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
13 May 2024
Norway bolsters digital transformation drive
Norway’s government backs digital transformation with major capital investment this year Continue Reading
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News
11 Mar 2024
Vinnova launches National Digital Advancement project
Swedish state innovation initiative invests in a network of regional research and development centres Continue Reading
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Opinion
06 Sep 2021
UK’s new data protection strategy risks costing business more than it gains
The apparent business benefits of pursuing data adequacy agreements around the world may not be as enticing as they at first appear Continue Reading
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News
03 Sep 2021
Berlin court reverses ban on use of EncroChat evidence in criminal trials
Berlin Superior Court allows use of EncroChat evidence in criminal trials but lawyers say the question will ultimately need to be decided by the German Supreme Court Continue Reading
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News
02 Sep 2021
How high can the contactless card limit go without two-factor authentication?
The spending limit for contactless cards has reached an eyebrow-raising triple-digit figure – £100 – raising questions about the need for user authentication 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
27 Aug 2021
Are proposed data protection changes a threat to UK citizens’ privacy?
Though changes are as-yet undefined pending an upcoming consultation, concerns are already being expressed over the government’s plan to liberalise data protection laws in the service of innovation and growth Continue Reading
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News
26 Aug 2021
Tech giants commit to Biden's cyber security action plan
Some of the world’s most prominent tech giants have made a series of commitments to enhance the US’ national cyber security posture following a high-profile meeting with president Biden Continue Reading
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News
26 Aug 2021
Government unveils post-Brexit data flow proposals
The government will pursue data partnerships with countries including Australia, South Korea and the US as part of a post-Brexit data regime that may also see substantial changes to the UK’s data protection law Continue Reading
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Opinion
26 Aug 2021
Security Think Tank: Steps to a solid data privacy practice
Petra Wenham of the BCS shares her expertise on building, or rebuilding, a solid business data privacy practice in a post-Covid-19 world Continue Reading
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News
26 Aug 2021
NZ privacy lead John Edwards named new information commissioner
DCMS has named John Edwards, currently New Zealand privacy commissioner, to succeed Elizabeth Denham as UK information commissioner Continue Reading
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News
25 Aug 2021
Algorithmic accountability needs meaningful public participation
Global analysis by Ada Lovelace Institute and other research groups finds algorithmic accountability mechanisms in the public sector are hindered by a lack of engagement with the public Continue Reading
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News
25 Aug 2021
Calling the cops for ransomware attacks doesn’t help, say cyber pros
A new study for the #Ransomaware campaign reveals some insight into why so few victims report ransomware attacks Continue Reading
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News
25 Aug 2021
UK loses £1.3bn to fraud and cyber crime so far this year
New figures from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau show a threefold spike in reported financial losses to fraud and cyber crime in the first six months of 2021 Continue Reading
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Opinion
25 Aug 2021
Basel III: How fintech can provide allocated gold for banks
Banking rules that were over 10 years in the making as a response to the financial crisis have finally come into effect, marking a seismic shift for European banks and their dealings with gold – potentially completely altering the landscape of precious metal investment. Sylvia Carrasco, CEO of Goldex, explains Continue Reading
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News
24 Aug 2021
UK government adds to Northern Ireland gigabit broadband funding
Further financial support given to develop next-generation full-fibre network across rural regions in province, particularly those that currently have the slowest speeds, such as Mid Ulster, Fermanagh and South Antrim Continue Reading
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Opinion
24 Aug 2021
The ransomware debate – to pay or not to pay?
The debate around banning ransomware payments is highly nuanced, and we must take care to avoid overt victim-blaming, in favour of an open and honest approach, says SASIG’s Martin Smith Continue Reading
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News
24 Aug 2021
Campaign groups claim police have bypassed Parliament with plans for live facial-recognition tech
Civil society groups call for Parliament to scrutinise the use of live facial-recognition cameras Continue Reading
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News
23 Aug 2021
Cities worldwide band together to push for ethical AI
The chief digital and technology officers of London and Barcelona speak to Computer Weekly about their joint initiative launched with other cities to promote the ethical deployment of artificial intelligence in urban spaces Continue Reading
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News
20 Aug 2021
Swedish IT industry braced for China’s response to Huawei 5G ban
Swedish IT and communications equipment suppliers fear economic backlash from China following Huawei ban Continue Reading
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News
19 Aug 2021
Pub apps harvesting swathes of customer data unnecessarily
Some pub and restaurant chain apps demand data such as gender and marital status, raising eyebrows among privacy campaigners Continue Reading
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News
18 Aug 2021
UK government criticised for proposed facial-recognition guidance
Privacy campaigners say the government's updated 'surveillance camera code of practice' does not do enough to mitigate abuses of facial-recognition technology Continue Reading
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Opinion
18 Aug 2021
Security Think Tank: Data privacy and ethics in a post-Covid world
The radical change caused by the pandemic requires new approaches to data privacy practice, says PA Consulting’s Daniel Gordon Continue Reading
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News
17 Aug 2021
Educational publisher Pearson fined for data breach cover-up
Securities and Exchange Commission says publisher misled its investors over the extent of a 2018 data breach Continue Reading
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News
16 Aug 2021
ICO consults public on personal data in employment practices
The ICO has launched a public consultation on employers’ use of personal data to help it provide practical guidance for both businesses and workers Continue Reading
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News
12 Aug 2021
ICO consults on new international data transfer agreement
Information Commissioner’s Office to consult on its draft international data transfer agreement and guidance, which will replace standard contractual clauses to protect personal data during overseas transfers Continue Reading
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News
11 Aug 2021
The Netherlands still lacks digital resilience, says report
Report by National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security says the Netherlands’ digital resilience has improved, but is still insufficient Continue Reading
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News
10 Aug 2021
Third of finance firms accelerate use of artificial intelligence to detect money laundering
Financial services firms are stepping up their use of artificial intelligence and machine learning technology to fight increasing money laundering activity Continue Reading
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News
09 Aug 2021
UK broadband trial to investigate connectivity through water pipes
Government-backed scheme to target broadband for hard-to-reach homes with fibre optic cables fed through utility mains, businesses and mobile masts without digging up roads Continue Reading
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News
06 Aug 2021
Apple unveils plans to scan US iPhones for child sex abuse images
Apple will introduce child sexual abuse material detection for US users later this year, but some experts are worried that the technology could be repurposed to scan phones for other kinds of content Continue Reading
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News
04 Aug 2021
Leading venture capital firms are failing to protect human rights
Venture capital firms and high-profile tech accelerators are not conducting human rights due diligence on their investments, which means they cannot be sure the companies they invest in are not causing, or contributing to, human rights abuses Continue Reading
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News
02 Aug 2021
IR35 reforms: TUC demand for government ban on umbrella companies raises eyebrows
The Trades Union Congress has raised eyebrows within the contracting community by calling for a ban on umbrella companies to help stamp out malpractice Continue Reading
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Opinion
02 Aug 2021
Five tips to ensure your crisis comms plan is ready for a cyber attack
Business leaders take note: standard crisis communications plans are inadequate if you have fallen victim to a cyber attack. HPL’s Ted Birkhahn shares five tips to make sure you are ready to face the public Continue Reading
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News
02 Aug 2021
Government publishes second version of digital identity trust framework
The second iteration of the framework, still in alpha version, sets out how organisations can become certified digital identity service providers Continue Reading
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News
29 Jul 2021
HMRC hits Home Office with £33.5m bill over ‘careless’ application of IR35 rules
The Home Office is the latest ministerial department to be hit with a multimillion-pound tax demand from HMRC after errors were discovered in its implementation of the IR35 rules Continue Reading
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News
27 Jul 2021
ICO ends its involvement in dispute between NatWest Bank and data breach whistleblower
The Information Commissioner’s Office has ended its involvement in a dispute between a data breach whistleblower and NatWest bank Continue Reading
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News
27 Jul 2021
US lawmakers call for probe into ‘arrogant’ spyware firm
US members of Congress have called for an investigation into NSO Group, the spyware supplier at the centre of a massive surveillance scandal 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
23 Jul 2021
DWP hit with £87.9m tax bill by HMRC over 'historic' IR35 status contractor assessment errors
The Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) annual accounts highlight the challenges the public sector body has faced with implementing the IR35 reforms since they came into force in the public sector in April 2017 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
21 Jul 2021
France’s Macron among alleged Pegasus targets
Data relating to devices used by French president Emmanuel Macron and the head of the World Health Organization, among others, has been uncovered in a dataset linked to government use of spyware Continue Reading
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News
20 Jul 2021
Government shares vision for digitised energy system as it pursues net-zero emissions target
Strategy is geared towards readying the UK energy system for the transition from fossil fuels to renewable power through digital transformation Continue Reading
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News
20 Jul 2021
NCSC’s Cameron urges deeper cyber alliance-building
Speaking to an event in Israel, NCSC CEO Lindy Cameron has praised joint UK-Israeli efforts on security collaboration Continue Reading
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News
20 Jul 2021
NHS Digital tightens rules for GPDPR data scrape
The proposed collection of patient data held by GPs will now only commence when three key criteria have been fulfilled, says NHS Digital Continue Reading
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News
19 Jul 2021
Government launches consultation on plans for UK digital identity market
DCMS wants stakeholders to offer their views on proposals for a new governance regime and expanding access to government-held datasets for identity verification Continue Reading
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News
19 Jul 2021
HMRC CEO claims email querying legal basis for loan charge ‘overplayed’ at committee hearing
HMRC CEO Jim Harra continues to downplay significance of email questioning legal basis of the loan charge during a grilling by the Economic Affairs Committee Continue Reading
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News
19 Jul 2021
UK, US confirm Chinese state backed MS Exchange Server attacks
UK and US governments, alongside the EU and Nato, have formally attributed the March 2021 Microsoft Exchange Server attacks to Chinese state-backed actors Continue Reading
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News
15 Jul 2021
Lawyers take EncroChat hacking operation to French supreme court
Lawyers head to French supreme court after appeals court finds EnroChat inception legal under French law Continue Reading
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News
15 Jul 2021
UK workforce needs reskilling for net-zero transition
Green Jobs Taskforce report looks at how the UK’s workforce can be skilled up to support the transition to net zero Continue Reading
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News
15 Jul 2021
Privacy Shield: US surveillance law reforms essential for EU-US data, says EU parliamentary study
EU Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs study calls for major reforms of US spying laws to enable an EU-US data-sharing agreement to replace Privacy Shield Continue Reading
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News
14 Jul 2021
More than half of European IT outsourcing spending will soon be on cloud services
Cloud services will soon be the largest part of the IT services market in Europe, as enterprises invest in them as part of their Covid-19 recovery strategies Continue Reading
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News
13 Jul 2021
Secureworks sets up in EU datacentre for XDR services
New datacentre location helps Secureworks’ customers meet EU data residency requirements Continue Reading
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News
13 Jul 2021
IR35: Contractors demand tax and employment law alignment to protect ‘zero-rights’ workers
Government is again facing calls to ensure contractors that pay the same amount of tax as permanent employees also receive the same workplace benefits Continue Reading
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News
13 Jul 2021
Met Police seize £180m worth of Bitcoin
The largest ever seizure of cryptocurrency in the UK comes just weeks after a previous multi-million pound confiscation, as law enforcement clamps down on money laundering Continue Reading
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News
12 Jul 2021
CMA consults on market investigation into emergency services’ mobile radio network
Competition watchdog considers whether to launch market investigation into role played by Motorola’s mobile radio network used by all emergency services in UK Continue Reading
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News
12 Jul 2021
Loan charge MPs call for prime ministerial intervention to prevent mass contractor bankruptcies
In an open letter signed by 76 MPs, the prime minister and the chancellor are facing calls to intervene urgently on how the loan charge policy is being enforced Continue Reading
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Opinion
09 Jul 2021
Professionals need protection from the Computer Misuse Act
The UK needs cyber legislation fit for the 21st century, so it is important for the industry to get behind the government’s proposed reform of the Computer Misuse Act Continue Reading
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News
09 Jul 2021
Met Police should release information on British WikiLeaks journalists passed to US, tribunal told
The Metropolitan Police should release correspondence with the US Department of Justice about three UK based WikiLeaks journalists, despite national security claims, a tribunal heard Continue Reading
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Opinion
09 Jul 2021
Are you betting your future on the worst gambling odds in the world?
Gambling is a high-risk strategy. Doing nothing in the face of the threat from ransomware and hoping for the best provides some of the worst odds you will ever come across Continue Reading
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News
08 Jul 2021
Developers have a moral duty to create ethical AI
Corsight AI publishes report on how organisations can develop more human-centric AI and biometric technologies Continue Reading
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News
07 Jul 2021
ICO to probe Hancock over private email use
Former health secretary faces an investigation by the UK’s data protection watchdog over his use of private email to conduct government business Continue Reading
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News
07 Jul 2021
Social robots on the rise in the Netherlands
The acceptance of robots being used in everyday life is making significant strides, but this is just the beginning Continue Reading
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News
07 Jul 2021
Former Bank of England CIO joins Co-op Group as CTO
Rob Elsey joins the Co-op Group at a time when the organisation is undergoing major digital transformation Continue Reading
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News
07 Jul 2021
How the UK Cyber Security Council plans to professionalise security
As chair of the new UK Cyber Security Council, Claudia Natanson is in a superb position to develop professional standards in IT security and she intends to fundamentally reimagine what a security job actually is Continue Reading
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News
06 Jul 2021
Bank of England searches for new CIO amid once-in-a-generation project
The Bank of England is recruiting a head of IT during a period of major change in its core IT system Continue Reading
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News
06 Jul 2021
Klarna under investigation by Swedish finance watchdog
Swedish fintech is being investigated by financial services regulator after customer information was visible to others Continue Reading
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News
06 Jul 2021
Cyber insurance costs up by a third
The frequency and severity of ransomware attacks is a leading factor behind a substantial increase in the cost of obtaining cyber security insurance Continue Reading
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News
06 Jul 2021
BA reaches settlement in data breach group action
A group action against BA following its 2018 data breach has been successfully settled Continue Reading
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News
05 Jul 2021
Government sets out plan for digital regulation
The plan aims to make the UK a “global leader” in digital regulation, boost economic growth and maximise the potential of digital technology Continue Reading
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News
03 Jul 2021
Berlin court finds EncroChat intercept evidence cannot be used in criminal trials
In a major setback for police hacking operations, Berlin’s regional court has decided that intercepted data from the EncroChat phone network should not be used in criminal prosecutions Continue Reading
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News
02 Jul 2021
UK needs legislation with specific focus on biometric technologies
The UK’s former biometrics commissioner has told MPs that Parliament should explicitly legislate on the use of biometric technologies so it is clear to both police and private companies which uses are acceptable Continue Reading
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News
01 Jul 2021
NHS IT fraudster Barry Stannard sentenced to five years in prison
Stannard used his position as head of unified communications at an Essex NHS Trust to cheat the taxpayer of more than £800,000 Continue Reading
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News
30 Jun 2021
Cops seize criminal VPN used by ransomware gangs
A coordinated sting has ended the operations of the DoubleVPN service, the owners of which are accused of harbouring cyber criminal activity Continue Reading
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Opinion
29 Jun 2021
Banking tech fraud: How to trace and recover your money
Even when stolen assets are sent offshore, the special powers of the English civil court system mean all may not be lost Continue Reading
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E-Zine
29 Jun 2021
Is the UK government planning to rewrite GDPR?
In this week’s Computer Weekly, a government taskforce on post-Brexit regulations has recommended changes to GDPR in the UK – we examine the implications. The NHS has launched a new data strategy - we look at what it means for your medical records. And we ask how to avoid the performance problems that affect private cloud. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
28 Jun 2021
Insurers unprepared for challenges of underwriting ransomware
RUSI think tank calls for an industry-wide reset amid intense challenges for providers of cyber security insurance Continue Reading
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News
28 Jun 2021
UK government announces high-tech lab to boost 5G diversification strategy
As a central pillar of strategy to build a more secure and innovative 5G supply chain, Sonic Labs test facility opens to explore ways of building 5G networks in a ‘simulated’ real-world environment Continue Reading
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News
28 Jun 2021
UK’s FCA bans crypto exchange Binance as crackdown spreads
Ban on Binance Markets comes amid a wider global crackdown on the largely unregulated global market for cryptocurrencies and related assets. Continue Reading
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News
28 Jun 2021
IR35 reforms: HMRC questioned about CEST as tax status of 210,000 contractors left 'undetermined'
Data published by HMRC confirms that the tax authority’s IR35 status checker tool has failed to determined how contractors should be taxed in hundreds of thousands of cases since November 2019 Continue Reading
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News
28 Jun 2021
HMRC-branded phishing scams surge despite protections
The number of HMRC-branded phishing scams surged 87% in the past 12 months, according to latest revealed figures Continue Reading
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Opinion
28 Jun 2021
How CIOs can help their organisations accelerate digital transformation
Companies need to win the trust of their customers to gather the data they need to transform their businesses Continue Reading
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News
25 Jun 2021
NCSC CEO: UK-Ireland collaboration crucial to stop cyber threats
Speaking at a conference in Dublin, NCSC Lindy Cameron is highlighting the importance of continued collaboration between the UK and Ireland to protect shared interests and counter security threats Continue Reading
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News
25 Jun 2021
CMA to probe Amazon and Google over fake reviews
The CMA has opened an investigation into Amazon and Google over possible breaches of consumer protection law Continue Reading
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News
24 Jun 2021
UK workers demand economic recovery to be built on better internet access
Cisco announces index of broadband services in the UK and reveals lead role in government’s levelling-up initiative designed to help close the digital divide Continue Reading
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News
24 Jun 2021
Revealed: Crypto platform’s role in Cl0p ransomware raid
Crypto infrastructure provider Binance provided assistance to law enforcement after finding its exchange was being used by cyber criminals to launder their ransomware profits 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
23 Jun 2021
European Union to set up new cyber response unit
Proposed Joint Cyber Unit will tackle a rising number of serious incidents impacting public services, businesses and citizens of the EU Continue Reading
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News
23 Jun 2021
Openness can protect Dutch companies against ransomware
Dutch businesses that suffer ransomware attacks need to be more open about it, if this growing problem is to be brought under control Continue Reading
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News
22 Jun 2021
SonicWall sees 226.3 million ransomware attack attempts this year
SonicWall detected 226.3 million attempted ransomware attacks between January and May 2021, more than double the number seen in the same period last year Continue Reading
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News
22 Jun 2021
EU regulators call for ban on biometrics in public spaces
European Union’s data protection regulators say facial recognition and other biometric identification technologies present too great a risk to fundamental human rights to be allowed in public spaces Continue Reading
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News
22 Jun 2021
CDEI: UK public wants clear algorithmic transparency policies
A research exercise by the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation has found the UK public wants clear, easy-to-understand information about algorithms in use by the public sector Continue Reading
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Opinion
22 Jun 2021
European ‘chat control’ plans in the name of ‘child safety’ threaten end-to-end encryption
Proposals by European Commission to search for illegal material could mean the end of private messaging and emails 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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News
21 Jun 2021
NHSX set to unveil post-Covid data strategy
The smart use of patient data could power new AI-based healthcare systems and speed up the discovery of new treatments Continue Reading
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News
18 Jun 2021
ICO issues guidance on facial recognition in public spaces
Information commissioner’s concern over the problematic use of facial recognition in public spaces has prompted her to publish official guidance on its deployment, while civil society calls for an outright ban Continue Reading
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News
18 Jun 2021
UK taskforce calls for cutting GDPR protections
The UK’s Taskforce on Innovation, Growth and Regulatory Reform has recommended scrapping safeguards against automated decision-making contained in the General Data Protection Regulation Continue Reading
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News
17 Jun 2021
Biden tackles Putin on ransomware at Geneva summit
Discussions between Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin on cyber crime appear to have been somewhat positive, but the path ahead remains unclear Continue Reading
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News
16 Jun 2021
Cl0p ransomware gang clapped in irons, assets seized
Ukrainian police report they have taken down the Cl0p, aka Clop, ransomware operation following a lengthy investigation Continue Reading
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News
16 Jun 2021
Lack of clarity hinders UK gigabit broadband roll-out
UK’s ability to capitalise on solid current momentum in roll-out of next-generation gigabit broadband is at risk because too few consumers are aware of the technology and its benefits, study warns Continue Reading
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News
16 Jun 2021
Competition and Markets Authority turns attention to Google and Apple
Are the two dominant mobile operating system providers anti-competitive? The Competition and Markets Authority shines a spotlight on the two digital giants Continue Reading
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News
15 Jun 2021
Privacy pro salaries rise throughout pandemic, but at a cost
Data from the IAPP’s latest salary survey reveals some insight into how the pandemic impacted the privacy profession Continue Reading