IT news in your industry sector

The digital education problem at the heart of government transformation

A recent NAO report on digital government highlights some progress and ongoing challenges – but Whitehall needs to tackle a more fundamental flaw if it’s to deliver true digital change Continue Reading

By

• Mark Thompson, Exeter Business School and DIGITLab

Budget 2023: Chancellor affirms tax relief for IT investment

Jeremy Hunt’s Spring Budget makes IT investment tax expendable for three years and announces support for artificial intelligence companies, including annual £1m ‘Manchester Prize’ Continue Reading

By

• Brian McKenna, Enterprise Applications Editor

IT gives Ukrainian economy resilience in the face of adversity

Computer Weekly speaks to IT companies from Kharkiv a year after the Ukrainian city became headline news across the world as Russian troops invaded Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Chinese Silkloader cyber attack tool falls into Russian hands

A loader tool used by Chinese cyber criminals seems to have been enthusiastically taken up in recent weeks by Russian ransomware operators Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Microsoft patches Outlook zero-day for March Patch Tuesday

A highly dangerous privilege escalation bug in Outlook is among 80 different vulnerabilities patched in Microsoft’s March Patch Tuesday update Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

QLC edges into mainstream, but what are its advantages?

QLC flash offers high density but has lifecycle limitations. But what does it really cost compared with TLC and MLC, and how are suppliers implementing it and getting around durability issues? Continue Reading

By

• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

Central bank digital currency use set to soar over next seven years

The use of central bank-backed digital currencies is set to explode over the next seven years as governments drive adoption to increase financial inclusion Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

As Covid fades away, what’s the future of remote work in Europe?

Many IT leaders are still supporting some form of work from home, and a trend is beginning to take shape in Europe Continue Reading

By

• Pat Brans, Pat Brans Associates/Grenoble Ecole de Management

AI interview: Elke Schwarz, professor of political theory

Elke Schwarz speaks with Computer Weekly about the ethics of military artificial intelligence and the dangers of allowing governments and corporations to push forward without oversight or scrutiny Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Tech news this week: AI, decentralized apps and ransomware

AI washing, new ransomware tactics and decentralized regulation challenges populated the news this week. Continue Reading

By

• Ben Lutkevich, Site Editor

Subpostmaster demands names of Post Office executives who crushed him to suffocate truth

One Post Office scandal victim was deliberately destroyed by the Post Office to deter other subpostmasters from challenging the integrity of its core computer system Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Liverpool Football Club signs Wasabi in on-premise-to-cloud storage transition

Liverpool Football Club has transitioned from lead-footed on-premise infrastructure to Wasabi cloud storage that’s well-suited to its video production and distribution requirements Continue Reading

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• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

MI5 to oversee new National Protective Security Authority

The new National Protective Security Authority will address various national security threats including state-sponsored cyber espionage against UK targets Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Government expects to save £1.8bn from back-office systems overhaul

Whitehall announces it expects to save £1.8bn over a 15-year period by delivering shared back-office services, three months after a National Audit Office (NAO) report concluded the financial benefits of the plan remain unclear Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Generative AI at watershed moment with spate of legal challenges

Just over 20 years ago, Napster was closed on copyright grounds for allowing users to access digital copies of music for free. Now, a spate of legal cases have experts questioning whether OpenAI and other generative AI innovators will go the same way Continue Reading

By

• Andrew Kersley

HSBC buys Silicon Valley Bank UK arm for £1 following collapse

UK tech ecosystem welcomes government intervention to facilitate HSBC purchase after the collapse of SVB left many UK startups unable to access their deposits Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

What is computer numerical control (CNC)?

Computer numerical control (CNC) is a manufacturing method that automates the control, movement and precision of machine tools through the use of preprogrammed computer software, which is embedded inside the tools. Continue Reading

By

• Kinza Yasar, Technical Writer
• David Essex, Industry Editor

Technology minister Michelle Donelan defends data reforms

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

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

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

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

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Podcast: Why DBaaS and what problems does it solve?

We talk to Tobias Ternström of Nutanix about how the enterprise landscape has seen thousands of databases from multiple vendors mushroom and how database as a service can help manage that complexity Continue Reading

By

• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

Face tech – recognising the retail opportunity

From age verification to catching criminals, how are retailers using facial recognition technology to push forward their businesses? Continue Reading

By

• Glynn Davis

Velero wants to become the Kubernetes backup standard

Open source Velero offers modular data protection and disaster recovery functionality via API for Kubernetes container clusters in an effort to become the standard in the field Continue Reading

By

• Yann Serra, LeMagIT
• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

CW EMEA: How Sweden is accelerating digitisation

Large conglomerates with diverse business portfolios face challenges when digitally transforming because one size cer-tainly doesn’t fit all. In this month’s CW EMEA, we find out how Richard Ventre, group CIO at Dutch company SHV Holdings, goes about ensuring his IT department pro-vides the foundations for a wide variety of businesses to thrive digitally. We also find out how to make the most of a composable enterprise architecture and how green storage can deliver savings if done right. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

CDO interview: Athina Kanioura, chief strategy and transformation officer, PepsiCo

Multinational food, snack and beverage firm PepsiCo is halfway through a five-year digital transformation strategy that aims to create ‘a totally different company’ Continue Reading

By

• Mark Samuels

UK government introduces revised data reform bill to Parliament

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

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

IT worker evidence reveals a toxic Post Office IT helpdesk that discriminated against subpostmasters

IT worker tells public inquiry that the Post Office Horizon helpdesk was toxic, rudderless and racist Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Nine in 10 enterprises fell victim to successful phishing in 2022

Egress annual email security risk report breaks down impacts of email-based phishing attacks and data loss, and the effect these can have on organisations in terms of staff retention and morale Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

internet of medical things (IoMT) or healthcare IoT

The internet of medical things (IoMT) is the collection of medical devices and applications that connect to healthcare IT systems through online computer networks. Continue Reading

By

• Ben Lutkevich, Site Editor
• Alex DelVecchio, Content Development Strategist

Nationwide goes cloud native to transform payments

Nationwide Building Society is moving retail payments from on-premise systems to a cloud-native platform Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Dutch hospitals underestimate impact of cyber attack

IT failures in acute care organisations in the Netherlands have increased considerably since 2010, affecting patient care and stressing the need to improve IT security in hospitals Continue Reading

By

• Kim Loohuis

What can security teams learn from a year of cyber warfare?

With the passing of the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we reflect on the ongoing cyber war, and ask what security leaders can learn from the past 12 months Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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

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

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Can the UK keep its fintech crown?

In this week’s Computer Weekly, two years after the Kalifa report laid out a roadmap for continued fintech sector growth, UK entrepreneurs and startups are worried about the lack of progress. We look at the top tech trends in retail and find out which companies are leading the way. And we examine six ways to slash IT emissions. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Fintech industry calls for regulatory change to help struggling consumers

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

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

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

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

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Lords Committee to investigate use of AI-powered weapons systems

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

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Government announces Science and Technology framework

The government has announced the first major work completed by its recently launched Department for Science, Innovation and Technology Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Software enables new business model for Sweden-headquartered car manufacturer

One of the many things software now does with cars is to enable ‘mobility as a service’, a new business model that provides people with freedom of movement, without the cost and hassle of ownership Continue Reading

By

• Pat Brans, Pat Brans Associates/Grenoble Ecole de Management

Top trends in tech, and retail’s early adopters

We identify the retail industry’s early adopters of what McKinsey deems the top tech trends. Continue Reading

White House unveils National Cybersecurity Strategy

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

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Shawbrook Bank uses Pegasystems for low-code business process rewrite

SME lending and savings bank Shawbrook Bank is using a low-code platform from Pegasystems to rewrite outdated business processes Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Newham Council expands on data economy plans unveiled in 2021

Newham Council plans to set up a ‘data campus’ at East Ham Town Hall to continue the data economy development vision it announced at London Tech Week in 2021 Continue Reading

By

• Brian McKenna, Enterprise Applications Editor

A data-driven government needs to look beyond regulation

If you were to read through the many interviews that Computer Weekly conducts with IT and digital leaders, you would be left with a clear picture of the number one focus for organisations looking ... Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

AI interview: Michael Osborne, professor of machine learning

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

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Uber introduces dynamic pricing algorithm in London

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

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

WH Smith staff data accessed in cyber attack

The retailer has said that customer data has not been affected by the incident as it is held in different systems, and that investigations into the attack are ongoing Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

UK government migration scheme to boost tech ties with India

The UK has agreed to allow thousands of young Indian professionals to work for two years in the UK as part of a migration exchange Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Salt Labs identifies OAuth security flaw within Booking.com

Security flaw in Booking.com OAuth implementation could be used to launch account takeovers, but researchers discovered and flagged the issue before it could be exploited in the wild Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Genomics England to use Sectra imaging system for cancer data programme

Genomics England has deployed an enterprise imaging system from supplier Sectra to link radiology and pathology images with whole genome sequencing data Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Post Office ditched plan to replace Fujitsu with IBM in 2015 due to cost and project concerns

Post Office attempted to replace controversial Horizon system 10 years ago, but was put off by project’s scale and cost. Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Backup testing: The why, what, when and how

We look at backup testing – why you should do it, what you should do, when you should do it, and how, with a view to the ways in which it will be made easier by forthcoming developments in backup software Continue Reading

By

• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

Pure Storage aims FlashBlade//E at unstructured data capacity

But not the ones that need super high performance. FlashBlade//E will target use cases that need large amounts of QLC flash without the most-demands for rapid access Continue Reading

By

• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

Post Office’s most senior executives hushed up Horizon errors, public inquiry told

The Post Office messaging strategy was designed to reassure staff that the Horizon accounting system was robust after Computer Weekly first revealed problems in 2009 Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Two years on from the Kalifa report, UK fintechs speak out

Two years after the UK government’s Kalifa fintech report, entrepreneurs warn of a continuing Brexit headache and slow regulatory reform Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Government announces national fintech hub

The UK Treasury has announced a centre for fintech innovation, two years after a major report recommended one Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Security Think Tank: Training can no longer be a compliance exercise

Historically, security training has tended to take a compliance-based focus, a ‘tick-box’ exercise using generic, off-the-shelf courses. This needs to change, says Hayley Watson of Turnkey Consulting. Continue Reading

By

• Hayley Watson, Turnkey Consulting

The race to net zero

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we examine the role of green technology in helping businesses contribute to the government’s 2050 net-zero targets. We talk to Spotify about the importance of open source technologies in the music streaming service. And we look at the way hybrid working is evolving as the post-pandemic workplace continues to change. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Scotland launches data strategy for health and social care

The five-year strategy aims to make it easier for people to access their own health and social care data, improve data flows between organisations, and transform the way data is used to enhance services Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Unstructured data and the storage it needs

We look at unstructured and semi-structured data and find increasing amounts of production workloads that have their own storage hardware – file and object – needs, including flash Continue Reading

By

• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

Cyber training in 2023 needs to drive measurable change

2023 will see more focus on security training programmes that not only provide employees with an understanding of the risks they face but more importantly drive measurable behavioural change, says PA Consulting’s Richard Allen Continue Reading

By

• Richard Allen

UK police have ‘culture of retention’ around biometric data

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

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

AI in healthcare in northern Europe suggests future pathways

AI is used sporadically across northern Europe. If the healthcare sector is to provide affordable, high-quality care as the population ages and the economy falters, it will be needed more, experts say Continue Reading

By

• Kim Loohuis

Royal Mail stands firm as LockBit leaks data and renews ransom demand

The LockBit ransomware gang has made good on its threat to leak data exfiltrated from Royal Mail’s systems, but the postal service is not entertaining the possibility of giving in Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

HMCTS Common Platform roll-out put ‘avoidable pressure’ on courts

The digital case management system was rolled out without adequate assurance it was robust enough to be deployed, and is having a ‘detrimental impact on courts’, the National Audit Office has found Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

telehealth (telemedicine)

Telehealth, also referred to as telemedicine or e-medicine, is the remote delivery of healthcare services over the telecommunications infrastructure. Continue Reading

By

• Ben Lutkevich, Site Editor
• Scott Wallask
• Tayla Holman, Site Editor

WithSecure proposes ‘undo’ button for ransomware

WithSecure’s Activity Monitor technology supposedly overcomes the shortcomings of sandbox test environments, and may be able to stop ransomware attacks from ever happening Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Santander SME platform harnesses Salesforce

Bank platform that helps UK small and medium-sized enterprises expand export opportunities is built on cloud technology from Salesforce Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

UK HSE to launch regulatory sandbox for industrial safety tech

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

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Tony Blair and William Hague call for a remade strategic state to stoke UK innovation

Former Labour prime minister and former Conservative Party leader argue for a remaking of the British state to capitalise on artificial intelligence, biotech and climate tech, and reverse the country’s decline Continue Reading

By

• Brian McKenna, Enterprise Applications Editor

UK forces lead live-fire cyber war exercise

The seven-day Defence Cyber Marvel 2 exercise put cyber responders from 11 countries through their paces Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Researchers find new bug ‘class’ in Apple devices

A group of vulnerabilities in Apple products that stem from the ForcedEntry exploit used by spyware firm NSO constitutes a whole new class of bug, say researchers at Trellix Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Dutch cyber security professionals experience stress akin to soldiers in war zone, claims expert

Cyber attacks are taking a heavy toll on Dutch IT professionals, with over a third reporting that their mental health suffers as a result Continue Reading

By

• Kim Loohuis

Half of cyber leaders to switch jobs by 2025, citing stress

A substantial number of cyber security leaders are plotting their great escape, saying the industry is leaving them too stressed to go on, according to a study Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Institute for Government cautions government to draw right lessons from pandemic

The Institute for Government has published a policy document warning government not to draw wrong lessons from data sharing during pandemic Continue Reading

By

• Brian McKenna, Enterprise Applications Editor

Royal Mail resumes full export service after cyber attack

Royal Mail resumes the last of its international services as it recovers from a ransomware attack, while the Post Office offers postmasters compensation for their lost business Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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

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

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Seven million people in UK used open banking services in 2022

More than seven million people used services that harnessed open banking last year, with 1.2 million of these first-time users Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Cyber security training: Insights for future professionals

Future cyber security professionals need soft skills as well as technical ones, says security educator Sudeep Subramanian Continue Reading

By

• Sudeep Subramanian

UK finance firms short of data skills

Financial services companies in the UK lack the data skills they will need to succeed in an increasingly digital world Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

US government Strike Force aims to prevent adversaries from accessing disruptive tech

The US Strike Force law enforcement initiative will target rogue nation-states that pose a national security threat Continue Reading

By

• Simone Bateson

Online makes up a quarter of retail sales in January 2023

Online shopping makes up a quarter of all retail volumes in the first month of 2023, but retail is still rocky as the cost of living rises Continue Reading

By

• Clare McDonald, Business Editor

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

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

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Average consumer spent more than £3,300 using contactless payments in 2022

The amount of money spent using contactless payment technology continues to rise as consumers take advantage of higher allowable spending limits Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Veeam bundles backup products into Veeam Data Platform

Backup and data protection specialist Veeam upgrades and rebrands, with a focus on the challenges of ransomware and rapid recovery, and a claimed 500 new functions Continue Reading

By

• Yann Serra, LeMagIT
• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

Twitter 2FA changes bring more risks than benefits

Twitter’s approach to nudging users away from insecure SMS-based 2FA is being questioned over its logic Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

App-based Zopa bank buys BNPL fintech

App-based Zopa bank is adding a buy now, pay layer platform to its technology stack through its first acquisition Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

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

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

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Mock crime prediction tool profiles MEPs as potential criminals

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

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Financial advisory firm Succession Wealth probes cyber attack

Aviva-owned wealth consultancy and financial advisory practice Succession Wealth was hit by an undisclosed security incident on 8 February Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Security Think Tank: New trends and drivers in cyber security training

Self-paced, interactive, bite-sized learning is becoming the optimum path for cyber security training in the workplace, says John Tolbert of KuppingerCole Continue Reading

By

• John Tolbert, KuppingerCole

Home Office partners with BAE Systems on border analytics

BAE Systems wins three-year contract worth £38m to help Home Office develop Cerberus, a project to secure UK borders through advanced data systems and analytics Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Multi-purpose malwares can use more than 20 MITRE ATT&CK TTPs

Report warns of the development of increasingly sophisticated, multi-purpose malwares, and calls on defenders to play close attention to the MITRE ATT&CK framework to ward them off Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

What charities should know about ransomware and reputational threats

The NCSC recently called for charities to elevate their cyber security practice. Find out why charities are a soft target for cyber criminals, and what they can do to fight back Continue Reading

By

• Rob Shapland and Adam Monks

Microsoft fixes three zero-days in February update

February’s Patch Tuesday update contains fixes for three previously unpublicised zero-days in Microsoft Office, Windows Graphics Component and Windows Common Log File System Driver Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Royal Mail refused to pay £66m LockBit ransom demand, logs reveal

Leaked chat logs reveal Royal Mail has supposedly refused to pay a £66m ransom demand from the LockBit ransomware gang Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

UK saw fintech investment collapse in 2022, but is still a world leader

Fintech investment in the UK sees steep drop, but the country was still a top destination for capital Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

MWC 2023: A critical time for CSPs to make wise investment decisions

As the telecoms sector gathers in Barcelona for the annual Mobile World Congress, communications services providers face a turbulent market that will require careful investments to be made Continue Reading

By

• Andy Walker

Vidar, nJRAT re-emerge as prominent malware threats in January

Trojans and infostealers once again dominate the list of most commonly observed threats, according to Check Point’s latest telemetry Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

UK authorities clamp down on illegal crypto ATMs

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

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

‘Buy now, pay later’ crackdown in the making

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

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA