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
07 Jul 2023
Microsoft and AWS caution Ofcom against referring UK cloud market over to CMA
As the UK cloud market braces itself for the publication of Ofcom's final report into the state of the market, Amazon and Microsoft's responses to regulator's interim findings have been made public Continue Reading
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News
06 Jul 2023
VMware ramps up on sovereign cloud in APAC
VMware is working with local partners to deliver sovereign cloud services in the region, amid growing sovereignty interests among governments and the need maintain business continuity Continue Reading
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News
06 Jul 2023
Biometrics watchdog calls for public space surveillance review
The biometrics and surveillance camera commissioner is calling for a review of public space surveillance to gain a clearer picture about the proliferation of Chinese surveillance technology across the public sector, but warns against applying double standards on companies just because they are from China Continue Reading
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News
06 Jul 2023
Privacy campaigners call for UK data adequacy to be revoked
The European Commission should revoke the UK’s data adequacy if its Data Protection and Digital Information Bill passes, which campaigners argue ‘flies in the face’ of the decision Continue Reading
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News
06 Jul 2023
Meta’s Threads hits app stores, but no EU launch in sight
Meta’s Twitter competitor makes its debut and signs up millions of users in just 12 hours, but concerns over compliance with the EU’s Digital Markets Act have sunk a pan-European launch for now Continue Reading
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News
04 Jul 2023
IT contractors urged to check umbrella payslips as two firms caught making unlawful deductions
Two recently published tribunal judgments emphasise why it is so important for umbrella company contractors to make sure they are being paid exactly what they are entitled to, warn experts Continue Reading
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News
04 Jul 2023
EU judgment sinks Meta’s argument for targeted ads
The EU Court of Justice has issued a significant judgment against Meta, ruling that national anti-trust bodies can investigate GDPR breaches, disrupting the platform’s entire basis for carrying out targeted advertising Continue Reading
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News
30 Jun 2023
AI can never be given control over combat decisions, Lords told
Artificial intelligence is technically incapable of distinguishing between the complex contextual factors of combat situations, and will likely never be able to, according to legal and software experts Continue Reading
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News
28 Jun 2023
Charity demands transparency in digital universal credit system
The digital universal credit system needs overhauling to ensure greater transparency over benefit claims and more effective means of redress when things go wrong, says child poverty charity Continue Reading
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News
28 Jun 2023
UK comms regulator to probe BT emergency number failure
Investigation to assess source and extent of 25 June technical issue causing lack of access to key first response services, including Metropolitan Police, Bedfordshire Police, Suffolk Police, and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Continue Reading
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News
28 Jun 2023
GDPR tax reclaim scheme preys on fears of SMEs
IT suppliers are a target of companies offering a tax reclaim scheme that preys on small businesses’ fears around General Data Protection Regulation compliance Continue Reading
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News
27 Jun 2023
UK AI plans offer ‘inadequate’ human rights protection, says EHRC
The UK’s equality watchdog says the government must properly consider human rights when implementing rules to regulate artificial intelligence, as current plan offers little protection Continue Reading
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Opinion
26 Jun 2023
Post Office scandal inquiry phase four: Here come the lawyers…
The Post Office scandal was triggered by computer errors, but the cover-up and miscarriages of justice implicate the Post Office, government and lawyers, as professor of law and ethics Richard Moorhead explains Continue Reading
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News
23 Jun 2023
ICO under fire for taking limited action over serious data breaches
The ICO has come under fire from lawyers and data protection specialists for just issuing written warnings to two public bodies over serious data breaches that placed people’s lives at risk Continue Reading
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News
22 Jun 2023
Manchester University students threatened by ransomware gang
Students and staff members at the University of Manchester are being pressurised by an unnamed ransomware gang Continue Reading
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News
22 Jun 2023
Lloyds Bank to open tech centre in India
