of slower revenue growth in 2018 and lower-than-expected user growth for the second quarter Continue Reading
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News
25 Jul 2018
Vodafone sales tick down on new reporting rules
Quarterly sales at mobile operator Vodafone dipped thanks to the impact of new reporting standards and foreign exchange headwinds Continue Reading
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News
25 Jul 2018
Australian energy sector caught in security catch-22
With regulators unwilling to accept security investments that would lead to higher tariffs, there is a chance that Australia’s National Energy Market could face increased cyber risks Continue Reading
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News
24 Jul 2018
Ofcom proposes regulatory changes to support broadband investment
Following the recommendations of the government’s Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review, regulator Ofcom has proposed a package of measures to better support investment in full-fibre broadband Continue Reading
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Opinion
24 Jul 2018
Intellectual property in an AI world
The controversial European Copyright Directive has gone back to the drawing board, but it raises important questions about the use of artificial intelligence in protecting individual rights Continue Reading
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Opinion
24 Jul 2018
What the ICO's Facebook fine teaches us
Legal expert Alexander Egerton considers whether the ICO’s planned £500,000 fine for Facebook is the precursor of a spate of increased fines across the board, or if it shows the ICO’s stance has not changed and will continue to target certain activities Continue Reading
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News
20 Jul 2018
GDPR drives down UK insider threat
The insider threat in European countries is falling post-General Data Protection Regulation, but continues to rise in the US, a study has revealed Continue Reading
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News
20 Jul 2018
NCSC report underlines cyber threat for legal firms
Legal firms are a top target for cyber attackers, the latest report from the National Cyber Security Centre shows, emphasising the need for comprehensive cyber defence capabilities Continue Reading
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News
20 Jul 2018
Uptick in UK privacy awareness, says ICO
The UK’s privacy watchdog, the Information Commissioner’s Office, reports increased public awareness of privacy and information rights issues Continue Reading
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News
19 Jul 2018
Uber appoints first privacy and data protection chiefs
Uber is getting its privacy and data protection house in order in the wake of damaging data breaches and in anticipation of the company’s planned stock market launch in 2019 Continue Reading
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News
18 Jul 2018
Google record fine could lead to Android fork
Amazon’s Android was one of the operating systems mentioned by the European Commission as it imposed a record €4.34bn fine on Google Continue Reading
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16 Jul 2018
As prime minister unveils Brexit plans, TechUK calls for deal on services
The UK tech industry wants a Brexit deal open to services, mirroring the EU trade agreement with Canada. Continue Reading
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News
15 Jul 2018
A quarter of Brits think they already have full-fibre broadband
CityFibre research commissioned to support its campaign for more clarity in broadband advertising appears to show widespread misunderstanding of what fibre is or what it means Continue Reading
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Feature
13 Jul 2018
Matching disaster recovery to cyber threats
While it is important to take steps to prevent cyber attacks, they can still happen. That is why disaster recovery practices are equally critical Continue Reading
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News
11 Jul 2018
Facebook could face ICO fine of up to £500,000
Facebook could face the maximum fine provided by the UK’s previous data protection laws for lack of transparency and security issues relating to the harvesting of data, the UK’s privacy watchdog has revealed Continue Reading
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News
10 Jul 2018
Lords urge Brexit negotiators to reach agreement on security
Time is running out for the UK and EU to agree on a future security relationship and if negotiators fail to find common ground, all stakeholders stand to lose, warns a Lords’ committee Continue Reading
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News
10 Jul 2018
NIC calls for nationwide broadband plan
The National Infrastructure Commission has called for a national broadband plan to support full-fibre roll-out Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Jul 2018
Cyber crime: why business should report it as soon as possible
Cyber crime is affecting a growing number of businesses, yet few are reporting it. Computer Weekly lifts the veil on cyber crime reporting, looking at the who, what, when, where, how and why Continue Reading
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News
09 Jul 2018
As prime minister unveils Brexit plans, TechUK calls for deal on services
The UK tech industry wants a Brexit deal open to services, mirroring the EU trade agreement with Canada Continue Reading
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News
06 Jul 2018
ICO Grants Programme launches second round of funding
The ICO is inviting a second round of applications for funding to promote and support independent, innovative research and solutions focused on privacy and data protection Continue Reading
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News
06 Jul 2018
European Parliament calls for suspension of Privacy Shield
The Privacy Shield framework that replaced the Safe Harbour agreement for personal data transfers between the EU and the US is under increased pressure due to alleged non-compliance by US firms Continue Reading
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News
03 Jul 2018
IT service provider HCL acquires sector expertise as part of European strategy
Indian IT services firm boosts its European car industry credentials though multi-million Euro investment Continue Reading
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News
03 Jul 2018
Feds expand Facebook data sharing probe
The US federal probe into Facebook’s data sharing practices is expanding and MEPs are considering new measures as the firm reveals it granted extended access to 61 companies and admits to another data sharing software bug Continue Reading
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News
01 Jul 2018
Australian government grappling with digital transformation woes
Digital transformation in Australia’s public sector has been beset by soaring rhetoric and vague aspirations by government, a new report reveals Continue Reading
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News
29 Jun 2018
GDPR exposes breach reporting flaws
In the month since the GDPR compliance deadline, it has become clear that many organisations are not well prepared for personal data breach notifications, says PwC’s data protection lead Continue Reading
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News
29 Jun 2018
British Muslim considers appeal after court rules repeated terrorism stops are legal
Muzaffar Abdullah, a 37-year-old gas engineer who has been stopped and questioned by police at airports at least 10 times, is considering an appeal after being found guilty of wilful obstruction for refusing to answer questions under controversial terrorism legislation. He received a conditional discharge. Continue Reading
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News
27 Jun 2018
Government must challenge popular smart city misconceptions
A report by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Smart Cities says many people feel alienated by the concept, and calls on the government to challenge some popular misconceptions Continue Reading
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News
25 Jun 2018
Nordic and Baltic states agree on joint approach to AI
The governments of the Nordic and Baltic region want to work closer together to further increase the status of artificial intelligence in business and society Continue Reading
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News
25 Jun 2018
UK privacy groups join call on EU to halt comms data collection
UK-based privacy groups have joined calls for a halt to the collection of communications data by European Union member states Continue Reading
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News
25 Jun 2018
Mobile spectrum sharing is vital for UK 5G roll-out, says report
A report commissioned by independent network builders’ body Inca has warned that current approaches to how spectrum is apportioned are leaving vast amounts unused, and this needs to change Continue Reading
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News
20 Jun 2018
Mobile operators appeal for dark fibre access to back 5G
O2, Three and Vodafone unite in calling for more to be done to open up dark fibre networks to supply desperately needed capacity for their future 5G networks Continue Reading
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E-Zine
19 Jun 2018
Microsoft becomes devoted to open source developers
In this week’s Computer Weekly, after Microsoft’s recent acquisition of GitHub, we examine the software giant’s tools for embracing open source developers. Secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport Matt Hancock talks about growing the UK digital economy and supporting the tech sector. And we look at SAP’s next steps for its “intelligent enterprise” strategy. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
15 Jun 2018
DeepMind Health must be transparent to gain public trust, review finds
Independent review of DeepMind Health says the company should provide more clarity on data and business plans, while legal audit finds its controversial data-sharing deal with Royal Free is lawful Continue Reading
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News
14 Jun 2018
AI is key to keeping IBM compliant with GDPR
Artificial intelligence is vital for keeping IBM compliant with the principles of the General Data Protection Regulation, which, in turn, provides opportunities for business, says the company’s data protection officer Continue Reading
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News
14 Jun 2018
Ofcom satisfied with progress on BT Openreach split
Ofcom has published its first annual report on the legal separation of BT and Openreach, and said it is broadly satisfied with progress to date, despite hiccups relating to the BT pension scheme Continue Reading
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News
14 Jun 2018
NCSC urges action after Dixons Carphone breach
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is urging UK business to improve data protection capabilities after Dixons Carphone revealed that millions of payment card and personal data records may have been compromised in a cyber breach Continue Reading
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News
13 Jun 2018
Dixons Carphone admits 'falling short' on data protection
Dixons Carphone has warned that millions of credit card and personal data records may have been compromised in a cyber breach Continue Reading
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News
12 Jun 2018
Privacy Shield under threat by US non-compliance
The Privacy Shield framework that replaced the Safe Harbour agreement for personal data transfers between the EU and the US is under threat due to non-compliance by US firms Continue Reading
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News
12 Jun 2018
Email-based cyber attacks gathering momentum
Email-based cyber attacks are gathering momentum and the cost of these attacks are rising, with several hidden costs, a survey of IT professionals in Europe, Middle East and Africa reveals Continue Reading
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News
11 Jun 2018
Security Think Tank: Data flow visibility is essential to security
Why is it important to know where data flows, with whom it is shared and where it lives at rest, and what is the best way of achieving this? Continue Reading
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News
11 Jun 2018
An audience with Matt Hancock, secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport
Matt Hancock is the first Cabinet minister with a digital background, and he's keen to impress on the tech sector that he’s on their side Continue Reading
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News
11 Jun 2018
Irish government vows to ease planning procedures for datacentre investors
After Apple and Amazon saw their datacentre plans tripped up by the Irish planning system, the government has outlined its commitment to easing the path to construction for other operators Continue Reading
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News
10 Jun 2018
Singapore government to regulate eSIM technology
The government is gathering feedback on key proposals such as forbidding telcos to lock embedded SIM-enabled devices to their networks Continue Reading
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News
07 Jun 2018
IT spending reaches 10-year high as CIOs struggle with digital technology strategy
IT leaders have seen their budgets and headcounts rise for the first time in 10 years, but face challenges implementing their digital strategies Continue Reading
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Opinion
07 Jun 2018
Security Think Tank: Understand data for risk-based protection
Why is it important to know where data flows, with whom it is shared and where it lives at rest, and what is the best way of achieving this? Continue Reading
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News
06 Jun 2018
GDPR and backup: A potential minefield easily avoided
The right to be forgotten will be impossible in backups and snapshots, but systems can be built that automate for compliance, says Andy Barratt of security consultancy Coalfire Continue Reading
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News
06 Jun 2018
We need to design for security and privacy, says Martha Lane Fox
The digital future is bright, but only if society works through a gear change in its relationship with technology, and demands products and services that are secure and private by design, says internet service pioneer Continue Reading
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Opinion
06 Jun 2018
Security Think Tank: Ignorance about data is tantamount to negligence
Why is it important to know where data flows, with whom it's shared and where it lives at rest, and what is the best way of achieving this? Continue Reading
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News
06 Jun 2018
Singapore government to form AI advisory council
New council will develop standards and guidelines to address ethical issues arising from the growing use of artificial intelligence Continue Reading
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News
05 Jun 2018
Australia’s chief scientist calls for AI regulations
The proposal would require companies to apply for a trustmark so they know from the outset how their AI is expected to behave Continue Reading
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E-Zine
05 Jun 2018
The bumpy ride to digital transformation
In this week’s Computer Weekly, we look at the lessons to be learned from General Electric’s bumpy ride to digital transformation. We assess the use of software-defined networking in corporate IT infrastructures. And we find out how Royal Bank of Scotland approaches digital and business innovation. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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Opinion
04 Jun 2018
GDPR – like a lot of regulation – will mostly benefit the big incumbents
The law of unintended consequences applies to the new EU data protection laws, because the big players it seeks to regulate can better afford to comply Continue Reading
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Opinion
30 May 2018
Tier 2 visas – a challenge for the tech sector
With staff shortages already being reported in the technology sector and Brexit potentially adding to the problem, tech departments need to get their Tier 2 visa applications right Continue Reading
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News
29 May 2018
Business still not addressing insider threat
Businesses are still not addressing inside threats when it comes to cyber security, leaving themselves wide open to data breaches as a result, according to a security analyst Continue Reading
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News
29 May 2018
Policy Exchange report calls for GDS to be moved to DCMS
Think-tank wants Government Digital Service to create a “single digital government account” for citizens, and says bringing the organisation into the Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport will improve focus on “all aspects of digital transformation” Continue Reading
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News
29 May 2018
Max Schrems’s NOYB initiates GDPR action
A privacy NGO led by Austrian lawyer Max Schrems is among the first to file complaints under the GDPR against Google, Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook Continue Reading
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News
25 May 2018
GDPR puts people first, says ICO
The day of 25 May 2018 marks the biggest change to UK data protection law in a generation, with benefits for businesses and consumers, according to the UK privacy watchdog Continue Reading
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News
25 May 2018
Commitment is the watchword on GDPR D-Day
New rules for protecting European citizens’ personal data are now enforceable by law, and organisations are being advised to focus broadly on commitment rather than narrowly on compliance Continue Reading
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News
24 May 2018
Stronger rules on data protection by EU institutions agreed
On the eve of the GDPR compliance deadline, European politicians agree new rules to strengthen data protection in EU organisations Continue Reading