IT for government and public sector

Norway braced for foreign AI cyber attacks on vital petroleum computing

Nordic petrostate is preparing for war and turning the spotlight on vulnerabilities in its critical industries, as adversaries look for ways to damage the most important oil and gas producer to the EU Continue Reading

By

• Mark Ballard

Nordics ally with Baltics to accelerate digital wallet roll-out

Baltic and Nordic countries work together on a common certification system to support digital wallet applications Continue Reading

By

• Gerard O'Dwyer

Quarter of social care staff don’t use technology to deliver care

Government-commissioned survey finds 27% of care providers do not use any technology to provide care for patients Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

UK government departments not sold on shared services strategy, NAO report finds

Eight years on from the launch of the government’s shared services strategy, there is no clear ownership, funding remains uncertain and some departments are yet to fully commit Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Electronic health records are still creating issues for patients

Almost every NHS trust will have moved onto a digital system by this spring. Experts have cautioned many patients are still struggling to access their own health data Continue Reading

By

• Will Grimond

Sweden recommends citizens keep £81 in cash per adult in case of payment system crash

The central bank of Sweden says rapid digitisation could cause vulnerabilities in payment systems Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Spyware suppliers exploit more zero-days than nation states

Exploitation of zero-days by commercial surveillance and spyware developers outpaced exploitation by nation-state actors last year, according to a report Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Capita secures decade-long government contract amid failure in public sight

Outsourcing firm has won 10-year contract to supply government departments with tech-enabled business services Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Government wants to build digital ID system in-house

The Home Affairs Committee hearing on digital ID reveals consultation is due next week; there will be no central database; and while government wants to build the system in-house, it will not replace private digital ID providers Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Scandal victim gets leave to appeal decision to split case against Post Office and Fujitsu

Prominent scandal victim given leave to appeal High Court decision in his legal action against the Post Office and Fujitsu Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Iranian hacktivists muster their forces but state APTs lay low

Hacktivist activity surrounding the Iran war is sky-high but Iran’s state-backed cyber espionage actors have yet to show their hands, giving security teams a valuable window of time to shore up their defences Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Zero-day in Android phone chips under active attack

Google and Qualcomm have tag-teamed a serious vulnerability in the chipsets used in Android mobile devices, which has been exploited in the wild as a zero-day Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Tycoon2FA phishing platform dismantled in major operation

A Europol-led sting against the infamous Tycoon2FA MFA bypass phishing service has been successful, with operations disrupted and ringleaders and cyber criminal users identified Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

UK lab gets funding to drive foundational AI research

The government is providing six years of funding worth up to £40m in a bid to support UK researchers developing artificial intelligence models Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Landmark legal challenge against Home Office eVisa system heard

The UK High Court will examine whether the Home Office policy of refusing to issue alternative proof of immigration status outside of its electronic visa system is lawful Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Civil service veteran ‘incandescent’ as wait for pension hits four months amid outsourcing mess

Public servant of over 40 years, who has been waiting four months for pension payments to begin, says government has lost control Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Transnational AI regulation needed to protect human rights in the UK

Tech companies have told MPs and Lords they would welcome greater harmonisation in regulatory standards at a global level Continue Reading

By

• Charlotte Lang

Open cyber standards key to cross-platform integration

The Security Think Tank looks at platformisation considering questions such as how CISOs can distinguish between a truly integrated platform and 'integration theater, and how to protect unified platforms. Continue Reading

By

• Stephen McDermid, Okta

NS&I’s modernisation programme: A £3bn lesson in how to lose public trust

The UK Public Accounts Committee’s description of NS&I’s digital modernisation as a ‘full-spectrum disaster’ should concern far more than technology teams Continue Reading

By

• Ben Terrett

NHS SBS launches £250m patient communication framework

The procurement framework aims to help NHS organisations buy products and services to help communicate with patients more efficiently Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

NCSC: No increase in cyber threat from Iran, but be prepared

While cyber threat levels remain stable following the outbreak of war in the Middle East at the weekend, at-risk organisations in the UK should take steps to ward off potential reprisals from Iran-linked threat actors Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

NS&I seeks Bank of England counsel over project disaster

The Bank of England’s successful IT transformation, praised by the National Audit Office, is being used as a model for government departments, including NS&I, which faces a failing IT project Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