UK bank taps into Hyderabad tech ecosystem by opening a tech centre focused on improving digital experiences for customers Continue Reading
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Podcast
21 Jun 2023
Podcast: Cloud security, compliance and data classification
The rise of cloud has led to a proliferation of enterprise data and a rise in risk. We talk to Vigitrust CEO Mathieu Gorge about how to ensure compliance in a multicloud world Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Jun 2023
ChatGPT is creating a legal and compliance headache for business
ChatGPT’s increased use in the workplace has led many to question its legal and compliance implications for businesses. Experts warn that the software poses major security and copyright risks Continue Reading
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News
20 Jun 2023
Post Office will not oppose potential Horizon conviction appellants
Post Office CEO told MPs that the organisation is telling some subpostmasters it won't oppose them if they appeal Continue Reading
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News
19 Jun 2023
Huawei slams EU high-risk supplier claims as against principles of free trade
Comms tech giant comes out swinging against being singled out by EC commissioner as having high-risk supplier status in 5G mobile infrastructures Continue Reading
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News
19 Jun 2023
UK to contribute up to £25m to Ukraine cyber defences
Prime minister Rishi Sunak announces an expansion to the Ukraine Cyber Programme, with a cash boost of up to £25m over the next two years Continue Reading
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News
19 Jun 2023
Visa takeover means economic turmoil won’t slow Tink’s progress
Tink is one of the pioneers of the open banking sector, and under Visa’s light-touch ownership is continuing to think like a startup Continue Reading
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News
16 Jun 2023
Collaboration in finance sector develops prototype API for digital currency
The Bank for International Settlements and the Bank of England worked with private sector on central bank digital currency experiment Continue Reading
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News
16 Jun 2023
BBVA uses AI and analytics services from AWS
BBVA invests in Amazon Web Services cloud platforms to help transform itself into an organisation driven by AI and data Continue Reading
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News
15 Jun 2023
Exploitation of Barracuda ESG appliances linked to Chinese spies
Intelligence from Mandiant links exploitation of a flaw in a subset of Barracuda ESG appliances to a previously untracked China-nexus threat actor Continue Reading
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News
15 Jun 2023
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030: Progress report
Halfway into its plan to give the country a makeover by 2030, Saudi Arabia’s emphasis on technology is starting to pay off Continue Reading
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Blog Post
15 Jun 2023
The takeaways from London Tech Week
Deciphering the politician soundbites during London Tech Week shows that both the Tories and Labour are headed by party leaders who want to be seen as supporters of artificial intelligence (AI).But ... Continue Reading
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News
14 Jun 2023
Ransomware-stricken Capita to run Action Fraud successor
A £50m deal to replace the Action Fraud service has been handed to PwC and Capita, which is facing investigations over its handling of customer data in a ransomware incident Continue Reading
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Podcast
14 Jun 2023
Podcast: Containers, Kubernetes, data protection and compliance
Containers offer benefits to application deployment, but they proliferate, so tracking them for compliance purposes can be a challenge. We talk to Mathieu Gorge, CEO of Vigitrust Continue Reading
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News
13 Jun 2023
Arnold Clark data leak victims prepare legal action
More than 10,000 people who had their data stolen and leaked in a ransomware attack on the Arnold Clark car dealer network have signed up to a group legal action after facing elevated amounts of fraud Continue Reading
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News
13 Jun 2023
Umbrella market regulation: Government seeks contractor guidance on how to proceed
The government has published the results of its long-awaited consultation into the inner workings of the umbrella market, and followed it up with another one that seems to suggest sector regulation is moving one step closer Continue Reading
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E-Zine
13 Jun 2023
UKtech50 2023: The most influential people in UK technology
In this week’s Computer Weekly, we reveal the 13th annual UKtech50 list of the most influential people in UK technology. This year’s award goes jointly to the secretaries of state for science, innovation and technology – Michelle Donelan and her maternity cover, Chloe Smith. Also, we examine the mounting legal challenges faced by the emergence of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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Opinion
12 Jun 2023
Artificial intelligence - friend or foe?
