IT for government and public sector

UKtech50 2025: The most influential people in UK technology

Computer Weekly has announced the 15th annual UKtech50 – our definitive list of the movers and shakers in the UK tech sector Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Current approaches to patching unsustainable, report says

Organisations are struggling to prioritise vulnerability patching appropriately, leading to situations where everything is a crisis, which helps nobody, according to a report Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

MoD cyber breach put thousands of Afghan lives at risk

More than 18,000 Afghan citizens eligible to relocate to the UK under a government programme to protect them from the Taliban were put at risk in a heretofore unreportable data breach Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Ada Lovelace: using market forces to professionalise AI assurance

The Ada Lovelace Institute examines how ‘market forces’ can be used to drive the professionalisation of artificial intelligence assurance in the context of a wider political shift towards deregulation Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Data (Use and Access) Act: Reflections on an eight-month statute

It took a long time, but the government's new data legislation finally made it into the statute book - it holds a lot of promise, but also leaves a lot of unanswered questions Continue Reading

By

• Lord Chris Holmes, House of Lords

Brits clinging to Windows 10 face heightened risk, says NCSC

Businesses and consumers alike may not feel the need to upgrade to Windows 11 as its predecessor approaches end-of-life, but they are putting their own security at risk, says the NCSC Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Home Office dumps Fujitsu from IT services contract

Home Office to take IT service desk contract in-house, with staff set to transfer from Fujitsu Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Technology fuels successful FCA fight against unauthorised financial services

The UK finance regulator is using data and technology to identify websites and apps that could cause financial harm Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

MoD supply chain cyber scheme gets up and running

The Ministry of Defence and IASME have launched a certification scheme for organisations working in the UK defence supply chain, with construction firm Morgan Sindall the first business to achieve compliance Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Meta and Alan Turing Institute back open source AI fellowship

Labour’s AI fellowship will see experts use open source AI tools in a bid deliver better public services at lower cost Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Former Post Office staff in Horizon replacement bid team

Escher, which supplied middleware in the Post Office Horizon system, is eyeing up the contract to replace the controversial software Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

UK to create ‘governance framework’ for police facial recognition

Home secretary Yvette Cooper has confirmed UK will regulate police facial recognition, citing police reticence to deploy systems without proper governance, but declined to say if any new framework will be statutory Continue Reading

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• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

UK online safety regime ineffective on misinformation, MPs say

A report from the Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee outlines how the Online Safety Act fails to deal with the algorithmic amplification of ‘legal but harmful’ misinformation Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

European Commission accused of rigging data watchdog appointment

The European Commission has been accused of rigging the selection process for the next European Data Protection supervisor Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Investigations Editor
• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

UK and France forge closer cyber, tech research ties

The navigation and timing systems used by power suppliers and emergency services to run their operations will fall in scope of an Anglo-French research pact that will also foster development in AI and supercomputing Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

NAO says government should employ data analytics to tackle fraud

The National Audit Office recommends public bodies share and manage data in a way that prevents fraud and saves taxpayers’ money Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Accounting watchdog ‘disclaims’ College of Policing financial accounts after serious IT failures

The professional body for policing in England and Wales failed to properly manage its transition to new accounting and payroll systems Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Investigations Editor

July Patch Tuesday brings over 130 new flaws to address

Microsoft patched well over 100 new common vulnerabilities and exposures on the second Tuesday of the month, but its latest update is mercifully light on zero-days Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Liverpool launches community AI charter

The charter, which was created by a residents’ assembly, outlines public data sharing principles and supports the use of AI for public benefit Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Post Office inquiry chair 'cannot rule out' scandal caused 13 suicides

Post Office scandal public inquiry publishes its first report after three years of gathering and analysing evidence, examining the human impact on victims and the compensation process Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

NHS trust accused of ‘at best cavalier, at worst deceitful’ behaviour after deleting emails

A London hospital trust faces allegations it withheld key evidence from a tribunal hearing after one of its directors attempted to destroy more than 90,000 emails Continue Reading

By

• Tommy Greene

Do tech executives in US Army present conflict of interest?

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we take a deep dive into the controversial news that four technology executives have been sworn into the US military to make the armed forces ‘more lethal’. In other US-centric news, we look at how President Trump’s downgrading of diversity and inclusion initiatives could be potentially rippling across the Atlantic and affecting tech hiring trends in the UK. We also hear about a UK startup that is using AI to pinpoint the genetic code that needs tweaking to increase tomato and potato yields, as part of a broader push to increase the nation’s food security in the face of climate change. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Tech firms complicit in ‘economy of genocide’, says UN rapporteur

A UN special rapporteur has called for technology firms operating in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories to immediately halt their activities, in wider report about the role corporate entities have played in the Israeli state’s ongoing ‘crimes of apartheid and genocide’ Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

NHS to be ‘digital by default’

Single Patient Records, a digitally enabled neighbourhood health service, and the NHS App becoming a ‘doctor in your pocket’ are all part of the government’s 10-year plan for the NHS Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

US CISA agency extends Iran cyber alert, warns of CNI threat

The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency reiterates guidance for operators of critical national infrastructure as it eyes the possibility of cyber attacks from Iran Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Google fixes type confusion flaw in Chrome browser

An actively exploited type confusion vulnerability in the Google Chrome web browser needs immediate attention from users Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Why the Gov.uk App could (maybe, possibly...) be a turning point for digital government

Twelve years ago, the Government Digital Service (GDS) told us that it was “not ‘appy at all”. The March 2013 blog post that announced GDS would not develop a government mobile app and would ... Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

Law professor urges CMA to take swift and urgent action over Microsoft cloud licensing

University of Leeds law professor has published an academic paper calling on the UK Competition and Markets Authority not to drag its heels on correcting Microsoft’s controversial cloud licensing habits Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Dutch study uncovers cognitive biases undermining cyber security board decisions

Dutch research reveals how cognitive biases can lead to catastrophic security decisions Continue Reading

By

• Kim Loohuis

Shared services in the public sector – is bigger really better?

CIO Sean Green discusses the role of shared services in the UK public sector today Continue Reading

By

• Sean Green

Government launches Gov.uk App

The public beta version of the app will allow users to access government services on their phones, based on their needs and interests Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

IR35: Use of HMRC CEST tool drops by more than 70%, delayed FOI reveals

HMRC announced, via a freedom of information response, that use of its IR35 status checker tool is declining, as around 20% of its users continue to get an undetermined response from it. Caroline Donnelly reports Continue Reading

Better governance is required for AI agents

The Security Think Tank considers how CISOs can best plan to facilitate the secure running of AI and Gen AI-based initiatives and ensure employees do not inadvertently leak data or make bad decisions Continue Reading

By

• Mandy Andress, Elastic

Ciaran Martin: AI might disturb attacker-defender security balance

The founder of the National Cyber Security Centre spoke with Computer Weekly at Infosecurity Europe 2025 about how artificial intelligence might disturb the attacker-defender security equilibrium Continue Reading

By

• Brian McKenna, Enterprise Applications Editor

MPs propose ban on predictive policing

MPs are attempting to amend the UK government’s forthcoming Crime and Policing Bill so that it prohibits the use of controversial predictive policing systems Continue Reading

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• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

UK joins global health regulator network for safe use of AI

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has become a founding member of the HealthAI Global Regulatory Network, aiming to get trustworthy artificial intelligence tools into the NHS Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Fujitsu’s grip on HMRC loosening but bags of taxpayer cash still to be made

The complicated and risky nature of replacing IT suppliers in major government contracts means Fujitsu will be cashing in for years to come Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Silicon Valley execs sworn in to US Army reserves specialist unit

Four technology executives are brought into the military to make the armed forces ‘more lethal’, reflecting softening attitudes throughout the sector towards ‘the business of inflicting violence’ Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Seven main suspects under police investigation in national Post Office probe

The national police investigation into crimes related to the Post Office scandal expects the number of suspects to continue to rise Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

British hacker IntelBroker faces years in a US prison cell

US authorities have unsealed charges against 25-year-old hacker Kai West, aka IntelBroker, accusing him of being behind multiple cyber attacks Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Glasgow Council services remain offline a week after cyber attack

Disruption continues a week after core services at Glasgow City Council were forced offline following a cyber attack on a third-party IT services provider Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Public sector spends £16.6bn directly with tech suppliers every year

Government and public sector bodies spent big on technology last year, but the majority of the money went to large IT suppliers, with 84% of the total spend going to so-called ‘tech titans’, according to a report from Tussell Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Wrongly convicted subpostmasters may have to wait another year for redress

MPs on the Public Accounts Committee say the government has not done enough to contact all those who qualify for Post Office scandal compensation schemes Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

UK ransomware costs significantly outpace other countries

UK organisations hit by ransomware attacks paid much higher ransoms than in other countries over the past 12 months, according to study Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

One year since being freed, Julian Assange still a victim of state secrecy

If the State Department’s arguments prevail in FOIA litigation, the truth about US action against Julian Assange and WikiLeaks journalists will never be known Continue Reading

By

• Stefania Maurizi

Digital ID: cool or contentious?

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we dig into the discourse surrounding the proposal to roll out a national digital identity scheme across the UK, and hear from HPE’s CIO on what he’s learned from his time previously working as an IT chief in the retail sector. We round out the buyer’s guide to cloud repatriation with a look at what’s driving the trend, before concluding the issue with a look at the controversy surrounding quantum computing. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Widening Middle Eastern war increases cyber risk

With the entry of the US into the widening Middle Eastern conflict, cyber risk is likely to increase across the board Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

MPs to investigate potential for government digital identity scheme

Amid growing calls for a national digital ID scheme, Home Affairs Committee launches inquiry into likely benefits and risks Continue Reading

Industrial strategy: Takeaways for UK tech innovations

Labour wants to put the UK at the forefront of tech innovation. Its industrial strategy offers a funding boost for tech and lighter-touch regulation Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Cyber Essentials certifications rising slowly but steadily

The number of businesses attaining the NCSC Cyber Essentials certification continues to increase, but much more can be done to raise awareness of the scheme Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

UK data reforms become law

UK passes wide-ranging data protection reforms to ‘simplify’ organisations’ sharing and processing of data, but questions remain whether changes will be accepted by European Commission when renewing UK data adequacy Continue Reading

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• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Beyond the AI hype: How data laws quietly handed power to government and Big Tech

The UK is at risk of becoming an ‘algorithm state’ as the government hands more power to Big Tech and reduces the rights of individuals Continue Reading

By

• James Baker, Platform Power Programme Manager at Open Rights Group

Dutch cloud pioneers face the hard limits of digital sovereignty

The Netherlands’ ambitious talk of digital independence meets the unforgiving economics of global cloud dominance Continue Reading

By

• Kim Loohuis

Government hires chief data officer

Former MoD data chief, Lindsay Mason, has taken on the role of chief data officer in earl on a temporary basis while government recruits for a permanent position Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Report on integrity of current Post Office Horizon system due in autumn

Investigation into the integrity and discrepancy identification capabilities of Post Office core system being carried out by independent specialists Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Government announces details of Post Office Capture redress scheme

The government says it wants new scheme to take a ‘common sense’ approach to redress for former Capture users Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Should we trust Humphrey to boost public sector efficiency?

Labour is betting on Humphrey, an AI toolkit named after a Yes Minister character, to drive public sector efficiency Continue Reading

By

• Elena Simperl

Cyber action plan kicks off to ‘supercharge’ UK security sector

UK government says its cyber growth action plan will provide a large boost to Britain’s security industry as it sets out to create a roadmap for future growth Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Patients to access clinical trials via NHS App

As government plans a £50m upgrade of the NHS App, people will be able to sign up to clinical trials that will match them to available studies Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

UKtech50: Vote for the most influential person in UK technology

Our judges have selected the top 50 leaders from a shortlist of nearly 500 people – now it’s your chance to tell us who you think is the most influential person in UK technology Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

IR35: Use of HMRC CEST tool drops by more than 70%, delayed FOI reveals

HMRC has revealed, via a Freedom of Information response, that use of its IR35 status checker tool is declining, as around 20% of users continue to get an undetermined response from it Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Intelligence sharing key to cyber security in Europe, says EU Commission cyber expert

Cyber criminals choose not to attack Europe due to its resilience and preparedness, says the EU Commission’s principal advisor for cyber security coordination, Despina Spanou Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

UKtech50 2025: the longlist of the UK’s influential tech leaders

Each year, Computer Weekly launches a search for the most influential people in UK IT, asking the tech community who it thinks should be in the top 50 – here is the longlist of everyone nominated for 2025 Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Apple encryption row: Does law enforcement need to use Technical Capability Notices?

