News
IT legislation and regulation
-
April 26, 2024
26
Apr'24
European Parliament approves platform worker directive
The approval of the platform worker directive gives member states two years to incorporate its measures into their national legislation, which includes provisions on how to classify the employment of gig workers and deploy algorithmic ...
-
April 24, 2024
24
Apr'24
Education will be key to good AI regulation: A view from the USA
Computer Weekly sat down with Salesforce’s vice-president of federal government affairs, Hugh Gamble, to find out how the US is forging a path towards AI regulation, and how things look from Capitol Hill
-
April 24, 2024
24
Apr'24
Lords debate amendment to law on use of computer evidence in light of Post Office scandal
Peers to debate amending the law on the use of computer evidence in court, which is partly to blame for the wrongful prosecutions of hundreds of former subpostmasters
-
April 23, 2024
23
Apr'24
Lords split over UK government approach to autonomous weapons
During a debate on autonomous weapons systems, Lords expressed mixed opinions towards the UK government’s current position, including its reluctance to adopt a working definition and commit to international legal instruments controlling their use
-
April 22, 2024
22
Apr'24
Government provides funding to help innovators navigate regs
AI and Digital Hub, backed by almost £2m in funding, will coordinate regulatory advice across CMA, FCA, ICO and Ofcom
-
April 19, 2024
19
Apr'24
Decade-long IR35 dispute between IT contractor and HMRC prompts calls for off-payroll revamp
An IT contractor’s business is on the brink of insolvency after a decade-long IR35 dispute with HMRC
-
April 19, 2024
19
Apr'24
CEST: Putting HMRC’s IR35 status checker under the microscope
Since its launch in March 2017, HMRC's online IR35 status checker tool has come under fierce criticism and scrutiny, only exacerbated in recent weeks by the disclosure it has not been updated in five years
-
April 18, 2024
18
Apr'24
TUC publishes legislative proposal to protect workers from AI
Proposed bill for regulating artificial intelligence in the UK seeks to translate well-meaning principles and values into concrete rights and obligations that protect workers from systems that make ‘high-risk’ decisions about them
-
April 17, 2024
17
Apr'24
Mandiant formally pins Sandworm cyber attacks on APT44 group
Mandiant has formally attributed a long-running campaign of cyber attacks by a Russian state actor known as Sandworm to a newly designated advanced persistent threat group to be called APT44
-
April 16, 2024
16
Apr'24
US provides assurances over extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange
Extradition of the WikiLeaks founder moves a step closer after the US government gives diplomatic assurances over his treatment in the US. Assange supporters accuse the US of ‘weasel words’
-
April 15, 2024
15
Apr'24
EU’s AI Act fails to protect the rule of law and civic space
Analysis reveals that the AI Act is ‘riddled with far-reaching exceptions’ and its measures to protect fundamental rights are insufficient
-
April 12, 2024
12
Apr'24
Apple iPhone security alert renews spyware concerns
An Apple security alert received by users in 92 countries raises fresh fears over ongoing campaigns by users of mercenary spyware products
-
April 12, 2024
12
Apr'24
UK in critical need of regulation to fight misinformation online
Misinformation, where it is generated by AI, poses a serious threat due to the ease with which plausible false content can be created and spread
-
April 11, 2024
11
Apr'24
Facial recognition to play key role in UK shoplifting crackdown
UK government will fund roll-out of police facial recognition across the country as part of its crackdown on shoplifting and violence against retail staff, but civil society groups say the government is attempting to police its way out of the ...
-
April 11, 2024
11
Apr'24
AI skills gap blocking public sector take-up
A Salesforce report claims that a lack of skills in artificial intelligence is preventing effective take-up of generative AI to enhance frontline citizen services across the public sector
-
April 11, 2024
11
Apr'24
IR35: HMRC restores Github access to deleted CEST source code, but confirms update data lost
After the source code for its much-maligned online IR35 status checker tool was deleted in error from Github, HMRC confirms it has now been re-uploaded, but any data about past updates to the tool have been lost
-
April 11, 2024
11
Apr'24
Government dismisses Lords’ concerns over facial recognition
UK government is claiming police forces’ use of live facial recognition is comprehensively covered by existing laws, in response to a Lords investigation that found police lacked a clear legal basis to deploy it
-
April 10, 2024
10
Apr'24
Biden considering whether to end prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange
US president Joe Biden says he is considering requests by Australia to end the prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange under espionage and computer fraud charges
-
April 10, 2024
10
Apr'24
Subpostmasters stealing from branches ‘didn’t make sense,’ former judge tells inquiry
The former judge who chaired a scheme set up by the Post Office to settle claims against its Horizon system said he told bosses their prosecutions of subpostmasters "didn't make sense"
-
April 09, 2024
09
Apr'24
Public worried by police and companies sharing biometric data
More than half of the British public do not feel comfortable with police forces sharing biometric data with the private sector, including facial recognition images, to tackle crimes such as shoplifting
-
April 09, 2024
09
Apr'24
Is a cyber arms control treaty out of reach?
The world needs cyber arms control more than ever, but the challenges facing a multilateral agreement will be hard to surmount, according to researchers at Germany’s Digital Society Institute
-
April 09, 2024
09
Apr'24
Greek government fined over AI surveillance in refugee camps
Greece’s Data Protection Authority has issued a €175,000 fine against the country’s migration ministry over its deployment of artificial intelligence-powered security systems in refugee camps after the watchdog’s investigation found ‘serious ...
-
April 08, 2024
08
Apr'24
UN adopts ‘landmark’ resolution on making AI safe and trustworthy
A UN draft resolution promoting the use of artificial intelligence in sustainable development and the protection of human rights was backed by over 120 member states
-
April 05, 2024
05
Apr'24
China ramps up use of AI misinformation
Microsoft researchers have identified a growing pattern of AI-laced misinformation and political interference coming from Chinese threat actors
-
April 04, 2024
04
Apr'24
Changes needed for SOCs and CSIRTs, claims Dutch research institute
Cyber security specialists need a game-changer to keep up with their adversaries, who increasingly use automation and AI for their attacks
-
April 02, 2024
02
Apr'24
Microsoft pushes Teams out of M365 and O365 bundle globally
Microsoft claims Teams push out of bundle will simplify pricing, with enterprise IT buyers possibly better off
-
April 02, 2024
02
Apr'24
US and UK agree AI safety collaboration
The UK and US governments have signed an agreement to forge close ties between their respective AI Safety Institutes
-
March 29, 2024
29
Mar'24
Organisations getting better at spotting identity fraud
As the barriers to committing identity fraud continue to drop, organisations should consider more sophisticated technical measures to successfully up their game, according to a report
-
March 28, 2024
28
Mar'24
Sellafield to be prosecuted over alleged cyber compliance failure
Sellafield Ltd, the organisation responsible for cleaning up and decommissioning the UK's largest nuclear waste site, is to be prosecuted over alleged cyber security failings dating back to 2019
-
March 28, 2024
28
Mar'24
Counter-eavesdropping agency unlawfully used surveillance powers to identify journalist’s source
More than 750 journalists had their communications data accessed by law enforcement and government agencies between 2018 and 2022
-
March 27, 2024
27
Mar'24
Lord Holmes: UK cannot 'wait and see' to regulate AI
Legislation is needed to seize the benefits of artificial intelligence while minimising its risks, says Lord Holmes - but the government’s ‘wait and see’ approach to regulation will fail on both fronts
-
March 26, 2024
26
Mar'24
Apple, Meta and Alphabet under EU scrutiny
Under the new Digital Markets Act, European commissioners are looking at potential issues with the way Apple, Alphabet and Meta operate their platforms
-
March 26, 2024
26
Mar'24
US authorities charge seven over Chinese hacking
The US Department of Justice has charged seven Chinese nationals linked to the APT31 threat actor that targeted politicians in the UK and US
-
March 25, 2024
25
Mar'24
Which? calls for government action on fake banking sites
Amid high volumes of spoofed, fraudulent banking websites, Which? is calling for the government to implement new legal obligations for domain registrars
-
March 22, 2024
22
Mar'24
Court finds EncroChat hacked messages admissible as former footballer is jailed
A judge in ‘lead’ EncroChat case found that messages obtained by police from the encrypted phone network can be lawfully used in evidence
-
March 22, 2024
22
Mar'24
Open Data Institute launches digital policy manifesto
The Open Data Institute has launched a policy manifesto ahead of the UK general election that outlines policies and issues it believes must be part of the political discussion around digital and data
-
March 21, 2024
21
Mar'24
US sues Apple, alleging smartphone monopoly
A major legal action against Apple over its dominance of the smartphone market has kicked off in the US, alleging anticompetitive practices on Apple’s part that have damaged the sector and restricted consumer choice
-
March 21, 2024
21
Mar'24
IR35 reforms: IT contractors urged to reclaim tax they may have overpaid in off-payroll settlements
With the government set to fix the settlements offset issue from 6 April, contractor insurance firm Qdos is urging individuals who worked for non-compliant IR35 organisations to see if they can reclaim any money they have overpaid
-
March 20, 2024
20
Mar'24
Ukrainians crack network that stole 100m email, social accounts
Three members of an organised cyber criminal group who hacked and appropriated personal email and social media accounts face up to 15 years in prison
-
March 18, 2024
18
Mar'24
Spring Budget risks funding legally questionable police tech
Open legal questions around how UK police are using facial recognition and cloud technology could undermine the £230m investment committed in the Spring Budget to “time and money-saving technology” for police
-
March 18, 2024
18
Mar'24
G7 nations sign deal to harness AI potential
G7 nations will produce a joint report on how to increase artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, boost growth of the quantum sector and create an AI toolkit to inform policy-making
-
March 15, 2024
15
Mar'24
UK government calls on comms firms to limit installation of telegraph poles
After public demonstrations, minister urges communications industry to ‘do whatever it takes’ to share existing infrastructure to avoid ‘inappropriately or unnecessarily throwing up’ new telegraph poles
-
March 15, 2024
15
Mar'24
London Mayor’s Office reprimanded over data breach
The London Mayor’s Office has been reprimanded by the ICO after an internal error exposed the data of people who had made complaints against the Metropolitan Police
-
March 13, 2024
13
Mar'24
US authorities move a step closer to banning TikTok
Lawmakers in Washington DC have moved a step closer to enacting a broad national ban on controversial video app TikTok in the US, with global ramifications
-
March 11, 2024
11
Mar'24
Government not facing up to CNI cyber risks, committee warns
The Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy has accused the government of burying its head in the sand over the cyber threat to UK critical infrastructure
-
March 11, 2024
11
Mar'24
Vinnova launches National Digital Advancement project
Swedish state innovation initiative invests in a network of regional research and development centres
-
March 11, 2024
11
Mar'24
TechUK calls for next government to introduce ‘industrial strategy’ for AI
Trade group TechUK publishes blueprint calling for winner of next election to boost tech startups, digitise government services and accelerate technology R&D
-
March 07, 2024
07
Mar'24
CCS U-turns on G-Cloud 14 insurance requirements after supplier backlash
The government procurement agency has reversed previous plans for a £20m increase in insurance cover that threatened to deter smaller suppliers from bidding for cloud computing contracts
-
March 07, 2024
07
Mar'24
UK altnets call for action after attacks on fibre infrastructure
UK altnets raise concerns after a series of attacks on telecoms networks, demanding DSIT and Ofcom take responsibility to review current rules, from sentencing to policing to industry compliance
-
March 07, 2024
07
Mar'24
Indian government issues advisory to mitigate AI risks
Tech firms will require permission from the government to use and provide under-tested or unreliable AI models and software to Indian users