AI can and will be a force for good - but we need a global conversation about its regulation to make sure the benefits of the technology outweigh the risks Continue Reading
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News
12 Jun 2023
Rishi Sunak calls for urgency in building out UK tech
The UK prime minister used his speech during London Tech Week to discuss funding tech, attracting talent and AI safety Continue Reading
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News
12 Jun 2023
Annual spend on regtech to reach more than £200bn by 2028
Global corporates will spend over $200bn in 2028 as the technology is used to help organisations in more industries comply with complex regulations. Continue Reading
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News
09 Jun 2023
UK and US move closer to transatlantic data bridge deal
The British and American governments have committed, in principle, to a new data bridge agreement that will ease the free flow of personal data across the Atlantic Continue Reading
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News
08 Jun 2023
UK gets new rules to regulate crypto sector
The Financial Conduct Authority is introducing new rules to regulate the cryptoasset sector, after being handed a government remit to oversee crypto promotions Continue Reading
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Opinion
08 Jun 2023
Regulatory ‘lacuna’ around facial recognition threatens rights
The UK is heading for a “legal quagmire” around live facial recognition if the government and regulators do not take action to rein in use of the technology before it becomes ubiquitous Continue Reading
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News
08 Jun 2023
Government and industry figures meet to discuss AI regulation
Tech industry figures are broadly supportive of the need for artificial intelligence to be regulated, but despite growing consensus, there is still disagreement over what effective AI regulation looks like Continue Reading
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Podcast
08 Jun 2023
Podcast: Storage, backup, AI and data classification at RSA 2023
Much discussion at RSA 2023 about artificial intelligence, the risks to data protection, storage and compliance, plus risk and data classification, especially its impacts on access and data management Continue Reading
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News
07 Jun 2023
UKtech50 2023 winner: Michelle Donelan/Chloe Smith, secretary of state, DSIT
Computer Weekly looks at the achievements and successes of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, as its secretary of state is recognised as the most influential person in UK technology for 2023 Continue Reading
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News
07 Jun 2023
Open banking regulator sets out next steps
Plans for ongoing evolution of the UK open banking sector have been set out by regulator in bid to grow the open banking sector in a ‘safe, scalable and economically sustainable way’ Continue Reading
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News
07 Jun 2023
Clop cyber gang claims MOVEit attack and starts harassing victims
The Clop cyber extortion and ransomware operation is demanding organisations pay a ransom to avoid data stolen via an exploited vulnerability in a file transfer product being leaked Continue Reading
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News
07 Jun 2023
Payments regulator makes APP fraud reimbursement mandatory
UK payments regulator confirms changes to rules around repaying customers who lose money to authorised push payment fraudsters Continue Reading
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News
06 Jun 2023
Victims of MOVEit SQL injection zero-day mount up
The BBC, Boots, and British Airways are among the victims of cyber incidents arising from a recently disclosed vulnerability in the MOVEit file transfer, exploitation of which is spreading fast Continue Reading
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News
06 Jun 2023
TechUK publishes ‘UK tech plan’ for next government
Technology businesses are calling on UK politicians to devise a ‘comprehensive, forward-thinking strategy’ to realise the benefits of technology ahead of the next general election Continue Reading
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News
05 Jun 2023
Bank of International Settlement sets up channel secure from quantum breach
The Bank of International Settlement has worked with two of Europe's central banks to explore preventing the security risks posed by quantum computers Continue Reading
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News
05 Jun 2023
UK has time limit on ensuring cryptocurrency regulatory leadership, says Parliamentary report
Parliamentary report makes 53 recommendations to the government's plans to regulate cryptocurrency Continue Reading
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News
01 Jun 2023
Met Police director of intelligence defends facial recognition
The Met Police’s director of intelligence has appeared before MPs to make the case for its continuing use of facial-recognition technology, following announcements from the force and the Home Office that they intend to press on with its adoption Continue Reading
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News
30 May 2023
UK, US and Australia jointly trial AI-enabled drone swarm
British, American and Australian military organisations have trialled the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in drones in a collaboration designed to drive their adoption of AI-powered military tools Continue Reading
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News
30 May 2023
Europe’s central bank reveals drop in Euro Zone card fraud
