News

IT for government and public sector

• September 16, 2021 16 Sep'21

  Network Rail U-turns on blanket inside IR35 contractor determinations

  The Department for Transport’s 2020-2021 accounts suggest Network Rail has switched up its IR35 compliance strategy, with more than 70% of its contractors now classified as working outside IR35

• September 15, 2021 15 Sep'21

  UN human rights chief calls for moratorium on AI technologies

  High commissioner’s call for a moratorium on the use of AI systems that pose a serious risk to human rights is accompanied by a UN report on the negative human rights impacts associated with the technology

• September 15, 2021 15 Sep'21

  Interview: Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak on supporting the UK tech sector

  Computer Weekly talked to Sunak at a Treasury event in front of an audience of tech sector leaders, investors and startups, to discuss how the government can support the digital economy

• September 15, 2021 15 Sep'21

  Tech Nation announces second cohort for Net Zero accelerator

  The Net Zero programme from Tech Nation aims to help tech startups and scaleups realise their potential to reduce global emissions

• September 15, 2021 15 Sep'21

  Nordic central banks drive fintech and digital currency

  Banks are working together through a cross-border financial technology development hub

• September 14, 2021 14 Sep'21

  UK government takes equity shares in more than 150 startups

  Covid-support loans given to startups through the UK government’s Future Fund have given it stakes in more than 150 high-growth enterprises

• September 14, 2021 14 Sep'21

  CCRC refers six more subpostmaster convictions for appeal

  An additional six subpostmasters’ convictions have been referred for appeal in Post Office IT scandal

• September 13, 2021 13 Sep'21

  UK government’s new digital identity system to cost up to £400m

  Cabinet Office is seeking £300m-£400m in funding to build its replacement for the failed Gov.uk Verify system, which itself cost over £220m

• September 09, 2021 09 Sep'21

  Delays to replacing legacy police IT puts access to information at risk, says NAO

  National Audit Office says five-year delay to the Home Office’s project to create a National Law Enforcement Data Service, replacing two existing legacy IT systems, puts police access to vital information at risk

• September 09, 2021 09 Sep'21

  UK GDPR faces changes under planned reforms

  DCMS is launching a major consultation on proposed changes to the UK’s data protection regime, under which several key elements of the GDPR are likely to change

• September 09, 2021 09 Sep'21

  Government relies on tech to reduce NHS waiting lists

  Health and social care secretary Sajid Javid aims to reduce NHS waiting list backlog through use of virtual wards, artificial intelligence and new surgical hubs

• September 08, 2021 08 Sep'21

  Estonian government opens its digital heart to tech testers

  Tech startups are being invited to build and test their products and services on the Estonian government’s IT estate for free, in return for use of the software developed

• September 07, 2021 07 Sep'21

  Procuring law enforcement tech needs greater scrutiny

  Tech firms are playing a high-stakes game to drive adoption of artificial intelligence and surveillance technology in law enforcement

• September 07, 2021 07 Sep'21

  Lords committee calls for evidence on digital regulation

  House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee has called for evidence to inform its inquiry into the effectiveness of digital regulation

• September 07, 2021 07 Sep'21

  Government opens £2bn chest for big data analytics

  The Crown Commercial Service has published an early notification notice for a £500m per annum big data analytics procurement framework, which will run from 2022 to 2026

• September 03, 2021 03 Sep'21

  China accused of cyber attacks on Norwegian IT systems

  China-based cyber attackers have been blamed for multiple assaults on IT systems in Norway

• September 02, 2021 02 Sep'21

  Applications for Tech Nation Global Talent Visa hit 4,000

  Tech Nation, the endorsing body for the digital technology route of the UK’s Global Talent Visa, has reached a total of 4,000 visa applications since 2014

• September 02, 2021 02 Sep'21

  The Gulf is counting on its smart cities for a sustainable and profitable future

  The countries in the Gulf region are leading the way in the development of smart cities as part of their economic diversification

• September 01, 2021 01 Sep'21

  University of Sunderland applies technology through robot dog

  Students will apply technologies such as artificial intelligence to robotic dog as part of their learning

• September 01, 2021 01 Sep'21

  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

• August 31, 2021 31 Aug'21

  NHSX sets out digital guidelines for NHS organisations

  The What Good Looks Like framework provides instructions on how NHS leaders should improve the use of digital in their organisations

• August 31, 2021 31 Aug'21

  Subpostmasters demand more clarity on Horizon public inquiry before committing their support

  Subpostmaster campaign group founder demands that financial redress for members be included in public inquiry before it ‘willingly’ participates

• August 27, 2021 27 Aug'21

  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

• August 26, 2021 26 Aug'21

  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

• August 26, 2021 26 Aug'21

  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

• August 26, 2021 26 Aug'21

  Scottish government launches £25m digital funding for SMEs

  Money comes from the latest wave of the government’s DigitalBoost Fund, which offers small and medium-sized businesses in Scotland funding to invest in digital technologies

• August 26, 2021 26 Aug'21

  NHS Scotland sets out recovery plan

  Plan includes ensuring digital choices are always available, scaling up online consultation app and accelerating technology adoption in the NHS

• August 26, 2021 26 Aug'21

  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

• August 25, 2021 25 Aug'21

  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

• August 25, 2021 25 Aug'21

  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

• August 24, 2021 24 Aug'21

  HMCTS discloses £12.5m HMRC tax bill over IR35 status contractor assessment errors

  HM Courts and Tribunals Service has acknowledged IR35 status contractor assessment errors and paid HMRC £12.5m

• August 24, 2021 24 Aug'21

  Half of MS Exchange servers at risk in ProxyShell debacle

  Up to 50% of MS Exchange users in the UK are exposed to three vulnerabilities that are now being actively exploited

• August 24, 2021 24 Aug'21

  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

• August 23, 2021 23 Aug'21

  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

• August 23, 2021 23 Aug'21

  It’s time to reshape NHS innovation approach, says science and technology council

  Council for Science and Technology sets out how the government should harness tech for the NHS through interoperable systems, building skills and capacity and developing an evidence base to underpin effective use of tech

• August 20, 2021 20 Aug'21

  CMA urges further scrutiny of Nvidia purchase of Arm

  Competition and Markets Authority has decided an in-depth investigation should be mounted into the proposed acquisition of Arm by US chipmaker Nvidia

• August 20, 2021 20 Aug'21

  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

• August 19, 2021 19 Aug'21

  Inside Estonia’s tech startup scene

  Estonia is a Baltic tech tiger that is fast-gaining an international reputation for competently delivered government e-services at a level that surpasses most of its European and international counterparts

• August 19, 2021 19 Aug'21

  UN launches peacekeeping digital transformation strategy

  United Nations strategy sets out the need for data-driven and technology-enabled peacekeeping, but also highlights potential risks that come with a digital world

• August 18, 2021 18 Aug'21

  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

• August 18, 2021 18 Aug'21

  MoD seeks security tech to harden military systems

  The Defence and Security Accelerator has launched a programme to root out technology that will reduce the military’s exposure to cyber attacks

• August 18, 2021 18 Aug'21

  Thames Valley Police drops ERP system after spending £14m

  Thames Valley Police exits tri-force programme to develop new enterprise resource planning software for the police

• August 17, 2021 17 Aug'21

  CIO interview: Victoria Higgin, Highways England

  The chief digital and information officer for digital services at Highways England discusses a roadmap for end-to-end data sharing and asset management

• August 17, 2021 17 Aug'21

  Overturned convictions of subpostmasters mount up, but 555 victims no closer to justice

  The government has failed to provide fair compensation to the subpostmasters who exposed the full extent of the Horizon scandal to the world

• August 16, 2021 16 Aug'21

  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

• August 13, 2021 13 Aug'21

  UN special rapporteurs call for surveillance tech moratorium

  In the wake of revelations about NSO Groups Pegasus spyware, a number of special rapporteurs from the United Nations are re-igniting calls for a global moratorium on the sale and transfer of surveillance technologies

• August 12, 2021 12 Aug'21

  NCSC for Startups initiative launched with Plexal

  National Cyber Security Centre and Plexal will support startups to develop products to address the government’s cyber security priorities

• August 12, 2021 12 Aug'21

  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

• August 12, 2021 12 Aug'21

  Social care digital revolution could lead to £127m in benefits

  Analysis of NHS Digital’s social care programme shows new ways of working could reduce hospital admissions and visits to GPs, and improve people’s quality of life

• August 12, 2021 12 Aug'21

  LGA goes live with Digital Pathfinders Programme

  Programme offers £20,000 in funding to councils that come up with ‘pioneering solutions’ for cyber security, digital inclusion and connectivity