News

IT legislation and regulation

• March 10, 2023 10 Mar'23

  Technology minister Michelle Donelan defends data reforms

  Secretary of state Michelle Donelan has defended the government’s new data reforms as providing certainty for businesses while simultaneously retaining high standards of data protection, but industry figures are having mixed reactions

• March 10, 2023 10 Mar'23

  Government departments need to better understand digital transformation or efforts will ‘peter out’

  National Audit Office report says that the people making digital transformation decisions in government don't properly understand the challenges

• March 09, 2023 09 Mar'23

  Millions in the Arab world use VPNs to overcome restrictions and bandwidth throttling

  Citizens in the Arab world are using VPNs to help them bypass internet restrictions and increase available bandwidth

• March 08, 2023 08 Mar'23

  UK National Audit Office slams mistakes as ESN bill soars to £2bn

  Financial watchdog bites UK government in report investigating £2bn Emergency Services Network project, which has been plagued by delays, budget overruns and rows over value for money

• March 08, 2023 08 Mar'23

  UK government introduces revised data reform bill to Parliament

  Designed in close collaboration with technology businesses, the UK government is re-introducing an updated version of its Data Protection and Digital Information Bill to Parliament, which civil society groups say upends key safeguards

• March 07, 2023 07 Mar'23

  Spring Budget 2023: Campaign calls on government to ‘fix or ditch’ IR35

  Ahead of next week’s Spring Budget, contracting authority ContractorCalculator is calling on freelance IT workers to join campaign centred on getting government to ‘fix or ditch’ IR35 tax rules

• March 06, 2023 06 Mar'23

  Fintech industry calls for regulatory change to help struggling consumers

  Fintech trade body calls for regulatory changes to allow fintechs to broaden services for people struggling in the cost-of-living crisis

• March 06, 2023 06 Mar'23

  Over 50s and IR35: How retired IT workers could help close the tech sector skills gap

  With the UK government wanting to get more people who took early retirement in the wake of the pandemic back to work, recruitment experts ponder if encouraging them to work on a freelance basis could close the IT sector’s skills gap

• March 06, 2023 06 Mar'23

  Lords Committee to investigate use of AI-powered weapons systems

  House of Lords to investigate the use of artificial intelligence in weapons systems, following UK government publication of AI defence strategy in June 2022

• March 03, 2023 03 Mar'23

  White House unveils National Cybersecurity Strategy

  The strategy will focus on ensuring closer collaboration on cyber security between government and industry, while giving software and other tech companies a bigger role in combatting threats due to their resources and expertise

• March 02, 2023 02 Mar'23

  AI interview: Michael Osborne, professor of machine learning

  Artificial intelligence researcher speaks with Computer Weekly about the implications of a market-driven AI arms race and the overwhelming dominance of the private sector over the technology

• March 02, 2023 02 Mar'23

  Uber introduces dynamic pricing algorithm in London

  The dynamic pricing algorithm will allow Uber to set variable pay and pricing levels, but drivers are concerned about how their personal data will be used and the impact the algorithm will have on their livelihoods

• March 02, 2023 02 Mar'23

  MWC 2023: Netflix pushes back against telcos in net neutrality row

  Net neutrality seems to be an itch the European comms industry cannot scratch, and hot on the heels of an intention to get content firms to contribute to the build-out of networks for tomorrow’s services, Netflix takes aim at telcos’ demands

• February 24, 2023 24 Feb'23

  UK police have ‘culture of retention’ around biometric data

  A culture of retention around biometric data in UK policing is damaging public trust, says UK biometrics commissioner, who is calling for clear regulation to govern police use of biometric technologies

• February 22, 2023 22 Feb'23

  UK HSE to launch regulatory sandbox for industrial safety tech

  The sandbox will see the regulator work with industry and tech startups to accelerate the development and adoption of a range of safety-related technologies, with a particular emphasis on data and analytics