Euro Zone card fraud drops with card-not-present scams down following the introduction of Strong Customer Authentication rules Continue Reading
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News
30 May 2023
Downstream breaches of Capita customers spreading
As many as 90 organisations that used Capita services have now reported data breaches arising from various security incidents at the outsourcer Continue Reading
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News
26 May 2023
Bumbling IT security analyst convicted of blackmail offences
A Hertfordshire man has been convicted of blackmail and other offences after piggybacking on an in-progress ransomware attack to try to defraud his employer, but failing to cover his tracks in any meaningful way Continue Reading
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Opinion
26 May 2023
Five key steps where there is a risk of fraud investigation
When fraud investigators come knocking, there are some important ways in which management and senior IT professionals can make sure their company is best protected. Continue Reading
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News
25 May 2023
Ofcom gives approval to BT full-fibre broadband pricing
UK’s independent full-fibre providers express disappointment that after a new probe, national comms regulator gives green light to incumbent telco’s new pricing structure for wholesale broadband gigabit services Continue Reading
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News
25 May 2023
Innovate UK hit with £36m unpaid tax bill over IR35 contractor employment status errors
UK's national innovation agency is the latest public sector organisation to have found itself saddled with a sizeable tax bill because of IR35 compliance issues Continue Reading
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News
25 May 2023
Cabinet Office publishes response to data sharing for digital ID consultation
The majority of respondents to government’s consultation on data sharing for digital identity are critical to the plans and concerned about data privacy, but Whitehall’s response says many of the responses ‘were driven by anti-digital commentaries’ Continue Reading
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News
24 May 2023
Almost all ransomware attacks target backups, says Veeam
Some 93% of ransomware attacks go for backups and most succeed, with 60% of those attacked paying the ransom, according to a Veeam survey Continue Reading
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News
23 May 2023
Starmer pledges to reform the NHS through technology
The Labour Party wants to create an NHS powered by ‘groundbreaking technology’, with genomics testing for every baby, modernising appointment booking and overhaul incentives for tech adoption Continue Reading
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News
22 May 2023
Worker-focused AI Bill introduced by backbench MP Mick Whitley
Using the 10-minute motion rule, backbench Labour MP Mick Whitley has introduced a worker-focused artificial intelligence (AI) bill to Parliament, which outlines a similar approach to AI being advocated by unions in the UK Continue Reading
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News
18 May 2023
Defra's tech review reveals legacy IT issues across government
The Public Accoubts Committee recently found that Defra has been unable to measure inefficiencies due to running legacy IT Continue Reading
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News
17 May 2023
Home Office pushes for more police facial-recognition deployments
An independent report commissioned by the biometrics commissioner of England and Wales reveals that the UK policing minister is pushing for wider adoption of facial-recognition technology by police, and further criticises the government’s proposed changes to surveillance oversight Continue Reading
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News
17 May 2023
Altnets claim vital role in bringing competition to UK digital transformation
Study by trade association for UK’s independent broadband suppliers shows further rapid progress in rolling out full-fibre networks, prompting calls to UK comms regulator to change national service pricing structures Continue Reading
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Opinion
16 May 2023
Why we need a secure side door for encrypted apps, not a back door
Splitting a decryption key into multiple fragments held by 'guardians', including privacy rights group, may be an answer to policing encrypted messages Continue Reading
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News
16 May 2023
Virgin Media O2’s Shared Rural Network roll-out reaches 50th site
As part of its commitment to the £1bn programme designed to bring significant improvement to UK mobile coverage in non-metro areas, leading UK operator rolls out reliable 4G coverage across 50 rural sites in area covering almost 2,200km2 Continue Reading
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News
15 May 2023
ServiceNow looks to transform retail IoT and beyond with G2K acquisition
Digital workflow company to add AI-based smart IoT technology provider to its portfolio to enable businesses to use digital and in-store data with enterprise-grade business processes Continue Reading
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Feature
15 May 2023
How AI ethics is coming to the fore with generative AI
The hype around ChatGPT and other large language models is driving more interest in AI and putting ethical considerations surrounding their use to the fore Continue Reading
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News
12 May 2023
MEPs vote in raft of amendments to EU AI Act
