IT legislation and regulation
Understanding the law as it applies to IT management can be one of the hardest task for IT leaders, but the growing burden of regulatory compliance makes it essential. Legislation and regulation affects enterprise IT in many ways, not just in long-standing tasks such as contracts and software licensing. We examine the latest legal development and how they affect IT managers, and talk to the experts in IT legislation and regulation to explain what it means to your organisation.
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News
13 May 2024
Norway bolsters digital transformation drive
Norway’s government backs digital transformation with major capital investment this year Continue Reading
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News
11 Mar 2024
Vinnova launches National Digital Advancement project
Swedish state innovation initiative invests in a network of regional research and development centres Continue Reading
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News
23 Jul 2024
Chrome cookies reprieved amid Google Privacy Sandbox changes
Google abruptly changes tack on third-party cookies in its Chrome web browser, cancelling plans to deprecate them in favour of an unspecified ‘new experience’ for users Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Jul 2024
Enhancing mobile app security with behaviour-based biometrics
Behavioural-based biometrics offer tantalising advantages over more traditional biometric solutions. Learn about some of the benefits and potential challenges for safe and secure implementation Continue Reading
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News
22 Jul 2024
NCA cracks digitalstress DDoS-for-hire operation
The UK authorities have taken down a major component of the multinational DDoS cyber attack-for-hire ecosystem, hacking into the digitalstress.su service and exfiltrating data on its users, who now face arrest Continue Reading
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News
22 Jul 2024
BT fined £17.5m for ‘catastrophic’ emergency network outage
UK comms regulator issues fine to country’s leading telco for being underprepared to handle disruption in June 2023, affecting 14,000 emergency calls and lasting 10.5 hours Continue Reading
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Opinion
22 Jul 2024
Fundamental guardrails to address AI risk and value
Leveraging existing governance approaches and current success will make AI governance less daunting while supporting business goals Continue Reading
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News
17 Jul 2024
UK Cyber Bill teases mandatory ransomware reporting
In the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill introduced in the King's Speech, the UK's new government pledges to give regulators more teeth to ensure compliance with security best practice and to mandate incident reporting Continue Reading
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News
17 Jul 2024
Hackney Council reprimanded over 2020 ransomware attack
The London Borough of Hackney has been reprimanded by the ICO over a series of failures that led to a devastating cyber attack, but at the same time, the regulator praised the local authority for its response and commitment to making improvements Continue Reading
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News
17 Jul 2024
Labour government plans new laws around cyber security, data sharing and skills
The King's Speech outlined the legislative agenda for the new Parliament, including several bills that will impact the tech community Continue Reading
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News
16 Jul 2024
Strategic Defence Review must emphasise cyber security, says industry
Cyber security leaders say the new government's Strategic Defence Review needs to put digital security front and centre Continue Reading
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News
16 Jul 2024
CMA looks deeper into Microsoft’s AI hirings
Microsoft recently hired two former co-founders of AI specialist Inflection AI, and signed a deal to host the company’s AI model on Azure Continue Reading
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News
10 Jul 2024
The security interview: Managing the ‘no’ mindset
Matt Riley, data protection and information security officer at Sharp Europe, discusses balancing cyber risks with business leaders’ goals Continue Reading
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Opinion
10 Jul 2024
Week one of a new government and it’s time to talk tech
The new UK government is already making changes around technology delivery and its legislative agenda needs to focus on some important digital priorities, says Lord Chris Holmes Continue Reading
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Opinion
09 Jul 2024
Welcome minister, the next Horizon scandal is here in your department
Ministers in the new UK government should take prompt action to ensure that incorrect use of AI and algorithmic decision-making does not turn into the next Post Office Horizon scandal Continue Reading
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News
09 Jul 2024
Revamped DSIT to transform digital public services, says government
The incoming government sets out preliminary plans to conduct a major revamp and relaunch of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology Continue Reading
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News
03 Jul 2024
NCA’s Operation Morpheus targets illicit Cobalt Strike use
International law enforcement operation targets cyber criminals using the Cobalt Strike penetration testing framework for dodgy purposes Continue Reading
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News
03 Jul 2024
Former Post Office chair 'regrets' keeping critical Horizon report secret
Tim Parker, chairman of the Post Office from 2015 to 2022, admits he should not have accepted legal advice to prevent release of a review that could have supported victims of the Horizon scandal Continue Reading
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Opinion
03 Jul 2024
Cyber Essentials at 10: Success or failure?