History shows that law enforcement can bring successful prosecutions without the need for the Home Office to introduce ‘backdoors’ into end-to-end encryption Continue Reading

By

• Professor Peter Sommer, digital evidence expert witness

France is committed to AI, says president Macron

The French president wants homegrown artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and thinks plans to create a European cloud platform dedicated to AI will be a ‘game changer’ Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Sweden gets help pulling its sovereign AI socks up

Urgent government calls for more high-powered sovereign computers to fulfil Swedish goal of building a more powerful AI industry answered by foreign financiers, US tech and Europe’s AI emergency fund Continue Reading

By

• Mark Ballard

MPs to investigate potential for government digital identity scheme

Amid growing calls for a national digital ID scheme, Home Affairs Committee launches inquiry into likely benefits and risks Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

AI vs creative industries - the UK government's foolish choice

The UK government is cosying up to Big Tech when instead it should be vociferously protecting the creative industries from the avarice of AI giants Continue Reading

By

• Emer Coleman

NHS IT the big winner in Reeves’ Spending Review

The chancellor of the exchequer has significantly upped spending on digital and technology initiatives in the current Spending Review period, with the NHS receiving a 50% tech funding increase Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Human vs digital therapy: AI falls short when IT pros need help

Stressed IT and cyber professionals are turning to AI chatbots for support, but is handing people's mental wellbeing over to algorithms really such a bright idea? Continue Reading

By

• Malcolm Hanson, PTSD Revolution

Investor behaviour in the wake of cyber's 'black swan' moment

So-called Black Swan events expose the blind spots in even the most sophisticated forecasting models, signaling a need to rethink how businesses, and those investing in them, quantify and prepare for cyber risk. Continue Reading

By

• Ed Bartlett, Hicomply

Government using national security as ‘smokescreen’ in Apple encryption row

Senior conservative MP David Davis says the Home Office should disclose how many secret orders it has issued against telecoms and internet companies to Parliament Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Investigations Editor

June Patch Tuesday brings a lighter load for defenders

Barely 70 vulnerabilities make the cut for Microsoft’s monthly security update, but an RCE flaw in WEBDAV and an EoP issue in Windows SMB Client still warrant close attention Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Cyber Bill at risk of becoming a missed opportunity, say MPs

An APPG report warns that the government’s flagship cyber security legislation is too narrow in its scope and risks missing opportunities to embed resilience at the heart of the British economy Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

London Tech Week: More funding, fellowships and skills

The government wants to make the UK the best place for tech and AI, opening pathways for global talent and venture capital funding Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Tariff turmoil: IT procurement and the public sector

In the first of a two-part series, we look at the current tariff turmoil in public sector IT procurement, the particular challenges faced by public sector procurement, and how the cloud and pay-as-you-go can help Continue Reading

By

• Stephen Pritchard

UK defence scheme invests in future cyber tech Cheri

Cambridge-based SCI Semiconductors is awarded DTEP funding to work on the application of defensive Cheri technology Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

HMRC paid Fujitsu £310m last year, but Post Office supplier’s UK business faces gradual decline

While victims are made to fight for every penny they are owed, the IT supplier at the centre of the Post Office scandal is handed hundreds of millions of pounds by UK government Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

The data deficit undermining Britain’s public sector AI push

This is a guest blogpost by Matthew Houlihan, senior director of government affairs, Cisco. The UK is racing to transform its public services for the digital age—and rightly so. The potential ... Continue Reading

By

• Brian McKenna, Enterprise Applications Editor

Labour commits £17.2m to support Spärck AI scholarships

The government has put up money to help drive the UK’s expertise in artificial intelligence Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Are we normalising surveillance in schools?

Children and teenagers are subjected to a vast array of surveillance technologies in schools. These are intended to keep them safe, but are we normalising surveillance for young people? Continue Reading

By

• Peter Ray Allison

Starmer opens London Tech Week with £1bn AI boost

Prime Minister unveiled plans to boost UK’s high-performance compute capacity 20-fold, along with funding to bolster skills Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Government to create online platform for public sector tech buyers

The National Digital Exchange will be a one-stop shop for public sector tech buying, allowing organisations to rate and review products and gain access to pre-approved tech deals Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

US lawmakers say UK has ‘gone too far’ by attacking Apple’s encryption

US politicians are calling for Congress to rewrite the US Cloud Act to prevent the UK issuing orders to require US tech companies to introduce ‘backdoors’ in end-to-end encrypted messaging and storage Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Investigations Editor

An industrial strategy without tech is no strategy at all

Ahead of the delivery of the UK government’s Industrial Strategy white paper, TechUK sets out how the tech sector can drive growth, and the steps the government should take to harness it Continue Reading

By

• Julian David, TechUK

What happens if Silicon Valley’s AI investment bubble bursts?

US tech giants are burning through unprecedented amounts of capital to develop artificial superintelligence, but authoritarian regimes around the world could keep the pursuit of a techno-utopian future alive when the bubble subsides Continue Reading

By

• Kyle Hiebert, Computer Weekly

UK ICO publishes AI and biometrics strategy

The UK data regulator has outlined how it will approach the regulation of artificial intelligence and biometric technologies, which will focus in particular on automated decision-making systems and police facial recognition Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Whitehall fails to recognise digital procurement challenge, says PAC

Committee concerned that Government Commercial Function doesn’t understand the scale of reform needed to address long-standing digital procurement issues, including lack of skills and leadership Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

HMRC phishing breach wholly avoidable, but hard to stop

A breach at HMRC saw innocent taxpayers tricked into letting scammers impersonate them through simple phishing attacks leading to account takeover. Such attacks are avoidable, but hard to stop Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

UK’s error-prone eVisa system is ‘anxiety-inducing’

People experiencing technical errors with the Home Office’s electronic visa system explain the psychological toll of not being able to reliably prove their immigration status in the face of a hostile and unresponsive bureaucracy Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Building the foundations: A national roadmap for digital identity and sovereign data

Now the UK government has offered some clarity on the future of private and public sector digital identity services, it's time to work together to put the essential foundations in place to make digital ID work for everyone Continue Reading

By

• David Crack, Association of Digital Verification Professionals

Put ROCs before SOCs, Qualys tells public sector

Putting risk operations before security operations may help government agencies and other public sector bodies better manage the myriad threats they face, and make better decisions for the security of all Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

NCSC sets out how to build cyber safe cultures

The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre has published guidance for security teams and leaders on how to foster accessible and appropriate cyber security cultures in their organisations Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Investigatory powers: Guidelines for police and spies could also help businesses with AI

Computer Weekly talks to Muffy Calder, technology advisor to the UK’s investigatory powers commissioner, about privacy, intrusion and artificial intelligence Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Investigations Editor

Microsoft outlines three-pronged European cyber strategy

Microsoft chair Brad Smith outlines an expansive cyber programme targeting governments across Europe with enhanced threat intelligence and support Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

European Commission should rescind UK data adequacy

Civil society organisations have urged the European Commissioner to not renew the UK’s data adequacy, given the country’s growing divergence from European data protection standards Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Fortifying the future: The pivotal role of CISOs in AI operations

The Security Think Tank considers how CISOs can best plan to facilitate the secure running of AI and Gen AI-based initiatives and ensure employees do not inadvertently leak data or make bad decisions. Continue Reading

By

• Aditya K Sood, Aryaka

Dutch university’s rapid response saved it from ransomware devastation

Eindhoven University of Technology has planned multi-factor authentication and regularly practised cyber crisis drills – yet it still fell victim to attackers who exploited gaps in its defences Continue Reading

By

• Kim Loohuis

Interview: Manish Jethwa, chief technology officer, Ordnance Survey

The UK mapping service has moved on a long way from paper maps as it now looks to use artificial intelligence to understand, interpret and derive insights from geographical data Continue Reading

By

• Mark Samuels

Preparing for AI: The CISO’s role in security, ethics and compliance

The Security Think Tank considers how CISOs can best plan to facilitate the secure running of AI and Gen AI-based initiatives and ensure employees do not inadvertently leak data or make bad decisions. Continue Reading

By

• Elliott Wilkes, ACDS