The proposed amendments to the EU’s AI Act have garnered a mixed reception from both industry and civil society, with the former seeing it as too stringent and the latter as not stringent enough in many areas, despite positive progress in others Continue Reading
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News
12 May 2023
Let’s put an end to secrecy and cover-ups in ransomware attacks
The NCSC and the ICO are calling for organisations to bite the bullet and be more open about cyber security and ransomware incidents, and the community is firmly behind them Continue Reading
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News
12 May 2023
IR35 compliance review: HMRC applauded over handling of 18-month investigation
The government tax agency has been praised for its ‘pragmatic’ approach to handling an 18-month private sector IR35 compliance investigation Continue Reading
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News
11 May 2023
AI outcry intensifies as EU readies regulation
Policymakers are battling to keep pace with AI developments, while experts warn of societal impact Continue Reading
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News
10 May 2023
Black Basta ransomware attack to cost Capita over £15m
Exceptional costs arising from the March 2023 Black Basta ransomware attack on the systems of outsourcer Capita will be somewhere between £15m and £20m, the organisation says Continue Reading
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News
03 May 2023
Government anti-fraud strategy targets the tech behind the scams
The UK government’s anti-fraud strategy proposes to make it much harder for criminals to target their victims by cracking down on the exploitation of technology Continue Reading
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News
03 May 2023
Scottish residents and businesses in £75m 4G investment boost
First UK government-funded phone mast upgrade activated in Scottish borders to give major 4G mobile coverage boost to community Continue Reading
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News
02 May 2023
Delays, downscaling of national fast broadband roll-out threaten BBC digitisation
UK parliamentary committee warns uncertainty over funding and regulation around national fast broadband roll-out plans threaten public broadcaster’s digitisation plans Continue Reading
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News
02 May 2023
HMRC confirms potential April 2024 end date for double-taxation issue in IR35 compliance cases
HM Revenue & Customs launches eight-week consultation on plans to roll out a legislative tweak that would put a stop to the government tax collection agency over-collecting tax in IR35 non-compliance cases Continue Reading
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E-Zine
02 May 2023
The ethics of military AI
In this week’s Computer Weekly, as the defence sector looks into using artificial intelligence to create autonomous weapons, we examine the risks and ethics of military AI. Amazon Web Services is under fire for not providing vital emissions data to customers – we investigate the issues. And we find out what IT security teams can learn from a year of cyber warfare in Ukraine. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
27 Apr 2023
Microsoft fails to get CMA thumbs-up on Activision deal
The UK Competition and Markets Authority has decided that Microsoft‘s proposed $68.7bn acquisition of Activision would damage the cloud gaming market Continue Reading
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News
26 Apr 2023
Police Scotland receive formal notice about cloud system
Scotland’s biometrics watchdog has issued Police Scotland with an information notice over its deployment of a cloud-based digital evidence system, following disclosure of major data protection concerns by Computer Weekly Continue Reading
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News
26 Apr 2023
UK government introduces Digital Markets Bill to Parliament
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill will seek to level the playing field in digital markets by empowering regulators with new tools and powers to directly enforce competition and consumer protection laws Continue Reading
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News
26 Apr 2023
UK taskforce set to drive generative AI safety and opportunities
The government has committed £100m to helping the UK develop and build out generative artificial intelligence capabilities Continue Reading
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Podcast
25 Apr 2023
Podcast: Ransomware, data protection and compliance
Ransomware is a huge and ever-present threat, but there are ways to avoid it and to mitigate its effects. We get key practical steps from Mathieu Gorge, CEO of Vigitrust Continue Reading
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News
24 Apr 2023
Most IT staff uncomfortable deploying surveillance tech at work
The IT teams responsible for deploying and running digital surveillance in workplaces say they are uncomfortable with “extremely common” practice of spying on colleagues, research finds Continue Reading
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News
24 Apr 2023
UK government urged to publish findings of umbrella company market consultation
Contracting market industry stakeholders are questioning why it’s taking the UK government so long to publish the findings of its consultation about how the umbrella industry operates Continue Reading
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News
24 Apr 2023
Finland and Estonia deepen cross-border digital partnerships
Finland and Estonia, two global tech pioneers, are increasingly sharing their expertise Continue Reading
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Opinion
24 Apr 2023
Could your employees’ use of ChatGPT put you in breach of GDPR?