• February 21, 2023 21 Feb'23

  Care provider’s IT capability expands to support wider sector and beyond

  Care Plus’s IT operation went from being under NHS control to an autonomous department selling its services

• February 21, 2023 21 Feb'23

  HMRC slammed for ‘needlessly’ pursuing CEST-assured outside-IR35 contractor

  HMRC stands accused of needlessly drawing out an IR35-related investigation into an engineering contractor’s tax affairs by ignoring the findings of its own Check Employment Status for Tax tool

• February 20, 2023 20 Feb'23

  Full-fibre internet to reach half of UK homes by March 2023

  Ofcom data shows full-fibre deployment in the UK has maintained pace over the past 12 months and is set to reach a major tipping point in the next few weeks

• February 17, 2023 17 Feb'23

  CIO interview: Hans van der Waal, director of global IT, Travelex

  Travelex has weathered a storm that saw it sink into administration, before emerging to solidify its digital foundations for the future

• February 16, 2023 16 Feb'23

  Mock crime prediction tool profiles MEPs as potential criminals

  Developed by Fair Trials, the example crime prediction tool uses the same information as police systems to assess the likelihood of someone committing a crime in the future

• February 14, 2023 14 Feb'23

  UK authorities clamp down on illegal crypto ATMs

  The Financial Conduct Authority and West Yorkshire Police have disrupted a number of illegal crypto ATMs

• February 14, 2023 14 Feb'23

  ‘Buy now, pay later’ crackdown in the making

  The finance regulator has proposed bringing ‘buy now, pay later’ providers within its regulatory remit

• February 14, 2023 14 Feb'23

  UAE central bank programme to accelerate digital transformation

  The United Arab Emirates government launches programme to accelerate the digital transformation of the country’s finance sector

• February 14, 2023 14 Feb'23

  Researcher exposes crypto scam network exploiting YouTube

  A massive network of fake YouTube videos promoted by automated sock puppet accounts is reeling in hundreds of cryptocurrency enthusiasts and persuading them to hand over their money, WithSecure researchers found

• February 13, 2023 13 Feb'23

  KPMG launches metaverse and digital twin hub in Saudi Arabia

  The Saudi Arabian government’s commitment to investing in metaverse technology has attracted a KPMG centre of excellence to its shores

• February 13, 2023 13 Feb'23

  Investigatory Powers Act: Home Office proposes rethink of safeguards on bulk data collection

  David Anderson KC will review the safeguards on intelligence service and police use of bulk datasets following a Home Office assessment that they are 'disproportionate'.

• February 13, 2023 13 Feb'23

  Police tech needs clear legal rules, says biometrics regulator

  Police use of artificial intelligence and facial recognition needs to be controlled by strict rules and mechanisms to ensure public trust

• February 13, 2023 13 Feb'23

  Whistleblower in limbo as sensitive NatWest customer files remain under her bed

  Whistleblower and NatWest at stalemate as regulators leave it up to them to come to an agreement on return of sensitive customer data

• February 09, 2023 09 Feb'23

  UK imposes sanctions on Conti ransomware gang leaders

  Seven Russian nationals associated with the Conti and Ryuk ransomware operations have been sanctioned by the UK

• February 09, 2023 09 Feb'23

  Banking regulatory body wants a ‘tripwire’ to flag APP fraud

  Banking code of practice organisation wants banks to monitor where authorised push payment scammers are sending stolen money

• February 08, 2023 08 Feb'23

  Prolific social media fraudster jailed for three years

  Ramzan Abubakarov of Hendon will serve three-year prison sentence after using Telegram to coordinate series of frauds which netted almost £2m

• February 08, 2023 08 Feb'23

  Campaigners lament lack of movement on Computer Misuse Act reform

  Westminster has opened a new consultation on proposed reforms to the Computer Misuse Act of 1990, but campaigners who want the law changed to protect cyber professionals have been left disappointed

• February 07, 2023 07 Feb'23

  UK government sets up dedicated department for science and technology

  For the first time, the UK has a Cabinet-level role responsible for all science and technology policy, as part of prime minister Rishi Sunak’s departmental reshuffle

• February 07, 2023 07 Feb'23

  LockBit cartel finally claims Royal Mail ransomware attack

  The LockBit ransomware gang claims it has stolen sensitive data from Royal Mail and will leak it later this week if its demands go unmet

• February 07, 2023 07 Feb'23

  APP fraud reimbursement proposal is ‘fundamentally flawed’, say MPs

  MPs claim the involvement of a bank-sponsored organisation in reimbursing victims of APP fraud would be a conflict of interest

• February 07, 2023 07 Feb'23

  ‘Profound’ digital pound decision faces policymakers

  The UK Treasury has launched a consultation paper to help lay the foundations for a ‘profound decision’ over a digital currency

• February 07, 2023 07 Feb'23

  UK altnets slam Ofcom BT wholesale tariff approval

  UK’s independent full-fibre providers express fear that likely regulatory green light for new wholesale pricing from market leader threatens competitiveness of UK gigabit sector

• February 07, 2023 07 Feb'23

  Benelux CIO interview: Marijn Grevink, leader of digital transformation, Mars

  In an interview with Computer Weekly, the digital head at Mars, Marijn Grevink, takes the wrapper off digital transformation at the company in the Netherlands

• February 06, 2023 06 Feb'23

  Estonian anti-money laundering platform used to fight APP fraud

  A real-time data-sharing platform originally built to identify money laundering is also being applied to the fight against authorised push payment fraud

• February 06, 2023 06 Feb'23

  The Security Interviews: How to overcome data protection compliance challenges

  Complying with the vast swathe of data protection legislation around the world is complex, especially for smaller organisations without the necessary expertise. Could the compliance process be simplified, and if so, how?

• February 03, 2023 03 Feb'23

  Finance regulator finding more misleading promotions quicker through improved digital tools

  UK finance regulator able to find and block misleading promotions faster through improved digital tools

• February 03, 2023 03 Feb'23

  LockBit gang confirms Ion cyber attack as disruption continues

  The LockBit ransomware cartel has taken responsibility for this week’s attack on financial software firm Ion, and is threatening to leak stolen data on Saturday 4 February

• February 03, 2023 03 Feb'23

  FCA cracks down on misleading promos by social media influencers

  Social media is becoming a major part of the FCA’s work in clamping down on misleading financial advertising and promotions, with multiple influencers rapped for their behaviour

• February 03, 2023 03 Feb'23

  Record fibre growth fails to halt mixed Q3 for BT

  Strategy of focus on fibre and 5G vindicated in financial results showing leading UK telco buffeted by inflationary headwinds – but also seeing benefit of growing investment in fixed network infrastructure

• February 03, 2023 03 Feb'23

  MEPs vote to amend platform worker directive

  MEPs have voted in favour of amendments to the European Commission’s platform worker directive that would introduce a presumption of employment and increase algorithmic transparency

• February 02, 2023 02 Feb'23

  UK government announces plans to protect consumers through cryptoasset regulation

  UK government wants feedback on its plans to regulate organisations operating in the cryptoasset sector

• February 02, 2023 02 Feb'23

  Arnold Clark customer data was stolen in Play ransomware attack

  Arnold Clark confirms data leaked on dark web was stolen from its systems in ransomware attack

• February 01, 2023 01 Feb'23

  Malware variant can block contactless payments

  Kaspersky warns that the latest variant of the Prilex malware can block contactless payments to force people to insert cards, enabling criminals to steal money

• February 01, 2023 01 Feb'23

  UK Cyber Council and ISACA launch audit, assurance programme

  The UK Cyber Security Council has teamed up with ISACA to partner on a new audit and assurance programme for security pros

• January 31, 2023 31 Jan'23

  MI5 unlawfully collected and held millions of people’s data

  Secretive court finds MI5 knowingly acted unlawfully in use of bulk surveillance warrants, and the Home Office continued granting warrants despite information the agency was operating outside the law