The Cyber Essentials scheme passed its 10th anniversary in June 2024. CyberSmart's Adam Pilton reflects on progress and argues that more needs to be done to raise security awareness among Britain's small business community Continue Reading
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Opinion
01 Jul 2024
How Broadcom cemented its European cloud sovereignty credentials
The owner of VMware targets flexible deployment options for European public cloud sovereignty Continue Reading
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News
28 Jun 2024
How FWD is driving its digital strategy
FWD’s group chief technology and operations officer talks up how the pan-Asian insurer is driving change faster and putting technology at the heart of its services Continue Reading
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News
26 Jun 2024
Ignorance of ‘legal niceties’ from Post Office expert IT witness saw innocent people jailed
IT expert used by Post Office to give evidence supporting prosecutions of subpostmasters did not understand legal duties he was bound to Continue Reading
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News
26 Jun 2024
Police Scotland did not consult ICO about high-risk cloud system
Police Scotland chose not to formally consult with the data regulator about the risks identified with a cloud-based digital evidence sharing system, while the regulator itself did not follow up for nearly three months Continue Reading
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Opinion
25 Jun 2024
The Post Office Offences Bill leaves much unresolved
The passing of a law to exonerate most of the victims of the Post Office scandal was undoubtedly good news - but the next government must address the anomaly that left thirteen people outside its remit Continue Reading
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News
25 Jun 2024
Numbers prove former subpostmaster federation boss’s ignorance over Post Office scandal
George Thomson is ignoring the numbers when he downplays subpostmaster prosecutions based on Horizon data Continue Reading
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News
24 Jun 2024
Sellafield pleads guilty to criminal charges over cyber security
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority-backed organisation Sellafield Ltd pleads guilty to criminal charges brought over significant cyber security failings that could have compromised sensitive nuclear information Continue Reading
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Opinion
24 Jun 2024
AI and outsourcing: What’s the future for relationships and contracts? (Part two)
In the second part of this two-part series, two technology lawyers offer guidance on what the integration of artificial intelligence in IT outsourcing and business process outsourcing will mean for customers and providers in outsourcing relationships and contracts Continue Reading
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News
24 Jun 2024
Metropolitan Police could investigate one of its own staff in Post Office probe
Former Post Office investigator deleted references to software errors in a witness statement from Fujitsu’s Gareth Jenkins during the wrongful prosecution of a subpostmaster Continue Reading
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News
21 Jun 2024
Qilin ransomware gang publishes stolen NHS data online
The ransomware gang behind a major cyber attack on NHS supplier Synnovis has published a 400GB trove of private healthcare data online Continue Reading
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News
21 Jun 2024
Kaspersky says it can continue to sell cyber threat intelligence in spite of US ban
The US government is stopping Kaspersky Lab from offering its antivirus software and cyber security tools to US firms and citizens Continue Reading
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News
21 Jun 2024
ICO police cloud guidance released under FOI
Long-awaited guidance from the UK data regulator on police cloud deployments highlights some potential data transfer mechanisms it thinks can clear up ongoing legal issues, but tells forces it’s up to them to decide if the measures would work Continue Reading
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News
20 Jun 2024
Sir Alan Bates hits out at Post Office ‘incompetence’ after data breach
Victims of the scandal react with anger at news the Post Office published a document containing their names and addresses on its website Continue Reading
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News
19 Jun 2024
Post Office Horizon system investigators were blocked and threatened as they witnessed cover-up
Independent investigators who put Post Office and its Horizon system under spotlight faced aggression as they witnessed cover-up Continue Reading
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News
19 Jun 2024
Microsoft admits no guarantee of sovereignty for UK policing data
Documents show Microsoft’s lawyers admitted to Scottish policing bodies that the company cannot guarantee sensitive law enforcement data will remain in the UK, despite long-standing public claims to the contrary Continue Reading
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News
18 Jun 2024
General election 2024: The Green Party promises Digital Bill of Rights
The Green Party manifesto contains several tech nuggets, including a bill to ensure independent regulation of social media platforms, increase R&D investment and a cautious regulatory approach to AI pledges Continue Reading
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E-Zine
18 Jun 2024
General election 2024 – the digital policies examined
In this week’s Computer Weekly, we examine the digital policies revealed in the three main political parties’ general election manifestos. Our new buyer’s guide looks at the latest trends in cloud security. And we find out about the EU’s plans for a digital single market that could span the globe. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
17 Jun 2024
Artificial intelligence to make Olympic Games more inclusive
The International Olympic Committee is working with Intel to use AI at the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Jun 2024
Autonomous weapons systems defy rigid attempts at arms control
In an ever more dangerous world, the technology is outpacing diplomacy and holds clear strategic value. Retaining human control over its use will require embracing imperfect solutions Continue Reading
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Blog Post
14 Jun 2024
General election 2024: Digital threads run through all parties' manifesto commitments
We’re not yet at the stage where a general election manifesto contains an entire section on digital economy issues, alongside the expected priorities of health, education, defence, housing and so ... Continue Reading
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News
14 Jun 2024
Post Office scandal victims in Scotland have convictions quashed
Scotland follows England, Wales and Northern Ireland in exonerating wrongfully convicted subpostmasters en masse Continue Reading
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News
13 Jun 2024
General election 2024: Labour promises to boost digital infrastructure
The Labour Party manifesto for the UK general election promises a new industrial strategy and an overhaul of planning rules to help support the digital and tech sector Continue Reading
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News
13 Jun 2024
AI’s environmental cost could outweigh sustainability benefits
Artificial intelligence can help organisations manage and mitigate their environmental impacts in a number of ways, but the highly polluting nature of the technology could outweigh its other sustainability benefits if not dealt with Continue Reading
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News
13 Jun 2024
Q&A: Adalbjorn Thorolfsson on IT project management in Iceland
With a small, but very sophisticated population, Iceland has unique ways of keeping up with the rest of the world in the IT sector. Adalbjorn Thorolfsson, president of the Icelandic Project Management Association, describes some lessons for the rest of the world Continue Reading
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News
12 Jun 2024
IT witness was hidden away from Post Office court battle, but supported it from shadows
Former Fujitsu chief architect provided evidence support to Post Office witnesses in High Court battle despite being unfit to provide it directly Continue Reading
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News
10 Jun 2024
AI firms can’t be trusted to voluntarily share risk information
Workers at frontier AI firms have warned that their employers – including OpenAI, DeepMind and Anthropic – can’t be trusted to voluntarily share information about their systems capabilities and risks with governments or civil society Continue Reading
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News
07 Jun 2024
DDoS gang threatens to disrupt European elections
Russian hacktivists are threatening to disrupt the European Parliament elections, while the BBC reports on new deepfake threats to the UK’s electoral process Continue Reading
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News
07 Jun 2024
HP loses in US fraud case against Autonomy's Mike Lynch
Autonomy founder cleared of fraud in US trial, following on from HP's $5bn write-down after tts acquisition of the data discovery firm Continue Reading
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News
07 Jun 2024
Rapid AI development poses supervisory challenges in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, the financial regulator and the monetary authority are grappling with the pace of artificial intelligence development and its implications for the financial industry Continue Reading
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News
06 Jun 2024
FBI finds 7,000 LockBit decryption keys in blow to criminal gang
The US authorities say they now have more than 7,000 LockBit decryption keys in their possession and are urging victims of the prolific ransomware gang to come forward Continue Reading
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News
05 Jun 2024
Qilin ransomware gang likely behind crippling NHS attack
Security experts investigating a major cyber attack on an NHS partner that has caused frontline services across South London to grind to a halt say the Qilin ransomware gang appears to be the culprit Continue Reading
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News
04 Jun 2024
Invasive tracking ‘endemic’ on sensitive support websites
Websites set up by police, charities and universities to help people get support for sensitive issues like addiction and sexual harassment are deploying tracking technologies that harvest information without proper consent Continue Reading
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News
04 Jun 2024
Russia used fake AI Tom Cruise in Olympic disinformation campaign
Microsoft threat researchers report a surge in Russian disinformation campaigns targeting the 2024 Summer Olympics, including AI-enhanced propaganda Continue Reading
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News
03 Jun 2024
AI Seoul Summit review
Dozens of governments and tech companies attending the second global AI Safety Summit have committed themselves to the safe and inclusive development of the technology, but questions remain around whether the commitments made go far enough Continue Reading
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Opinion
03 Jun 2024
Proposed AI Bill scuppered by general election – so what comes next?
Lord Chris Holmes explains why he intends to bring his Private Member's Bill on AI back to Parliament once the new government is in place Continue Reading
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News
30 May 2024
Europol sting operation smokes multiple botnets
Malware droppers including Bumblebee and Smokeloader were among those targeted in one of the largest ever joint operations against cyber criminal botnets Continue Reading
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News
29 May 2024
Next UK government must be prepared to legislate on AI, say MPs
The House Science, Innovation and Technology Committee says the next government should be ready to legislate on artificial intelligence to plug any regulatory gaps Continue Reading
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News
29 May 2024
Interview: EU data chief Ulrich Ahle on obstacles to Europe’s digital single market
EU data scheme Gaia-X is trying to plug the UK into Europe’s planned digital single market as opposition mounts to efforts to extend the reach of Europe’s vast and controversial data laws over global supply chains Continue Reading
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News
28 May 2024
Executive Interview: Why Dell wants to be your one-stop AI shop
At Dell Technologies World in Las Vegas, artificial intelligence was the talk of the town as Dell staked out an all-encompassing strategy ahead of an anticipated goldrush. Dell’s Nick Brackney explains why the tech giant believes it's onto a winner Continue Reading
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News
28 May 2024
Post Office scandal: Met Police investigation set to go national
The police investigation into Post Office and Fujitsu executives is about to gain the status of a major national investigation – but it could be years before any individuals are charged with crimes or face trial Continue Reading
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E-Zine
28 May 2024
Digital border problems are stacking up
In this week’s Computer Weekly, we examine the government’s post-Brexit plans for digital borders as problems begin to emerge. We find out about AI PCs and ask whether they will make any difference for enterprise IT. And we talk to Red Hat CEO Matt Hicks about the open source opportunities from AI. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
24 May 2024
Over 700 wrongful subpostmaster convictions overturned by new legislation
Parliament has approved a law that will see hundreds of subpostmasters with wrongful convictions exonerated as one of the government’s final acts before the general election Continue Reading
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News
24 May 2024
Paula Vennells boasted about removing Horizon risk reference in Royal Mail flotation prospectus
A reference to Horizon was removed from Royal Mail prospectus by Paula Vennells in the eleventh hour Continue Reading
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News
23 May 2024
Northern Ireland police face £750,000 fine after data protection blunder put lives at risks
Information commissioner John Edwards uses discretion to reduce proposed fine from £5.6m to £750,000 Continue Reading
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News
22 May 2024
Dutch employers should discuss using algorithms in managing staff
Dutch organisations must engage in open discussions with employees about the use of algorithms and data in managing staff Continue Reading
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News
22 May 2024
AI Seoul Summit: 27 nations and EU to set red lines on AI risk
The countries will now work together to identify thresholds at which the risks presented by an AI model or system would be unacceptable without safeguards in place, as well as develop interoperable safety testing regimes for the technology Continue Reading
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Feature
22 May 2024
Neom: The tip of the tech iceberg in the Saudi desert
What is known about plans for Saudi Arabian smart city Neom could be just the tip of the iceberg Continue Reading
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News
21 May 2024
The Security Interviews: What is the real cyber threat from China?
Former NCSC boss Ciaran Martin talks about nation-state attacks, why the UK has become so exercised about cyber espionage, and how our leaders are in danger of misunderstanding their adversaries Continue Reading
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News
20 May 2024
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange granted appeal
Two high court judges granted WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange leave to appeal against extradition to the US after defence lawyers argued that the US had failed to give adequate assurances Continue Reading
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News
17 May 2024
Why the UK needs to fix its broken IT security market
Ollie Whitehouse, CTO of GCHQ’s National Cyber Security Centre, says the market for secure software is broken. Are new laws required to make software companies liable for poor security? Continue Reading
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News
16 May 2024
Post Office IT boss failed to raise concern over false Horizon statements
Former Post Office CIO Lesley Sewell failed to raise concern over Post Office’s false stance on Horizon integrity Continue Reading
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News
16 May 2024
Sunak warned against changing foreign student visa rules
Business leaders have called on prime minister Rishi Sunak not to be pressured into altering the graduate visa route Continue Reading
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News
15 May 2024
US authorities crack BreachForums for a second time
The BreachForums data leak website has been seized by the FBI and international partners again Continue Reading
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News
15 May 2024
WikiLeaks founder’s extradition case labelled ‘institutional corruption’
Call for Julian Assange to be prosecuted in the US has been condemned as ‘institutional corruption on a judicial level’ with the WikiLeaks founder a ‘political prisoner’ Continue Reading
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Opinion
14 May 2024
IT Sustainability Think Tank: How CIOs can navigate the green IT landscape
CIOs and IT leaders must take action now to ensure they have an accurate overview of the carbon emissions, energy use and sustainability of their organisation's overall activities. But how should they go about this? Continue Reading
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News
14 May 2024
CyberUK 24: UK insurance industry gets tough on ransomware
Three of the UK’s largest insurance associations have signed on to a new initiative spearheaded by the NCSC to try to bring down the number of ransomware payments being made Continue Reading
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News
14 May 2024
NHS trust dismisses governors who questioned allegations of email tampering
Two NHS trust governors who raised questions in a dispute over allegations of email tampering concerning whistleblower Peter Duffy have been dismissed after an investigation that followed their suspension Continue Reading
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Opinion
13 May 2024
The UK may not have a choice on a ransomware payment ban
In the wake of renewed calls for lawmakers to consider enacting legal bans on ransomware payments, the Computer Weekly Security Think Tank weighs in to share their thoughts on how to tackle the scourge for good. Continue Reading
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News
13 May 2024
Norway bolsters digital transformation drive
Norway’s government backs digital transformation with major capital investment this year Continue Reading
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News
10 May 2024
MHRA launches AI regulatory sandbox
The Medicines Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) hopes the AI Airlock sandbox will help in improving safe development and use of medical devices Continue Reading
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News
10 May 2024
Over 5.3 billion data records exposed in April 2024
The number of data records breached in April 2024 hit over five billion, a staggering year-on-year increase Continue Reading
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Opinion
09 May 2024
Enhance identity controls before banning ransomware payments
In the wake of renewed calls for lawmakers to consider enacting legal bans on ransomware payments, the Computer Weekly Security Think Tank weighs in to share their thoughts on how to tackle the scourge for good. Continue Reading
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News
09 May 2024
Ofcom publishes draft online child safety rules for tech firms
In the draft codes, Ofcom calls on technology firms to use ‘robust’ age-checking and content moderation systems to keep harmful material away from children online Continue Reading
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News
07 May 2024
Chinese APT suspected of Ministry of Defence hack
A cyber attack on the Ministry of Defence is suspected to be the work of threat actors working on behalf of Chinese intelligence Continue Reading
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News
07 May 2024
NCA unmasks LockBitSupp cyber gangster who toyed with pursuers
The NCA and its partners have named the administrator of the LockBit ransomware gang, LockBitSupp, as Dmitry Khoroshev, who now faces sanctions and criminal charges Continue Reading
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Feature
07 May 2024
What does the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill mean for UK industry?
The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill is the first shift in the UK’s data protection regime since leaving the EU, but what could it mean for UK industry? Continue Reading
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News
03 May 2024
EU calls out Fancy Bear over attacks on Czech, German governments
The European Union, alongside member states Czechia and Germany, have accused Russian government APT Fancy Bear of being behind a series of attacks on political parties and government bodies Continue Reading
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News
03 May 2024
Lords say government must ‘go beyond’ current approach to LLMs
Chair of the Lords Communications and Digital Committee has written to the UK’s digital secretary about the government’s approach to generative AI, lamenting a lack of support for copyright holders and measures to ensure competition in AI markets Continue Reading
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News
03 May 2024
Post Office legal boss withheld details from statutory body reviewing miscarriages of justice
The Post Office’s top lawyer held back vital information when requested by the criminal cases review commission, preventing wrongful convictions from being reviewed Continue Reading
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News
02 May 2024
Ukrainian national sentenced over REvil ransomware spree
A 24-year-old Ukrainian man has been sentenced to more than 13 years in prison after being convicted of his role in the REvil ransomware attacks Continue Reading
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News
02 May 2024
Post Office investigators saw subpostmasters as ‘enemies’ – and that’s what they became
Post Office investigators were only focused on getting money from subpostmasters blamed for accounting shortfalls, according to a 2013 report commissioned by organisation’s legal boss Continue Reading
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Opinion
01 May 2024
Better hygiene may mitigate the need to ban ransomware payments
In the wake of renewed calls for lawmakers to consider enacting legal bans on ransomware payments, the Computer Weekly Security Think Tank weighs in to share their thoughts on how to tackle the scourge for good. Continue Reading
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News
01 May 2024
Autonomous weapons reduce moral agency and devalue human life
Military technology experts gathered in Vienna have warned about the detrimental psychological effects of AI-powered weapons, arguing that implementing systems of algorithmic-enabled killing dehumanises both the user and the target Continue Reading
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News
30 Apr 2024
Persistent data breaches deny people with HIV dignity and privacy
The ICO has urged charities and healthcare organisations that work with people living with HIV to do better when it comes to protecting their personal data, after the HIV status of more than 100 people was accidentally disclosed by London’s Central YMCA Continue Reading
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News
30 Apr 2024
Global majority united on multilateral regulation of AI weapons
Foreign ministers and civil society representatives say that multilateralism is key to controlling the proliferation and use of AI-powered autonomous weapons, but that a small number of powerful countries are holding back progress Continue Reading
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Opinion
29 Apr 2024
Ransomware payment bans need universal buy-in
In the wake of renewed calls for lawmakers to consider enacting legal bans on ransomware payments, the Computer Weekly Security Think Tank weighs in to share their thoughts on how to tackle the scourge for good. Continue Reading
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News
29 Apr 2024
UK economy loses £17.6bn due to fixed connectivity outages
London fibre-based business network provider lobbies UK comms regulator to introduce automatic compensation for business networks drive competition on quality and reliability in the business connectivity market Continue Reading
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Opinion
26 Apr 2024
Security Think Tank: Maybe let's negotiate with terrorists
In the wake of renewed calls for lawmakers to consider enacting legal bans on ransomware payments, the Computer Weekly Security Think Tank weighs in to share their thoughts on how to tackle the scourge for good. Continue Reading
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News
26 Apr 2024
European Parliament approves platform worker directive
The approval of the platform worker directive gives member states two years to incorporate its measures into their national legislation, which includes provisions on how to classify the employment of gig workers and deploy algorithmic decision-making at work Continue Reading
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E-Zine
24 Apr 2024
CW EMEA: The blueprint for safe GenAI
The Netherlands recognises the benefits GenAI can bring, but as with any powerful disruptive technology, there are increased risks of discrimination and insecurity. The Dutch government has formulated a vision document to guide its citizens and businesses on its safe and responsible use. Continue Reading
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News
24 Apr 2024
Education will be key to good AI regulation: A view from the USA
Computer Weekly sat down with Salesforce’s vice-president of federal government affairs, Hugh Gamble, to find out how the US is forging a path towards AI regulation, and how things look from Capitol Hill Continue Reading
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News
24 Apr 2024
Lords debate amendment to law on use of computer evidence in light of Post Office scandal
Peers to debate amending the law on the use of computer evidence in court, which is partly to blame for the wrongful prosecutions of hundreds of former subpostmasters Continue Reading
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Opinion
23 Apr 2024
Security Think Tank: Cyber sector, you have failed this community
In the wake of renewed calls for lawmakers to consider enacting legal bans on ransomware payments, the Computer Weekly Security Think Tank weighs in to share their thoughts on how to tackle the scourge for good. Continue Reading