Following Italy's run-in with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, legal expert Richard Forrest emphasises the necessity for additional scrutiny while using AI tools in a work environment, and practical guidance on doing so safely Continue Reading
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News
21 Apr 2023
UK biometrics watchdog questions police cloud deployments
The UK biometrics commissioner has warned that policing and justice bodies must be able to demonstrate ‘immediately and unequivocally’ that their cloud deployments are lawful Continue Reading
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News
20 Apr 2023
Online Safety Bill could pose risk to encryption technology used by Ukraine
CEO of encrypted messaging service Element says Online Safety Bill could pose a risk to the encrypted comms systems used by Ukraine Continue Reading
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News
20 Apr 2023
UK Emergency Alert Test sparks cyber fraud warning
Fraudsters and scammers are likely to use the upcoming test of the UK's new mobile Emergency Alert system as bait in their attacks, while misinformation and conspiracy theories spread Continue Reading
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Podcast
20 Apr 2023
Beyond Web 2.0: A Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast
Like others who have developed technology that powers the internet, David Holtzman, chief strategist at decentralised cyber security network Naoris Protocol, has an unusual background Continue Reading
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News
20 Apr 2023
New GovAssure cyber regime launches across UK government
An enhanced cyber security regime is being put in place to better protect UK government IT systems from growing threats Continue Reading
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News
20 Apr 2023
UK SMEs are the most tech savvy in Europe
UK SMEs have taken to contactless payments faster than their counterparts in continental Europe Continue Reading
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News
19 Apr 2023
TUC says government is failing to protect workers from AI harms
TUC issues warning about artificial intelligence leading to more widespread workplace discrimination if the right checks are not put in place Continue Reading
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News
19 Apr 2023
UK plc sees fewer cyber breaches and attacks, but lacks resilience
Latest government figures reveal UK businesses and charities reported lower volumes of cyber breaches and attacks over the past 12 months, but the statistics mask widespread underreporting and the true state of cyber readiness and resilience appears poor Continue Reading
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News
19 Apr 2023
Surrey and Sussex police spared fines after recording 200,000 phone calls without people’s knowledge
Police forces escape potential £1m fines following change of policy by ICO to protect the finances of public sector bodies Continue Reading
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News
19 Apr 2023
IT Priorities 2023: Budget optimism among EMEA IT leaders
IT leaders across the EMEA region are optimistic that their budgets will increase over the coming year Continue Reading
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News
19 Apr 2023
CyberUK 23: NCSC launches Cyber Advisor service for SMEs
The UK’s NCSC has launched an industry assurance scheme designed to address the needs of SMEs, and is calling for potential advisors to step up and help out Continue Reading
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News
19 Apr 2023
CyberUK 23: NCSC CEO calls for collaboration and warns against complacency
NCSC boss Lindy Cameron kicked off the annual CyberUK conference in Belfast with a plea for collaboration and a warning against complacency Continue Reading
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News
19 Apr 2023
IR35 a ‘threat’ to UK’s bid to become science and tech superpower, contracting authority warns
After the government set out plans to become a science and tech superpower, Qdos CEO warns its ambitions could come to nothing if fundamental flaws in IR35 remain unfixed Continue Reading
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News
19 Apr 2023
Global finance firms take part in NATO cyber attack simulation
Global financial services organisations take part in NATO annual event which simulates cyber attacks on critical infrastructure Continue Reading