MPs launch inquiry into use of tech in education

The use of tech and artificial intelligence has the potential to help delivery of education in the UK, so a committee of MPs has launched an inquiry into its opportunities and challenges Continue Reading

By

• Clare McDonald, Business Editor

UK government consults on social media ban for under-16s  

A UK government consultation launched today asks whether under-16s should be banned from social media, and age restrictions introduced for VPNs and chatbots Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Investigations Editor

How mainframe modernisation is powering government digital transformation

Mainframes are no longer seen as a constraint on public sector digital transformation, with government agencies abandoning rip-and-replace strategies in favour of modernising mainframe systems with hybrid cloud and AI Continue Reading

By

• Michael Vincetic

Australia inks five-year deal with Microsoft to drive AI and cloud adoption

The Digital Transformation Agency’s new agreement promises cost certainty, improved discounts, and a skills fund to support the government’s digital transformation agenda Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, Informa TechTarget

Qilin crew continues to dominate ransomware ecosystem

The Qilin ransomware gang remained ‘top dog’ in January 2026, with over 100 observed cyber attacks to its name, amid a rapidly evolving and fragmenting cyber criminal ecosystem Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

India AI Impact Summit: Open source gains ground, but sovereignty tensions persist

While open source artificial intelligence gained unprecedented recognition during the latest global AI summit, divisions over governance, market concentration and regulatory power cast doubt on whether the technology will benefit society as a whole Continue Reading

By

• Charlotte Lang

Deputy prime minister vows to reform justice system with AI

Initiatives to transform UK courts include launching a justice AI academy, an AI listing assistant and a new High Court digital system Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

US artificial intelligence developers accuse Chinese firms of stealing their data

Artificial intelligence developers are accusing Chinese firms of stealing their intellectual property following a spate of ‘distillation attacks’, despite their own alleged theft of training data Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

The UK’s proposed social media ban explained

The UK government will use new legal powers to lay the groundwork for an under-16 social media ban after its consultation on children’s digital well-being, but opponents warn the measures being considered will only treat the symptoms of the problem if they ignore the structural power of big tech Continue Reading

By

• Charlotte Lang

Application exploitation back in vogue, says IBM cyber unit

IBM’s X-Force unit observes an uptick in the exploitation of vulnerable public-facing software applications Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Police created ‘intelligence profile’ of BBC journalist subject to phone surveillance

Police and MI5 conducted seven unlawful operations to obtain phone data relating to former BBC journalist Vincent Kearney, the Investigatory Powers Tribunal heard today Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Investigations Editor

UK government commits £483m to Post Office for IT transformation

The UK government is to provide the next round of funding to support the Post Office’s move away from its controversial Fujitsu Horizon IT system Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Email from 1999 reveals Post Office ECCO+ system crash problems

ECCO+ system experienced freezes during transactions, which could have left Post Office branch account discrepancies Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Governments urged to step up enforcement of big tech amid rush to ban social media for under-16s

The Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights says that European governments should consider better enforcement against big tech companies before banning children from social media Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Investigations Editor

€126bn in Dutch tech projects blocked by permits and grid limits

Ex-ASML chief Peter Wennink’s deregulation solution triggers warnings from academics and government advisors Continue Reading

By

• Kim Loohuis

UK AI alignment project gets OpenAI and Microsoft boost

Altogether, £27m is now available to fund the AI Security Institute’s work to collaborate on safe, secure artificial intelligence Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

European politicians amplify disinformation about UN rapporteur

Government officials from the US and Europe have condemned UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese for remarks about Israel she never made, based on a truncated clip circulating online that takes her statements out of context Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

UKRI sets out strategy to make UK an AI leader by 2031

The strategic framework for 2031 lays out the steps the UK needs to take to drive forward innovation and academic research in artificial intelligence Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Minister wants ‘logical conclusion’ to review of digital evidence in light of Post Office scandal

House of Lords debate saw government minister make an ambiguous promise in regard to the treatment of computer evidence in court Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

India AI Impact Summit begins

The summit aims to democratise AI and bridge the growing divide between countries, but critics warn that it risks becoming a mere spectacle if the technology only serves the interests of power and profit Continue Reading

By

• Charlotte Lang

Flaws in Google and Microsoft products added to Cisa catalogue

Cisa has added six CVEs to its Kev catalogue this week, including newly disclosed issues in Google Chromium and Dell RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines, and some older flaws as well Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

0APT ransomware crew makes embarrassing splash

A ransomware gang called 0APT has attracted attention, but many of its victims may not even be real, and its operators are being accused of over-egging their criminal pudding Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Eradicating Fujitsu and Horizon from the Post Office, step by step

Post Office IT chief tells Computer Weekly about the challenges and progress in removing the controversial Horizon system from Post Office branches Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Defence and education see big gains in public sector IT spend, Tussell report finds

Tussell Tech200 finds big growth in IT supplier revenue in defence and education, with gains for suppliers in IT services and digital transformation Continue Reading

By

• Antony Adshead, Computer Weekly

The evolution of threat research: Looking beyond best-of-breed

Traditional models of threat research as a service are changing and evolving towards a more bespoke model that puts more control in the hands of end-user cyber teams Continue Reading

By

• Matthew Staff

The ethical challenges of America’s social media vetting policy

The US government is incorporating social media vetting as part of its border control policy, leading to concerns about what data will be collected and how it will be protected Continue Reading

By

• Peter Ray Allison

Artificial intelligence ‘creeping into’ high-risk stock trading

Growing reliance on artificial intelligence is encroaching into the stock market, finds research Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

House of Lords committee concerned over digital forensics backlog

Lords’ Science and Technology Committee warns policing and justice system is unequipped to make use of technologies such as AI, and calls on government to handle digital forensics backlog Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Government pumps £20m into using tech to fight addiction

Funding grants from Innovate UK will be used for medical technologies and digital tools such as artificial intelligence and wearables to reduce substance misuse and addiction Continue Reading

Government wages cyber campaign as half the UK’s SMEs are breached

UK government says half of all small businesses have been cyber breached in the recent past as it urges them to ‘lock the door’ Continue Reading

By

• Brian McKenna, Enterprise Applications Editor

British Transport Police start using live facial recognition

British Transport Police will deploy facial recognition for six months despite calls for the government to halt its rapid expansion of the technology Continue Reading

By

• Charlotte Lang

Noah Donohoe inquest reveals issues with police ControlWorks system

An inquest heard that there were major issues with the system used by the Police Service of Northern Ireland to record information reported by the public Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Investigations Editor

UK government risks ‘perpetuating’ Post Office injustice through response to Capture appeals

Peers question government’s approach to wrongful conviction appeals from former users of Capture software Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

UK National Crime Agency seeks CDIO, offering more than £100k for the role

The chief digital and information officer will be expected to set the National Crime Agency’s digital, data and technology sourcing strategy, secure multi-year investment and manage a £100m budget Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Government bank digital project a ‘full-spectrum disaster’ exposing taxpayers to risk

National Savings and Investments is unable to tell Public Accounts Committee the cost of its modernisation programme Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Thousands of unread emails and 20 million database errors cause civil service pension hardship

Capita is to ‘fast-track’ any technology, including artificial intelligence, that can help it clear a backlog in civil service pension work Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Large language models provide unreliable answers about public services, Open Data Institute finds

Research questions AI’s trustworthiness in giving people accurate information about government services Continue Reading

By

• Charlotte Lang

European Commission: TikTok’s addictive design breaches EU law

In a preliminary ruling, European Commission says TikTok’s additive design features are in breach of laws designed to create safer digital spaces Continue Reading

By

• Adele Zeynep Walton

e& drives AI-first workforce transformation with Oracle Cloud

UAE technology group deploys Oracle Fusion Cloud HCM on OCI Dedicated Region to embed artificial intelligence across human resources while meeting national data sovereignty requirements Continue Reading

By

• Andrea Benito , Computer Weekly

College of Policing accounts ‘disclaimed’ by auditor for second year in wake of IT failure

Government auditors have refused to endorse the financial accounts of the professional body for policing in England and Wales for a second year, following IT project blunders Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Investigations Editor

CVE volumes may plausibly reach 100,000 this year

The number of vulnerabilities to be disclosed in 2026 is almost certain to exceed last year's total, and may be heading towards 100,000, according to analysis Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

London Assembly member: Police should halt facial-recognition technology use

In lieu of a full-blown ban on the technology, Green London Assembly member Zoë Garbett has called for a number of new safeguards to be implemented that she feels would protect Londoners from ‘escalating’ biometric surveillance Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Peer ‘disappointed’ that DWP review of subpostmaster prosecutions is still months away

Government indicates that there are 108 DWP prosecutions of subpostmasters that will be reviewed so far, but little progress has been made Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Lack of resources greatest hurdle for regulating AI, MPs told

Regulators warned that statutory powers alone cannot address the ethical harms of artificial intelligence Continue Reading

By

• Charlotte Lang

Fujitsu will be out by next summer, says Post Office CTO

Post Office’s project to replace its controversial core system will contract suppliers by the summer of this year, with the aim to remove Fujitsu by summer 2027, according to its chief technology officer Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

AI enters its ‘grassroots backlash’ era

As artificial intelligence permeates aspects of the economy and society, individuals and civic groups are devising creative ways to rebel - but any impact on AI’s development, adoption and regulation is unclear Continue Reading

By

• Kyle Hiebert, Computer Weekly
• Alexander Martin

February Patch Tuesday: Microsoft drops six zero-days

Microsoft releases patches for six zero-day flaws in its latest monthly update, many of them related to security feature bypass issues Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Researchers delve inside new SolarWinds RCE attack chain

Researchers at Huntress and Microsoft have shared findings from their analysis of a new SolarWinds Web Help Desk vulnerability Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Apple and Google pledge to improve app fairness

The CMA is seeking views on Apple and Google’s commitments to ensure fair app store practices to stoke the UK’s app economy, fintech and improve developer confidence Continue Reading

By

• Brian McKenna, Enterprise Applications Editor

Is the EU’s free trade deal with India the dawn of a new era?

Trade deal between European Union and India simplifies the visa system for professionals from India, which could make the country’s suppliers more accessible Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Second ever international AI safety report published

More than 100 artificial intelligence experts have produced the second international AI safety report ahead of a summit in India, outlining a high degree of uncertainty about the development and risks of AI Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

G42 expands global AI ambitions with sovereign cloud partnership in Vietnam

UAE artificial intelligence champion takes its sovereignty-first model to Southeast Asia Continue Reading

By

• Andrea Benito , Computer Weekly

Zooming in on police technology plans

This week’s edition of the Computer Weekly ezine takes a closer look at the technology changes the Home Office is seeking to introduce to the UK policing sector as part of its wide-ranging reform programme. We also hear from the global CIO of PC hardware manufacturer Lenovo about the work he is doing to grow the company’s services business. Rounding out the issue, we have two features digging deep-er into the security side of artificial intelligence, with one looking at how suppliers are adding the technology to their security portfolios and the other guiding buyers on what to look for when selecting AI security products. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Fractile expansion demonstrates UK growth opportunity

AI chip firm’s £100m expansion and facility in Bristol is being used to showcase the government’s AI opportunity plan in action Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Russia’s cyber attacks on Polish utilities draws NCSC alert

A series of Russian cyber attacks targeting Poland’s energy infrastructure has prompted a warning from the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

UAE’s TII challenges big tech dominance with open source Falcon AI models

Through its Falcon models and an open, efficiency-driven research strategy, the Technology Innovation Institute is positioning the UAE as a producer of foundational AI, not merely a consumer of global platforms Continue Reading

By

• Andrea Benito , Computer Weekly

Ireland to procure national electronic health record

The Irish government has approved project to digitally transform the Irish health service by introducing integrated health records as part of Digital for Care strategy Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

US bid for Dutch ID infrastructure raises sovereignty concerns

Kyndryl’s proposed takeover shows how critical systems become exposed to foreign control without an overarching policy decision Continue Reading

By

• Kim Loohuis

NHS publishes tech-laden cancer plan

The 10-year plan promises to transform cancer care through use of artificial intelligence, robotic surgeries and access to genomic testing, all wrapped up in the NHS App as the front door Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Minister responds to criticism of Post Office Capture redress scheme

Redress claim on ‘pause’ as UK government agrees to look at complaints about scheme for those who suffered hardship from using the Post Office Capture system Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Why sovereign and agentic AI will define next phase of Middle East’s digital transformation

Organisations shift from artificial intelligence pilots to operational deployment as governments prioritise digital sovereignty and infrastructure control Continue Reading

