Social media technology
Social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn have proved enormously popular, and while they are consumer focused, the principles of collaboration and information sharing that they embody are highly relevant for corporate IT. We analyse the latest trends in social media technology, social networking and explain how they can be applied to enterprise IT strategy.
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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
15 Nov 2024
RealWear looks to reshape industrial AR with Almer acquisition
In what is said to mark a pivotal moment in a key part of the spatial computing sector and boost frontline worker productivity, industrial wearable technology firm acquires manufacturer of ultra-compact, user-friendly AR headsets Continue Reading
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News
02 Nov 2021
HSBC standardises on DevOps platform
HSBC to standardise and automate software development through CloudBees platform Continue Reading
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News
01 Nov 2021
MPs and Lords grill Facebook over online safety efforts
Facebook answers British lawmakers’ questions about the social media giant’s efforts to ensure the safety of its users, as part of legislative security of the government's proposed online safety bill Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Oct 2021
Online Safety Bill puts user protection onus on platform providers
The Online Safety Bill will place new duties and responsibilities on online platforms accessible from the UK, but as it currently stands, it contains several grey areas Continue Reading
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News
29 Oct 2021
Facebook rebrands to Meta amid continuing controversies
Facebook has changed its corporate name to Meta to support its work on the next generation of “social technologies”, but concerns around trust and privacy persist Continue Reading
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Blog Post
28 Oct 2021
Fully automated luxury community guidelines
Novara Media has become the latest media outlet to have its YouTube channel removed from the website without warning or any kind of explanation. But just like Talkradio, a channel on the other end ... Continue Reading
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Definition
22 Oct 2021
social media marketing (SMM)
Social media marketing (SMM) is a form of internet marketing that uses social media apps as a marketing tool. Continue Reading
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News
19 Oct 2021
Zopa becomes unicorn with latest funds to go to bank operation
Zopa will invest in its growing digital bank operation after becoming a unicorn in its latest fund-raising round Continue Reading
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News
07 Oct 2021
Twitch data breach investigations continue
Investigations are ongoing into a 125GB data breach that hit livestreaming platform Twitch, apparently the work of hacktivists Continue Reading
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News
06 Oct 2021
Gaming service Twitch hacked, data leaked
Users of livestreaming platform Twitch may be at risk after a 125GB torrent of data was leaked Continue Reading
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News
06 Oct 2021
Auto-enrolment begins for Google multi-factor authentication
Google has started to turn on multi-factor authentication on consumer accounts by default, and aims to auto-enrol 150 million users by the end of 2021 Continue Reading
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Opinion
05 Oct 2021
ICO cookie consent: How will the plan affect businesses?
A data privacy and compliance expert considers what the ICO’s proposals for an overhaul of cookie consent procedures could mean for businesses Continue Reading
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News
30 Sep 2021
UK consumers would collectively pay over £1bn a year for control of their data
UK consumers are willing to pay a small fee per month to have control of the data they share with Google and Facebook Continue Reading
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News
29 Sep 2021
UK consumer trust in banks, retailers and telcos declines as scams increase
Consumers are blaming banks, retailers and social media for the huge increase in online scams, survey shows Continue Reading
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News
28 Sep 2021
Digital regulators need discrete but cooperative remits
The UK’s information commissioner has told MPs that digital economy regulators need discrete remits backed up by strong information sharing powers to both provide clear focus as well as allow for greater cooperation between their disparate but interlinked regimes Continue Reading
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News
23 Sep 2021
Authorised push payment fraud sees huge increase as criminals switch tactics
Criminals tricking people into making payments through channels such as fake emails and websites have stolen more money than payment card fraudsters Continue Reading
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News
21 Sep 2021
Dutch scientist receives top award for work on digital media’s effect on society
Utrecht University media scientist José van Dijck wins the Spinoza Award and funds for her research into the effects of social media on society Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Sep 2021
How Estonia’s country-as-a-service scheme has attracted tens of thousands of foreign entrepreneurs
Estonia has created a country-as-a-service offering which is attracting entrepreneurs and businesses from across the world Continue Reading
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News
13 Sep 2021
The digital road ahead: National Highways puts technology in the driving seat
We speak to National Highways about its multi-year plan to tech-enable the management and operations of our motorways Continue Reading
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News
07 Sep 2021
ICO in bid to end cookie pop-ups
Outgoing information commissioner Elizabeth Denham will call on her equivalents across the G7 group of countries to collaborate on an overhaul of cookie consent pop-ups Continue Reading
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News
02 Sep 2021
WhatsApp fined €225m over GDPR breaches
Irish data protection watchdog has issued one of the largest GDPR fines to date against Facebook-owned WhatsApp Continue Reading
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News
02 Sep 2021
Twitter tests auto-block feature for accounts at risk of abuse
Latest Twitter feature automatically blocks abusive users, and is intended to help victims regain control of their experience on the platform Continue Reading
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News
01 Sep 2021
Tech sector spends nearly €100m a year lobbying the EU
Study on technology firms’ lobbying efforts in the European Union shows the sector spends more than any other in trying to influence policies and legislation Continue Reading
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News
20 Aug 2021
Facebook vows to replenish more water than it consumes across its global operations by 2030
Social networking giant is following in Microsoft’s footprints by setting itself a goal of becoming a water-positive entity by 2030 Continue Reading
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News
05 Aug 2021
Around 75% of minority tech employees don’t feel a sense of belonging at work
Research by Capgemini found just over three-quarters of global tech employees who are women or ethnic minorities don’t feel a sense of belonging at work Continue Reading
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News
29 Jul 2021
Investigatory Powers Tribunal finds UK spy agencies unlawfully collected personal data
Campaign groups Privacy International and Liberty are gearing up to bring further legal action after a court found that UK spy agencies unlawfully collected phone and internet records Continue Reading
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News
27 Jul 2021
TikTok sets up cyber security hub in Dublin
Dublin-based cyber centre will oversee the security of TikTok’s users across Europe Continue Reading
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News
22 Jul 2021
Plans to address legal but harmful content ‘threaten free speech’
House of Lords report criticises the government’s forthcoming Online Safety Bill for imposing duty of care on tech platforms to deal with ‘legal but harmful’ content, which it says threatens freedom of expression online Continue Reading
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News
20 Jul 2021
Nordic banks join forces to compete with fintechs
Collaboration will be key for traditional Nordic banks to retain business amid intense competition from tech companies Continue Reading
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News
15 Jul 2021
UK government publishes skills-focused anti-disinformation plan
Online Media Literacy Strategy aims to train teachers and care-givers in understanding disinformation so they can help others in safely navigating the internet Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Jul 2021
Tech and new experiences tackling trouble at t’mall
UK shopping centres are under pressure, but new concepts, tech-infused spaces, and fresh approaches to consumer engagement are revitalising the sector Continue Reading
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Opinion
08 Jul 2021
Why identity is the central problem for the future of the internet
As debate rages over who has the right to control user identities online, is the concept of decentralised identity about to have its day? Continue Reading
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E-Zine
08 Jul 2021
CW Middle East: Pandemic speeds up edtech revolution in Gulf
One of the lessons the Covid-19 pandemic has taught governments across the world is that education providers can still teach when their premises are inaccessible. Read how organisations in the Gulf region’s education sector have been quick to adopt the latest education technology, known as edtech, to help in this endeavour. Also read in this issue how Indian IT services company TCS is bringing together universities, businesses, tech startups and government to work on sustainability challenges. Continue Reading
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News
06 Jul 2021
Nordic fintech could lead the world
Will the Nordics become the fintech and open banking innovation capital of the world? Continue Reading
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News
30 Jun 2021
LinkedIn denies exposure of 700 million user records is a data breach
Data relating to 700 million users of the LinkedIn networking platform has appeared for sale, but the firm says it is the victim of data scraping, not a security breach Continue Reading
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News
28 Jun 2021
Zopa Bank to make profit in its first year
Bank set up by peer-to-peer lending fintech firm expected to make a profit in its first year Continue Reading
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Blog Post
25 Jun 2021
The dangers of binary arguments in a complex and relative digital world
In his 1983 book, Modern times: a history of the world from the 1920s to the year 2000, historian Paul Johnson claims the modern world started on 29 May 1919, when astronomers studying a solar ... Continue Reading
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News
24 Jun 2021
Google hands third-party cookies a stay of execution
Google’s proposed Privacy Sandbox initiative – which will see third-party cookies phased out in the Chrome web browser – has been pushed back to 2023 Continue Reading
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News
24 Jun 2021
Online Safety Bill unfit for purpose, says new campaign group
Campaign group set up to oppose Online Safety Bill says the duty of care is too simplistic, cedes too much power to US corporations and will, in practice, privilege the speech of journalists or politicians Continue Reading
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News
22 Jun 2021
NSPCC, IWF help under-18s scrub their nude photos from the web
Report Remove tool is designed to be used by under-18s to report nude images or videos of themselves that have appeared online Continue Reading
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Feature
14 Jun 2021
Video commerce and livestreaming make waves in retail
The growth in e-commerce during the pandemic is well documented, but the fragmented retail environment has also helped video commerce and livestreaming rise to prominence Continue Reading
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News
14 Jun 2021
G7 commits to action on ransomware, digital privacy
The G7 urges Russia to do more to hold criminal ransomware gangs operating from within its borders to account as it commits to more action on the issue Continue Reading
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News
11 Jun 2021
CMA secures commitments from Google on future of cookies
The Competition and Markets Authority is opening a consultation on commitments offered to it by Google to ensure its Privacy Sandbox proposals do not harm digital advertising markets Continue Reading
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News
09 Jun 2021
Klarna takes on UK credit card providers with feature that breaks up online payments
Fintech unicorn introduces feature to its app in the UK which will challenge traditional credit card providers Continue Reading
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News
27 May 2021
MP-backed push to stop tech giants claiming super-deduction tax relief thwarted
Move to prevent the likes of Amazon using the government's new super-deduction policy to minimise their UK tax liabilities even further fails to win support in the House of Commons Continue Reading
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News
25 May 2021
Stockholm’s startup scene seeks more diversity
Swedish capital has created a world-leading tech startup environment, but it still lacks the diversity of people needed to move it to the next level Continue Reading
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Opinion
25 May 2021
Online Safety Bill: an opportunity for tech to get it right
Long-awaited proposals for regulating internet companies still leave much to be defined – and the tech sector must take the lead in finalising a plan that works for society and government Continue Reading
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News
24 May 2021
How Virgin Atlantic used Workplace from Facebook to great advantage during the pandemic
Virgin Atlantic was an early adopter of Workplace from Facebook. We find out how the collaboration tool has supported the airline throughout the pandemic Continue Reading
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News
20 May 2021
Pandemic tech use heightens consumer privacy fears
Report on consumer attitudes to privacy finds evidence of a “heightened sense of fear” as digital footprints expand inexorably Continue Reading
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News
18 May 2021
Irish High Court dismisses legal bid by Facebook over EU-US data transfers
Latest twist in long-running legal battle sees Facebook lose legal bid to prevent the Irish Data Protection Commissioner suspending its transfer of data about European citizens to the US Continue Reading
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News
13 May 2021
Refuge launches tech safety site for domestic abuse victims
Created with the help of survivors, Refuge’s resource site offers guidance on protecting yourself from tech-enabled domestic abuse Continue Reading
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News
12 May 2021
UK government publishes Online Safety Bill draft
Bill builds on previous commitments by the government, which has added new measures to uphold democracy and freedom of speech while making tech giants more accountable Continue Reading
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News
07 May 2021
Reddit enlists HackerOne to run public bug bounty programme
Online community platform is opening up its HackerOne bug bounty programme to any ethical hacker who cares to have a look under the bonnet Continue Reading
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News
06 May 2021
Government urged to add scam protections to Online Safety Bill
Group of organisations calls for the government to use the Online Safety Bill to protect people from cyber scams Continue Reading
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News
06 May 2021
Tech startups turn to digital PR platform for media exposure
Digital PR platform Newspage helps early-stage tech startups with limited resources increase their visibility to journalists and news organisations Continue Reading
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Opinion
27 Apr 2021
Why we need to reset the debate on end-to-end encryption to protect children
Private messaging is the front line of abuse, yet E2EE in its current form risks engineering away the ability of firms to detect and disrupt it where it is most prevalent Continue Reading
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News
22 Apr 2021
ToxicEye malware exploits Telegram messaging service
The Telegram instant messaging service is being used by malicious actors to manage a remote access trojan called ToxicEye Continue Reading
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News
18 Apr 2021
Government puts Facebook under pressure to stop end-to-end encryption over child abuse risks
Facebook faces growing government pressure to abandon its plans to offer users end-to-end encryption to secure the privacy of their messages as the NSPCC raises concerns about child protection Continue Reading
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News
15 Apr 2021
Ireland’s DPC launches probe into Facebook leak
The Irish Data Protection Commission has launched an ‘own volition’ inquiry into the leak of data from 500 million Facebook profiles Continue Reading
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News
13 Apr 2021
Covid-19 left people feeling vulnerable to cyber crime
Around 15 million people in the UK experienced cybercrime in the past 12 months, with a cumulative 64 million hours wasted dealing with the fallout Continue Reading
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News
09 Apr 2021
Egypt, Italy and US most affected in Facebook leak
Researchers at VPN firm Surfshark have been analysing data on 533 million people leaked from Facebook Continue Reading
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News
09 Apr 2021
NCSC: Using your pet’s name as a password is very stupid
If your email password is still Rex, Rover or Mr Fluffles, it’s probably best to change it, the NCSC has said Continue Reading
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News
07 Apr 2021
Facebook ducks calls to apologise over huge data leak
Facebook gives its side of the story as data on millions of its users leaks, but is yet to apologise for security lapses that put half a billion people at risk of compromise Continue Reading
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News
07 Apr 2021
Digital Markets Unit starts work on codes of conduct for tech giants
Digital markets regulator officially launched to ensure tech giants such as Facebook and Google cannot exploit their market dominance to crowd out competition and stifle innovation online Continue Reading
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News
06 Apr 2021
Facebook data leak could be outside scope of GDPR
Regulators may be unable to do much about leaked data on 533 million Facebook users, as it seems to have been stolen before GDPR came into force Continue Reading
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News
29 Mar 2021
Big Tech eclipses telecoms and arms giants as biggest lobbying spenders
Facebook and Amazon are spending more on lobbying and campaign contributions than any other companies in the US, including those in the arms and telecommunications sectors that have traditionally been the highest political spenders Continue Reading
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News
25 Mar 2021
Facebook disrupts Chinese espionage operation
Social media giant’s in-house security team has tracked down and disrupted a long-running Chinese campaign targeting the Uighur Muslim minority Continue Reading
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Blog Post
24 Mar 2021
Bamby on thin ice
YouTube has claimed it rushed to remove an offensive rap advert before the Advertising Standards Authority’s verdict on it even came in. The promo for Bamby H2O, an artist with fewer Instagram ... Continue Reading
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News
12 Mar 2021
Web founder calls for ubiquitous, safe internet access for young people
Internet access has a direct correlation to GDP. On the 32nd birthday of the world wide web, its founder calls for improvements to safe access Continue Reading
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Blog Post
12 Mar 2021
What the Net can learn from car culture
In an open letter celebrating the birthday of the web Tim Berners-Lee and co-author, Rosemary Leith have called for better connectivity for young people in order to build a better post Covid world. ... Continue Reading
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News
11 Mar 2021
UK digital regulators set out plans to strengthen cooperation
Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum outlines plans for the coming year, marking a shift towards a more collaborative regulatory approach Continue Reading
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News
09 Mar 2021
UK's Starling Bank reaches unicorn status
UK app-based bank Starling reaches unicorn status following its latest round of funding Continue Reading
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News
03 Mar 2021
Pandemic brings good online sales growth for smaller retailers
IMRG data shows smaller retailers did ‘astronomically well’ in online sales growth after Covid-19 took hold last year Continue Reading
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News
01 Mar 2021
What it means to be born digital
We speak to Robert Wigley about his new book, Born Digital, which looks at the societal impact of Generation Z Continue Reading
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News
26 Feb 2021
Nordic startups strive to fuel international e-commerce transformation
Nordic startups are developing technology for retailers that want to improve the customer experience when buying online Continue Reading
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News
24 Feb 2021
Is Clubhouse safe, and should CISOs stop its use?
With more concerns being raised over the privacy and security of social media app Clubhouse, we consider whether security teams should consider restricting or stopping employees from using it Continue Reading
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News
24 Feb 2021
Internet companies should provide real-time data on disinformation, Lords told
Fact-checking experts tell House of Lords inquiry that upcoming Online Safety Bill should force internet companies to provide real-time information on suspected disinformation, and warn against over-reliance on AI-powered algorithms to moderate content Continue Reading
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News
23 Feb 2021
AI powers reputational damage insurance policy
Reputational damage has an immediate impact on a company’s share price, and brand loyalty built over many years can be lost in an instant Continue Reading
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News
18 Feb 2021
Swedish police fined for unlawful use of facial-recognition app
Sweden’s data watchdog has found that Swedish police failed to conduct the data protection checks required by law before using controversial facial-recognition tool Continue Reading
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News
15 Feb 2021
Digital investments will add £232bn to UK economy by 2040
The UK economy could grow by £232bn over the next two decades if investments in digital technologies continue Continue Reading
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News
11 Feb 2021
Verizon Business, Deloitte gain retail edge with 5G
Operator’s 5G and mobile edge compute technology, coupled with IT consultancy’s retail industry and solution engineering experience, aims to improve store operating efficiency and enhance the customer experience Continue Reading
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News
10 Feb 2021
Dating app users warned to watch out for scammers
A vast amount of money was lost to romance scammers last year, and with millions of people isolated in lockdown the problem is getting worse, according to a report Continue Reading
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Podcast
10 Feb 2021
Disinformation and the US DNC emails leak controversy – Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast
In this episode of the Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast, the team are joined by Bill Goodwin to discuss the role of disinformation in the 2016 Democratic National Committee emails leak Continue Reading
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News
09 Feb 2021
Facebook sued for data-sharing practices with third parties
Data protection claim filed in London against social media giant for its alleged failure to give at least one million users in England and Wales meaningful control over their personal data Continue Reading
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News
09 Feb 2021
Data breaches are a ticking timebomb for consumers
Damage from data breaches goes far beyond the impact to the target organisation – an obvious fact that is too often overlooked, says F-Secure Continue Reading
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News
04 Feb 2021
Revolut rewrites policy to include permanent remote working
Challenger finance firm Revolut is redesigning its office spaces and introducing permanent remote working policies Continue Reading
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Blog Post
03 Feb 2021
Funkier than a Moskito tweeter
The husband and wife who made hundreds of millions selling Bebo to AOL before buying it back for a relative pittance five years later have spent lockdown planning to relaunch the site (again). In a ... Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Feb 2021
Three approaches to remote collaboration for home workers
The coronavirus has led to working from home being the ‘new norm’. We look at how collaboration technologies could work in the long term Continue Reading
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News
29 Jan 2021
Commerzbank announces big job cuts and branch closures
German bank is closing hundreds of branches and cutting thousands of jobs as it reshapes for the digital age Continue Reading
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News
27 Jan 2021
Grindr complaint results in €9.6m GDPR fine
Norway’s data protection authority plans to apply a fine totalling 10% of LGBTQ+ dating app Grindr’s revenues over its data sharing practices Continue Reading
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News
22 Jan 2021
ICO resumes adtech investigation
The UK Information Commissioner’s Office was criticised for ending its investigation into alleged malpractice in advertising technology, but has now resumed its probe Continue Reading
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News
22 Jan 2021
Google threatens to cut off Australia
Google’s threat to end its Australian Search operation comes in the face of new legislation that would force it to pay media publishers for news content Continue Reading
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News
20 Jan 2021
HSBC closing more branches as customers turn to digital channel
Bank announces branch closures as it reshapes its network for the digital age Continue Reading
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Podcast
19 Jan 2021
Parler v AWS, digital schooling, ambulance data – Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast
In this episode of the Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast, Caroline Donnelly, Clare McDonald and Brian McKenna discuss the purgation of Parler, the traumas of digital schooling and the South Central Ambulance Service’s use of data to support their operations during the Covid-19 pandemic Continue Reading
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News
19 Jan 2021
Click fraud levels reach new heights in pandemic
Small companies risk losing £10,000 a year, and enterprises as much as £520,000, to cyber criminals as click fraud volumes spike Continue Reading
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News
14 Jan 2021
All EU states can take data protection cases against Facebook, says EU court
An opinion from the European Court of Justice has the potential to lead to a flood of privacy complaints against Facebook if upheld Continue Reading
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Feature
14 Jan 2021
Big Tech's uneasy balance of capitalism, censorship
Big tech companies' enforcement of acceptable use policies following Capitol riots is questioned, as some say First Amendment rights to free speech should extend to social networks. Continue Reading
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News
13 Jan 2021
Court to rule on Facebook data sharing after Schrems drops legal challenge against Irish regulator
Irish High Court says it will issue a judgment as soon as possible over a draft decision by Ireland’s data protection commissioner to order Facebook to stop the transfer of data about EU citizens to datacentres in the US Continue Reading
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Opinion
13 Jan 2021
What does Brexit mean for the future of UK digital policy? A view from Europe
Any decisions by the UK government to diverge from EU policies and values over digital policy and regulation could cause real economic problems for UK businesses Continue Reading
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News
12 Jan 2021
Parler collapse opens door to phishing attacks
The shutdown of controversial social media site Parler, and the publication of huge amounts of user data scraped by ethical hackers, is giving cyber crime experts cause for concern Continue Reading
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News
08 Jan 2021
Tech sector reacts to Trump social media bans
Facebook, Instagram and others moved to limit US president’s social media access after the violence in Washington DC, but experts have condemned them for acting too slowly, while disinformation about the riots persists Continue Reading