IT for government and public sector
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Feature
27 Aug 2024
Computer simulations show Swedish fusion initiative could have global impact
The only nuclear fusion initiative in the Nordics, Novatron, believes it has a lot to offer on the global scale Continue Reading
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News
20 Aug 2024
Helsinki braced for elevated cyber attacks
The City of Helsinki is increasing its collaboration with cyber security and crime investigators following a major attack on its systems Continue Reading
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News
29 Jun 2023
NHS England signs five-year Microsoft 365 contract
Hot on the heels of its earlier deployment of Microsoft Teams, NHS England is now going all-in on the rest of the software giant’s online productivity tools Continue Reading
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News
29 Jun 2023
NHS to launch Digital Health Check
The NHS Digital Health Check will be rolled out from spring 2024, and allow patients to do certain tests and get advice from their homes Continue Reading
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News
29 Jun 2023
The Finnish Food Authority uses AI to accelerate research
Researchers have reduced the time taken to get critical insights into potential public health crises and address issues in real-time, through artificial intelligence Continue Reading
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News
28 Jun 2023
Charity demands transparency in digital universal credit system
The digital universal credit system needs overhauling to ensure greater transparency over benefit claims and more effective means of redress when things go wrong, says child poverty charity Continue Reading
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News
28 Jun 2023
Scottish government tech accelerator opens latest funding round
The Scottish government’s CivTech accelerator is seeking technology businesses to help develop new tools to improve public services, as well as to address pressing social and environmental issues Continue Reading
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News
28 Jun 2023
GDPR tax reclaim scheme preys on fears of SMEs
IT suppliers are a target of companies offering a tax reclaim scheme that preys on small businesses’ fears around General Data Protection Regulation compliance Continue Reading
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News
27 Jun 2023
Three years on, EncroChat cryptophone hack nets 6,500 arrests and seizures of €900m
French and Dutch prosecutors say three years after they infiltrated the EncroChat cryptophone network in a novel hacking operation, Europe’s courts are opening the way for more collaboration and data sharing between law enforcement agencies Continue Reading
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News
27 Jun 2023
UK AI plans offer ‘inadequate’ human rights protection, says EHRC
The UK’s equality watchdog says the government must properly consider human rights when implementing rules to regulate artificial intelligence, as current plan offers little protection Continue Reading
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News
27 Jun 2023
One Login’s Gov.uk ID check apps downloaded over two million times
The One Login digital identity system is being used by eight government services, and GDS has issued more than 1.5 million verified identities since summer 2022, while its ID check apps are proving popular Continue Reading
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Opinion
26 Jun 2023
Post Office scandal inquiry phase four: Here come the lawyers…
The Post Office scandal was triggered by computer errors, but the cover-up and miscarriages of justice implicate the Post Office, government and lawyers, as professor of law and ethics Richard Moorhead explains Continue Reading
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News
23 Jun 2023
ICO under fire for taking limited action over serious data breaches
The ICO has come under fire from lawyers and data protection specialists for just issuing written warnings to two public bodies over serious data breaches that placed people’s lives at risk Continue Reading
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News
22 Jun 2023
Manchester University students threatened by ransomware gang
Students and staff members at the University of Manchester are being pressurised by an unnamed ransomware gang Continue Reading
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News
22 Jun 2023
UK pension scheme expands relationship with IT services giant TCS
Tata Consultancy Services retains contract with UK pension scheme for another decade after extending a contract that was first signed in 2011 Continue Reading
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News
20 Jun 2023
Post Office will not oppose potential Horizon conviction appellants
Post Office CEO told MPs that the organisation is telling some subpostmasters it won't oppose them if they appeal Continue Reading
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News
20 Jun 2023
More than 50% of care providers have adopted digital records
The adoption of digital social care records has reached more than 50%, but the sector still has a way to go to reach the government’s target of 80% by March 2024 Continue Reading
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News
20 Jun 2023
Tech entrepreneur Ian Hogarth to chair AI Foundation Model Taskforce
The government has hired tech investor Ian Hogarth to lead its taskforce on artificial intelligence (AI) safety, aiming to tackle the safety challenges presented by AI and build public confidence in the use of the technology Continue Reading
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News
20 Jun 2023
Union chief calls for outsourced services to be brought in-house
Unison general secretary calls on Labour to bring outsourced public sector contracts in-house if they fail to meet certain tests Continue Reading
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News
19 Jun 2023
Prime minister Rishi Sunak faces pressure from banks to force tech firms to pay for online fraud
The UK’s major banks have told the prime minister to force tech firms to do more to prevent fraud that the banks end up paying for Continue Reading
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News
19 Jun 2023
Dutch government puts up €123m to address shortage of ICT workers
Financial injection aimed at improving cooperation between vocational education and business in the Netherlands, and making the tech professions more attractive Continue Reading
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News
16 Jun 2023
Collaboration in finance sector develops prototype API for digital currency
The Bank for International Settlements and the Bank of England worked with private sector on central bank digital currency experiment Continue Reading
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News
15 Jun 2023
Exploitation of Barracuda ESG appliances linked to Chinese spies
Intelligence from Mandiant links exploitation of a flaw in a subset of Barracuda ESG appliances to a previously untracked China-nexus threat actor Continue Reading
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News
15 Jun 2023
Technology secretary Chloe Smith announces £54m package for AI
In her speech at London Tech Week, Smith launched funding to support a series of AI initiatives, including creating a research and innovation ecosystem for trustworthy and responsible AI, and developing AI technologies to help the UK reach its net-zero targets Continue Reading
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News
15 Jun 2023
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030: Progress report
Halfway into its plan to give the country a makeover by 2030, Saudi Arabia’s emphasis on technology is starting to pay off Continue Reading
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News
15 Jun 2023
Department for Education plans to assess AI risk and benefits
The department has begun a consultation looking at the role of generative artificial intelligence in education Continue Reading
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E-Zine
14 Jun 2023
CW APAC: Trend Watch – Artificial intelligence
Businesses the world over are exploring ways to use artificial intelligence in their operations. In this handbook, focused on the application of AI in the Asia-Pacific region, Computer Weekly looks at the issue of ethics in AI, what lab-grown neurons could mean for the technology, how an Indian agritech is helping firms maximise crop yields, and how to find winning AI use cases. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
14 Jun 2023
EU AI act passes a significant milestone
The European Union’s AI Act will ban the use of artificial intelligence to profile people based on race or gender and prohibit use of biometric identification in public spaces Continue Reading
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News
14 Jun 2023
Google Cloud signs MoU to accelerate take-up of AI by UK defence sector
Google Cloud is continuing to make in-roads into the UK public sector after signing MoU with The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory Continue Reading
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News
13 Jun 2023
London Tech Week: Keir Starmer calls for AI job loss discussion
Labour leader sees a need for a broad regulatory framework and a frank discussion with business to inform policy around job losses arising from artificial intelligence Continue Reading
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News
13 Jun 2023
Delayed Making Tax Digital programme to cost taxpayers extra £1.5bn
HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) Making Tax Digital programme, which is running several years behind schedule, is expected to cost five times more than planned, National Audit Office (NAO) report finds Continue Reading
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E-Zine
13 Jun 2023
UKtech50 2023: The most influential people in UK technology
In this week’s Computer Weekly, we reveal the 13th annual UKtech50 list of the most influential people in UK technology. This year’s award goes jointly to the secretaries of state for science, innovation and technology – Michelle Donelan and her maternity cover, Chloe Smith. Also, we examine the mounting legal challenges faced by the emergence of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
12 Jun 2023
Ada Lovelace Institute warns against Covid app reuse
There are a number of lessons policy-makers should take away from the use of apps developed as part of the Covid-19 response Continue Reading
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News
12 Jun 2023
Rishi Sunak calls for urgency in building out UK tech
The UK prime minister used his speech during London Tech Week to discuss funding tech, attracting talent and AI safety Continue Reading
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News
09 Jun 2023
UK-US Atlantic Declaration bolsters tech and data collaboration
Joe Biden and Rishi Sunak agree greater collaboration on responsible artificial intelligence, quantum computing and Open RAN Continue Reading
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News
09 Jun 2023
UK and US move closer to transatlantic data bridge deal
The British and American governments have committed, in principle, to a new data bridge agreement that will ease the free flow of personal data across the Atlantic Continue Reading
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News
09 Jun 2023
University of Manchester hit by cyber attack
The University of Manchester has been hit by a cyber attack of an undisclosed nature Continue Reading
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News
08 Jun 2023
CDEI publishes portfolio of AI assurance techniques
The UK’s Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation has published a variety of case studies to show how different assurance techniques can build and maintain trust in artificial intelligence systems Continue Reading
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News
08 Jun 2023
Netherlands enables contactless payments on entire public transport network
All modes of public transport now accept payments using contactless technology after the completion of major project in the Netherlands Continue Reading
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Opinion
08 Jun 2023
Regulatory ‘lacuna’ around facial recognition threatens rights
The UK is heading for a “legal quagmire” around live facial recognition if the government and regulators do not take action to rein in use of the technology before it becomes ubiquitous Continue Reading
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News
08 Jun 2023
Government and industry figures meet to discuss AI regulation
Tech industry figures are broadly supportive of the need for artificial intelligence to be regulated, but despite growing consensus, there is still disagreement over what effective AI regulation looks like Continue Reading
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News
07 Jun 2023
UKtech50 2023: The most influential people in UK technology
Computer Weekly has announced the 13th annual UKtech50 – our definitive list of the movers and shakers in the UK tech sector Continue Reading
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News
07 Jun 2023
UKtech50 2023 winner: Michelle Donelan/Chloe Smith, secretary of state, DSIT
Computer Weekly looks at the achievements and successes of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, as its secretary of state is recognised as the most influential person in UK technology for 2023 Continue Reading
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News
07 Jun 2023
Open banking regulator sets out next steps
Plans for ongoing evolution of the UK open banking sector have been set out by regulator in bid to grow the open banking sector in a ‘safe, scalable and economically sustainable way’ Continue Reading
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News
07 Jun 2023
Payments regulator makes APP fraud reimbursement mandatory
UK payments regulator confirms changes to rules around repaying customers who lose money to authorised push payment fraudsters Continue Reading
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News
07 Jun 2023
Government to test rural broadband options with £7m fund
Government to fund tests of technologies that could be issued to improve internet connectivity for rural communities Continue Reading
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News
06 Jun 2023
Indian IT services giant takes UK teachers’ pensions contract from Capita
Tata Consultancy Services bolsters its growing UK public sector customer base with key contract win Continue Reading
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News
06 Jun 2023
ESA uses NetApp as-a-service for space data ‘hot’ archive
The European Space Agency collects data from millions of miles away. It must get storage right when there’s no chance of a u-turn to take more photos or re-record data Continue Reading
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News
06 Jun 2023
TechUK publishes ‘UK tech plan’ for next government
Technology businesses are calling on UK politicians to devise a ‘comprehensive, forward-thinking strategy’ to realise the benefits of technology ahead of the next general election Continue Reading
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News
05 Jun 2023
Workers ‘deeply uncomfortable’ with digital surveillance at work
Employees express discomfort towards employers’ use of various digital surveillance and monitoring techniques, which are often powered by artificial intelligence Continue Reading
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News
05 Jun 2023
UK has time limit on ensuring cryptocurrency regulatory leadership, says Parliamentary report
Parliamentary report makes 53 recommendations to the government's plans to regulate cryptocurrency Continue Reading
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News
05 Jun 2023
Medical regulator drops probe into NHS whistleblower Peter Duffy amid dispute over email evidence
The General Medical Council has dropped an investigation into an NHS whistleblower who exposed widespread clinical harm at Morecambe Bay Trust amid questions over disputed email evidence Continue Reading
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News
05 Jun 2023
Sweden is developing its own big language model
Artificial Intelligence Sweden is leading an initiative to build a large language model not only for Swedish, but for all the major languages in the Nordic region: Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Icelandic, and Faroese Continue Reading
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News
01 Jun 2023
AI interview: Dan McQuillan, critical computing expert
Critical computing expert Dan McQuillan speaks to Computer Weekly about the top-down imposition of artificial intelligence on society, and how AI is a fundamentally political technology shaped by humanity’s most reactionary tendencies Continue Reading
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News
01 Jun 2023
Met Police director of intelligence defends facial recognition
The Met Police’s director of intelligence has appeared before MPs to make the case for its continuing use of facial-recognition technology, following announcements from the force and the Home Office that they intend to press on with its adoption Continue Reading
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News
30 May 2023
UK, US and Australia jointly trial AI-enabled drone swarm
British, American and Australian military organisations have trialled the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in drones in a collaboration designed to drive their adoption of AI-powered military tools Continue Reading
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News
30 May 2023
Downstream breaches of Capita customers spreading
As many as 90 organisations that used Capita services have now reported data breaches arising from various security incidents at the outsourcer Continue Reading
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News
26 May 2023
Birmingham council leader admits £100m budget hole in ERP upgrade
City council’s plans to replace flagship SAP system, which has been running since 1999, is not going to plan Continue Reading
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News
25 May 2023
Cabinet Office publishes response to data sharing for digital ID consultation
The majority of respondents to government’s consultation on data sharing for digital identity are critical to the plans and concerned about data privacy, but Whitehall’s response says many of the responses ‘were driven by anti-digital commentaries’ Continue Reading
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News
25 May 2023
Alert over Chinese cyber campaign targeting critical networks
A Chinese threat actor known as Volt Typhoon has been observed infiltrating CNI networks in a cyber espionage campaign, according to intelligence Continue Reading
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News
23 May 2023
Starmer pledges to reform the NHS through technology
The Labour Party wants to create an NHS powered by ‘groundbreaking technology’, with genomics testing for every baby, modernising appointment booking and overhaul incentives for tech adoption Continue Reading
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News
22 May 2023
Post Office scandal – cover-up a ‘dark chapter’ in government, corporate and legal history
Third phase of public inquiry into Horizon IT scandal reveals extent of Post Office and Fujitsu cover-up of software problems that went on to write ‘as dark a chapter in our governmental, corporate and legal history as can be imagined’ Continue Reading
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News
22 May 2023
Facebook owner Meta fined record €1.2 billion over EU-US data transfers
Decision could have implications for other companies using Standard Contractual Clauses to share data between Europe and the US Continue Reading
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News
22 May 2023
Worker-focused AI Bill introduced by backbench MP Mick Whitley
Using the 10-minute motion rule, backbench Labour MP Mick Whitley has introduced a worker-focused artificial intelligence (AI) bill to Parliament, which outlines a similar approach to AI being advocated by unions in the UK Continue Reading
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News
19 May 2023
Spanish lawyers claim police hacking of EncroChat cryptophones breaches human rights law
Lawyers speaking at the Madrid Bar Association question the legality of a cryptophone hacking which has led to arrests of organised criminals in multiple countries Continue Reading
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News
19 May 2023
National semiconductor strategy: Balancing skills, migration and security
The UK government is putting £1bn into semiconductor research and design over the next 10 years to develop a robust chip sector Continue Reading
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News
19 May 2023
Campaigning former subpostmaster fears compensation for scandal victims will be delayed to 2025
The man who exposed the Post Office scandal fears a long delay for victims due to compensation process being "bogged down by bureaucracy" Continue Reading
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News
18 May 2023
Defra's tech review reveals legacy IT issues across government
The Public Accoubts Committee recently found that Defra has been unable to measure inefficiencies due to running legacy IT Continue Reading
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News
17 May 2023
Home Office pushes for more police facial-recognition deployments
An independent report commissioned by the biometrics commissioner of England and Wales reveals that the UK policing minister is pushing for wider adoption of facial-recognition technology by police, and further criticises the government’s proposed changes to surveillance oversight Continue Reading
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News
16 May 2023
Plexal launches Cyber Runway 3.0 accelerator programme
The latest iteration of Plexal’s government-backed cyber security startup accelerator will run four work streams to boost startups at various stages of maturity and growth Continue Reading
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News
16 May 2023
No10 Innovation Fellowship Programme ramps up AI focus
Second round of the programme, run jointly by Number 10 and the Government Digital Service, focuses on AI and automation Continue Reading
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News
16 May 2023
UK renews tech and science deal with Japan
Deal focuses on innovation and will see countries collaborate on networking and investment, joint R&D programmes, and exchange schemes Continue Reading
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Opinion
16 May 2023
Why we need a secure side door for encrypted apps, not a back door
Splitting a decryption key into multiple fragments held by 'guardians', including privacy rights group, may be an answer to policing encrypted messages Continue Reading
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News
12 May 2023
MEPs vote in raft of amendments to EU AI Act
The proposed amendments to the EU’s AI Act have garnered a mixed reception from both industry and civil society, with the former seeing it as too stringent and the latter as not stringent enough in many areas, despite positive progress in others Continue Reading
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News
12 May 2023
Post Office lawyer bragged how team ‘destroyed attack on the Horizon system’ and put woman in prison
A senior Post Office lawyer appeared gleeful in email about how his team helped prosecute a subpostmaster who was sent to prison Continue Reading
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News
11 May 2023
Investigatory Powers Tribunal finds NCA EncroChat hacking warrants were lawful
Investigatory Powers Tribunal refers questions over whether messages obtained from the EncroChat encrypted phone network are legally admissible back to the criminal court Continue Reading
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News
11 May 2023
AI outcry intensifies as EU readies regulation
Policymakers are battling to keep pace with AI developments, while experts warn of societal impact Continue Reading
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News
11 May 2023
Journalists’ confidential communications subject to unlawful spying, court hears
Campaign group Liberty and the National Union of Journalists tell Court of Appeal the government has not gone far enough to protect confidential journalist information and sources from surveillance Continue Reading
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News
11 May 2023
Fujitsu staff had ‘unrestricted and unauditable’ remote access to Post Office branch systems
Fujitsu engineers could make changes to Post Office branch accounts without anyone knowing Continue Reading
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News
10 May 2023
UKtech50 2023: Vote for the most influential person in UK technology
Our judges have selected the top 50 leaders from a shortlist of more than 300 people – now it’s your chance to tell us who you think is the most influential person in UK technology Continue Reading
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News
10 May 2023
Black Basta ransomware attack to cost Capita over £15m
Exceptional costs arising from the March 2023 Black Basta ransomware attack on the systems of outsourcer Capita will be somewhere between £15m and £20m, the organisation says Continue Reading
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News
09 May 2023
UKtech50 2023: 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 2023 Continue Reading
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News
08 May 2023
Chat control: EU lawyers warn plans to scan encrypted messages for child abuse may be unlawful
Leaked legal advice warns that European ‘chat control’ proposals to require tech companies to scan private and encrypted messages for child abuse are likely to breach EU law Continue Reading
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News
05 May 2023
Capita pension clients told data may have leaked
Capita has told trustees of some of the pension funds for which it provides outsourced services that their customer data may have been stolen by the Black Basta ransomware operation Continue Reading
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News
02 May 2023
HMRC confirms potential April 2024 end date for double-taxation issue in IR35 compliance cases
HM Revenue & Customs launches eight-week consultation on plans to roll out a legislative tweak that would put a stop to the government tax collection agency over-collecting tax in IR35 non-compliance cases Continue Reading
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E-Zine
02 May 2023
The ethics of military AI
In this week’s Computer Weekly, as the defence sector looks into using artificial intelligence to create autonomous weapons, we examine the risks and ethics of military AI. Amazon Web Services is under fire for not providing vital emissions data to customers – we investigate the issues. And we find out what IT security teams can learn from a year of cyber warfare in Ukraine. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
28 Apr 2023
Government is playing ‘psychic war’ in battle over end-to-end encryption
Peers hear that the UK government is being deliberately ambiguous about its plans to require technology companies to scan the content of encrypted messages Continue Reading
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News
28 Apr 2023
More Post Office software-related convictions overturned takes total to 86
A total of 86 former subpostmasters wrongly prosecuted for financial crimes after computer errors showed phantom losses have had convictions overturned Continue Reading
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News
26 Apr 2023
Police Scotland receive formal notice about cloud system
Scotland’s biometrics watchdog has issued Police Scotland with an information notice over its deployment of a cloud-based digital evidence system, following disclosure of major data protection concerns by Computer Weekly Continue Reading
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News
26 Apr 2023
UK government introduces Digital Markets Bill to Parliament
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill will seek to level the playing field in digital markets by empowering regulators with new tools and powers to directly enforce competition and consumer protection laws Continue Reading
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News
26 Apr 2023
Post Office paid IBM millions when it ended proposed contract to replace Horizon
The Post Office ended a proposed contract with IBM to replace its controversial Horizon system after work had already started Continue Reading
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News
26 Apr 2023
UK taskforce set to drive generative AI safety and opportunities
The government has committed £100m to helping the UK develop and build out generative artificial intelligence capabilities Continue Reading
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News
24 Apr 2023
Emergency alert test review confirmed after ‘small number’ of mobile users excluded
In wake of emergency alert test on 23 April, government confirms review into why some 4G and 5G mobile phones were excluded Continue Reading
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News
24 Apr 2023
Finland and Estonia deepen cross-border digital partnerships
Finland and Estonia, two global tech pioneers, are increasingly sharing their expertise Continue Reading
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News
21 Apr 2023
UK biometrics watchdog questions police cloud deployments
The UK biometrics commissioner has warned that policing and justice bodies must be able to demonstrate ‘immediately and unequivocally’ that their cloud deployments are lawful Continue Reading
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News
20 Apr 2023
UK Emergency Alert Test sparks cyber fraud warning
Fraudsters and scammers are likely to use the upcoming test of the UK's new mobile Emergency Alert system as bait in their attacks, while misinformation and conspiracy theories spread Continue Reading
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News
20 Apr 2023
New GovAssure cyber regime launches across UK government
An enhanced cyber security regime is being put in place to better protect UK government IT systems from growing threats Continue Reading
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News
20 Apr 2023
Capita customer data was stolen in March ransomware attack
Capita says it has uncovered evidence of data exfiltration from a small proportion of its server estate following a cyber attack at the end of March Continue Reading
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News
19 Apr 2023
TUC says government is failing to protect workers from AI harms
TUC issues warning about artificial intelligence leading to more widespread workplace discrimination if the right checks are not put in place Continue Reading
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News
19 Apr 2023
Surrey and Sussex police spared fines after recording 200,000 phone calls without people’s knowledge
Police forces escape potential £1m fines following change of policy by ICO to protect the finances of public sector bodies Continue Reading
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News
19 Apr 2023
IT Priorities 2023: Budget optimism among EMEA IT leaders
IT leaders across the EMEA region are optimistic that their budgets will increase over the coming year Continue Reading
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News
19 Apr 2023
Global finance firms take part in NATO cyber attack simulation
Global financial services organisations take part in NATO annual event which simulates cyber attacks on critical infrastructure Continue Reading