News

IT for government and public sector

July 09, 2019 09 Jul'19
ICO issues warning about using facial recognition technology

The UK privacy watchdog has ruled that any police force or private organisation using live facial recognition technology is processing personal data and needs to pay attention to data protection laws
July 09, 2019 09 Jul'19
Post Office fixes technical problem causing accounting errors in Horizon

Problem revealed during High Court trial left subpostmaster with £18,000 surplus after IT system failed to register full amount of cash scanned in
July 08, 2019 08 Jul'19
Former NHSI chief moves on to government automation taskforce

Ian Dalton, former NHSI chief, has taken up the lead position for driving automation through government in a bid to improve public services
July 08, 2019 08 Jul'19
Eventful second Post Office Horizon trial ends

The latest High Court trial in the long-running dispute between the Post Office and subpostmasters has concluded, with part three set for March 2020

July 08, 2019 08 Jul'19
IISP gains Royal Charter status

The UK finally has its first national professional body for cyber security that will be responsible for setting the standards for skills and knowledge in the industry to reduce the skills gap and increase diversity
July 07, 2019 07 Jul'19
Public sector should embrace multicloud to cut risk of cloud market monopolisation, says report

Joint report by the Internet Economy Foundation think-tank and business consultancy Roland Berger urges governments to take steps to prevent a cloud computing oligopoly that would leave organisations at greater risk of supplier lock-in
July 05, 2019 05 Jul'19
NHSX announces key senior appointments

NHS England chief clinical information officer Simon Eccles will take over as deputy chief executive of NHSX, while technology advisor Hadley Beeman will step in as acting chief technology officer of the new unit
July 05, 2019 05 Jul'19
Met Police use of facial recognition could be unlawful, finds report

The first independent report into use of facial recognition technology by the police found a number of shortcomings around trials that would not withstand legal scrutiny
July 04, 2019 04 Jul'19
Security and privacy key to smart buildings and cities

Security and privacy capabilities are essential for stakeholders if they are to realise the benefits of smart buildings and cities, says expert whitepaper
July 04, 2019 04 Jul'19
Longer-term tech investment must support policing reform

Investment in technologies such as facial recognition and artificial intelligence should be introduced to tackle compromises to public safety levels, says report

July 04, 2019 04 Jul'19
GDS signs agreement with Polish counterpart

The memorandum of understanding is aimed at boosting trade and technology development opportunities between the UK and Poland
July 04, 2019 04 Jul'19
Implementing IoT – overcoming barriers to commercial adoption

Tim Wright from the Institute of Telecoms Professionals reports from a recent seminar exploring questions around the barriers to commercial, at-scale adoption of the internet of things, and how to overcome them
July 04, 2019 04 Jul'19
FireEye ties Microsoft Outlook exploit to Iranian hackers

US Cyber Command has issued a warning that a patched Microsoft Outlook vulnerability is being exploited by unnamed threat actors, and recommended immediate patching
July 04, 2019 04 Jul'19
Competition watchdog launches study into internet firms

Findings from a Competition and Markets Authority consultation will inform a report aimed at assessing how digital advertising can harm UK consumers
July 03, 2019 03 Jul'19
Top VPNs secretly owned by Chinese firms

Nearly a third of top VPNs are secretly owned by Chinese companies, while other owners are based in countries with weak or no privacy laws, potentially putting users at risk, security researchers warn
July 02, 2019 02 Jul'19
Government ramps up efforts to counter fraud with analytics

Challenges have been outlined and a consultation launched to find ways to reduce fraud and error loss in central and local government through data-driven technologies.
July 02, 2019 02 Jul'19
CPS faces legal ruling over refusal to disclose emails with US on WikiLeaks and Assange extradition

A court will decide whether the Crown Prosecution Service can refuse to neither confirm nor deny the existence of correspondence with US on investigations into Julian Assange and WikiLeaks
July 02, 2019 02 Jul'19
Sweden’s Protective Security Act targets cyber risks

IT suppliers must comply with tighter cyber security requirements, but are being offered help from government agencies
July 02, 2019 02 Jul'19
DWP data hub develops prototype skills recommendation engine

Machine learning algorithm on Microsoft Azure identifies associated skills, based on the skills specified in online job adverts
July 02, 2019 02 Jul'19
G-Cloud 11 goes live with 4,200 suppliers securing a place on the framework

The latest iteration of the G-Cloud framework has gone live, with about 700 additional suppliers thought to have secured a place on it this time around
July 02, 2019 02 Jul'19
Watchdog urges biometrics regulation in policing

The annual report from the biometrics commissioner warns that lack of clear laws on the application of the technologies could further undermine privacy and citizen trust
July 02, 2019 02 Jul'19
Post Office back-office error leaves subpostmaster with thousands of pounds extra

The Post Office has admitted that some subpostmasters are at risk of accounts not balancing due to an error it does not understand
July 01, 2019 01 Jul'19
Interview: Matthew Gould, chief executive of NHSX, on transforming health service technology

NHSX is the latest on a long line of organisations created to overhaul NHS technology – can it make the difference this time? Its new CEO explains why it will
June 28, 2019 28 Jun'19
TIN coalition calls for industry action against cyber fraud

An industry group aimed at improving cyber security by tackling enduring challenges has called for collaboration in the fight against cyber fraud
June 28, 2019 28 Jun'19
Cyber crime reporting crucial, say UK police

UK police are gearing up to make it easier for business to report cyber crime, saying that under-reporting continues to be a challenge
June 28, 2019 28 Jun'19
Interview: How Defra is getting its IT systems ready for Brexit

The director in charge of building and implementing the core systems supporting the department most affected by Brexit talks exclusively to Computer Weekly about the present and future of a new function of hundreds of staff
June 28, 2019 28 Jun'19
Interview: John Seglias, chief digital information officer, Defra

The tech leader at the government department most affected by Brexit talks about digital transformation and carrying out one of the most complex projects in the public sector
June 27, 2019 27 Jun'19
DWP looks to extend digital identity capabilities

Department for Work and Pensions wants to reduce reliance on existing identity assurance methods such as Gov.UK Verify and face-to-face
June 26, 2019 26 Jun'19
NHSX ends digital programmes and sets out delivery priorities

The digital unit concludes tech spending review in the health system, defines delivery missions and drives focus on standards and platforms
June 26, 2019 26 Jun'19
Nordic public dispels fears over AI and welcomes its advance

People in the Nordic countries are more welcoming and less fearful of the advance of artificial intelligence than those in other regions
June 26, 2019 26 Jun'19
Six arrested over €24m cryptocurrency theft

Police have arrested six people in the UK and the Netherlands in connection with the theft of cryptocurrency worth €24m
June 25, 2019 25 Jun'19
Half of Dutch IT decision-makers can’t explain blockchain technology

IT decision-makers in the Netherlands know that blockchain has significant benefits, but half don’t understand how to apply it
June 25, 2019 25 Jun'19
Outdated IT systems are hindering patient care

Lack of modernisation is presenting a threat to patients and healthcare practitioners, says study
June 25, 2019 25 Jun'19
APT attack on telcos highlights need for comprehensive defence

A global cyber attack against multiple telecommunications firms underlines need for comprehensive approach to cyber defence, say researchers and industry commentators
June 25, 2019 25 Jun'19
Post Office appoints new chief information officer

Former Holland & Barrett IT chief joins the Post Office as interim CIO after former incumbent is promoted
June 25, 2019 25 Jun'19
Airbus opens cyber innovation hub in Wales

Newport hub will focus on industrial control systems, artificial intelligence and data analytics
June 24, 2019 24 Jun'19
Scotland ‘needs stronger digital leadership’

Despite some good progress, Scotland needs greater strategic direction to further its digital endeavours, says central auditor
June 24, 2019 24 Jun'19
European and UK space agencies start CAV connectivity project

Academia and telecoms operators partner to investigate 5G and satellite systems for connected and autonomous vehicles, with proofs of concept expected for 2020
June 24, 2019 24 Jun'19
Ministry of Defence appoints chief scientific adviser

The first female to hold the role, professor dame Angela McLean will direct the department's core research programme and advise on all science and technology matters
June 21, 2019 21 Jun'19
UK takes world lead in surveillance camera security

Although the UK is sometimes referred to as “the most surveilled country” in the world, it has taken the lead in setting minimum security requirements for surveillance cameras. But how will this make a difference internationally?
June 21, 2019 21 Jun'19
Government must address shortcomings to make data strategy work

A National Audit Office report outlines the challenges that need to be investigated around making more effective use of data in citizen service delivery and government operations
June 21, 2019 21 Jun'19
Surveillance camera czar calls for stronger UK code of practice

Surveillance cameras are for supporting communities, not spying on them, but the UK needs stronger regulation and citizen engagement in this area, says surveillance camera commissioner
June 20, 2019 20 Jun'19
UK citizens call for diversity in AI to be addressed

Public wants government and tech companies to tackle diversity issues related to the application of artificial intelligence, a study has found
June 20, 2019 20 Jun'19
Online porn age-verification checks delayed for six months

Changes to force UK internet users to prove their age to access adult content are postponed for a third time because of failure to notify the European Commission of key policy details
June 20, 2019 20 Jun'19
UK to launch security standard for surveillance cameras

The UK is launching the world’s first voluntary cyber security standard and compliance certification mark for the manufacturers of surveillance cameras
June 19, 2019 19 Jun'19
Women in IT trailblazer Maggie Berry gets OBE

Early pioneer of networking who aimed to get more women into technology is included in Queen's Birthday Honours
June 19, 2019 19 Jun'19
Looming private sector IR35 reforms prompts calls for gig economy-focused tax system overhaul

The growth of the gig-based economy has exposed weaknesses in the UK tax system – exacerbated by the IR35 reforms – that mean an overhaul is needed, panel claims
June 19, 2019 19 Jun'19
Oxford University accepts £150m for artificial intelligence research

Oxford University has accepted £150m to build a new humanities hub that will include a centre for artificial intelligence ethics research from Stephen Schwarzman, a US private equity boss
June 19, 2019 19 Jun'19
UK government pushes data-driven agenda

A smart data report has been published with consultations under way, while an open call for evidence has been launched to help shape the national data plan
June 19, 2019 19 Jun'19
Regional alliances boost Nordic AI industry

Universities and technology businesses in Nordic countries are working cross-border as part of two pan-Nordic organisations