By

• Andrea Benito , Computer Weekly

DWP rejigs operating model for data transformation by 2030

The Department for Work and Pensions’ 2023-2030 data strategy aims to modernise systems, slash costs by 20%, promote data sharing, and embed a data culture in a hub and spoke model Continue Reading

By

• Brian McKenna, Enterprise Applications Editor

SolarWinds RCE bug makes Cisa list as exploitation spreads

Exploitation of CVE-2025-40551, an RCE flaw affecting SolarWinds Web Help Desk, appears to be spreading, with defenders on high alert Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

UK government must get its hands dirty on security, report says

As the UK government develops its National Cyber Action Plan, a report from the Rusi think tank urges Westminster to take a more interventionist approach Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Ransomware gangs focus on winning hearts and minds

Ransomware-as-a-service operations are increasingly seeking to forge connections with employees, contractors and trusted partners of their target organisations as an alternative to straight-up hacking, says NCC Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

The European offensive against encrypted phone evidence

Defendants and lawyers are demanding transparency about digital evidence from police hacking operations used in criminal prosecutions across Europe following a series of critical court judgments. Continue Reading

By

• Yehudi Moszkowicz

CGI’s artificial intelligence boss knows his job title won’t exist for long

IT service provider is using AI to increase throughput while applying it to ‘big ticket’ challenges externally Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

2026 is the year we must get serious about being a data nation

While the UK has the data assets and the expertise to deliver real public benefit with artificial intelligence, a lack of consistency, completeness and interoperability in its data foundations risks missing these opportunities Continue Reading

By

• Resham Kotecha, The Open Data Institute

Why the UK needs to rethink the Investigatory Powers Act and allow intercept evidence in court

The UK needs clear and unambiguous laws around the use of digital evidence in court. The law has become tangled following rulings in the country’s EncroChat prosecutions. It’s time to allow intercept data to be used as evidence in legal cases Continue Reading

By

• Peter Sommer

Kendall names Barnsley as UK’s first tech town

The UK government has named Barnsley as the nation’s first ‘tech town’, with initiatives to boost education, health and local businesses Continue Reading

By

• Brian McKenna, Enterprise Applications Editor

Datacentre indecision: UK government’s back and forth on planning

This week’s Computer Weekly ezine digs into the latest twist in a long-running datacentre planning saga, concerning a server farm in Iver, Buckinghamshire, that the government has now admitted it was wrong to grant planning permission for. We also hear from the head of advanced analytics at Dutch Bank ING about how its foray into using AI technologies is benefiting both its business and the customers it serves. Sticking with the AI theme, we take a deep dive into how the technology is being used as an enabler for the development of urban digital twins, and find out how it can be used to assist IT security teams. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

The UK government’s AI skills programme betrays UK workers and our digital sovereignty

The government's plans to offer AI skills training to the public depends almost entirely on US big tech companies - how is this meant to support the aim of supporting homegrown AI firms and enhancing sovereignty? Continue Reading

By

• Tania Duarte, on behalf of co-contributors

HMRC chooses cloud SAP S/4Hana for tax system overhaul

HM Revenue & Customs is bidding to modernise its tax systems by migrating from ECC6 to SAP’s cloud-based Rise with SAP programme, adopting S/4Hana and AI to enhance efficiency and taxpayer experience Continue Reading

By

• Brian McKenna, Enterprise Applications Editor

Birmingham Oracle project: Data cleansing and resourcing issues

Councillors at audit committee urged to ensure strong project governance, adequate tech staffing levels and change management procedures Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Police intercept evidence from Sky ECC cryptophone network ‘unreliable’, Antwerp court told

Intercepted communications data used to prosecute drug crime gangs is unreliable and does not conform to international standards of evidence, according to an expert report presented to a court in Antwerp Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Investigations Editor

History repeats itself in Post Office Capture redress scheme with low-ball offers made

Early signs show that former Post Office Capture users face derisory initial compensation offers and face impossible appeals process Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Police Digital Service future remains uncertain as ‘radical’ Home Office policing reform unveiled

The UK government’s long-awaited ‘radical’ policing reform whitepaper has finally dropped, but there is a distinct lack of detail in it about how exactly the Police Digital Service will fit into its vision for a nationally led policing sector Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Home Office announces sweeping police technology plans

The Home Office plans to ramp up its deployment of artificial intelligence and facial-recognition technologies under wide-ranging reforms to UK policing Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor