IT news in your industry sector

Interview: Feryal Clark, AI and digital government minister, DSIT

Computer Weekly talks to the parliamentary under-secretary about digital identity, the importance of trust and utilising the power of artificial intelligence Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

VMware backup: Key decision points if you migrate away from VMware

VMware’s pricing changes have spurred some organisations to move to new virtualisation environments, but they’ll need backing up. We look at the key points to consider Continue Reading

By

• Stephen Pritchard

MPs and peers start inquiry into Russian and Chinese sabotage threats to subsea internet cables

MPs and Lords on the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy have begun an inquiry into the resilience of UK internet cables, following heightened threats of Russian and Chinese sabotage Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Loan Charge under review: MPs brand latest independent inquiry into controversial policy ‘a farce’

Details of the government’s highly anticipated independent review into the loan charge have emerged, and MPs claim it falls way short of what is needed to resolve the financial and mental health damage the policy has caused to those in-scope of it Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Labour’s first digital government strategy: Is it déjà vu or something new?

Labour won the 2024 general election on a platform of change – and its technology cheerleader insists the new digital government strategy is all about change. Have we heard it all before or is this time really different? Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

Review of legal rule on computer evidence long overdue, say Post Office scandal victims

Computer Weekly talks to people who suffered miscarriages of justice at the hands of flawed computer evidence, as well as to experts in law and IT, as the government commits to review the legal presumption that computers work all the time Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

High Court: Sky Betting ‘parasitic’ in targeting problem gambler

UK High Court rules that Sky Betting acted unlawfully after breaching a customer’s data protection rights when it obtained his personal data through cookies and used it to profile him for the purposes of direct marketing, despite his ‘impaired’ ability to provide meaningful consent Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

ICO launches major review of cookies on UK websites

ICO sets out 2025 goals, including a review of cookie compliance across the UK’s top 1,000 websites, as it seeks to achieve its ultimate goal of giving the public meaningful control over how their data is used Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

NAO flags shortcomings in government preferential pricing deals with big tech suppliers

Shortcomings in the UK government’s tech buying power have been highlighted in separate reports in recent days by the National Audit Office and The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

UK eVisa system problems persist despite repeated warnings

Travellers are already having issues boarding UK-bound flights, while refugees have been left with no way to prove their immigration status in the UK, just two weeks after the Home Office transitioned to electronic visas Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Zebra gallops ahead in APAC, driven by automation and e-commerce

Zebra Technologies is riding the wave of e-commerce and automation in APAC, fuelling strong growth with RFID technology, tablets and scanners that boost business productivity and efficiency Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, Informa TechTarget

Privacy professionals expect budget cuts, lack confidence

Over 50% of privacy professionals in Europe expect to see less money earmarked for data security initiatives in 2025, and many don’t have faith their organisations are taking the issue seriously, according to an ISACA report Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Funksec gang turned up ransomware heat in December

The criminal ransomware fraternity was hard at work over the festive period, with attack volumes rising and a new threat actor emerging on the scene Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Clubcard at 30 – the evolution of retail loyalty

When Tesco Clubcard was developed 30 years ago, using the technology of the time to analyse data was a long shot, but it grew into a scheme that birthed retail loyalty as we know it today Continue Reading

By

• Glynn Davis

How smartphones are transforming global health

Shyam Gollakota, winner of the 2024 Infosys Prize in Engineering and Computer Science, is bringing medical care to underserved communities through with smartphone-based diagnostic tools Continue Reading

By

• Kavitha Srinivasa

Europol seeks evidence of encryption on crime enforcement as it steps-up pressure on Big Tech

Europol wants examples of police investigations hampered by end-to-end encryption as it pressures tech companies to provide law enforcement access to encrypted messages Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Government to launch Gov.uk Wallet

The digital wallet will allow citizens to have government-issued documents, including a digital driver’s licence, on their phone, alongside a new Gov.uk app Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Weak supplier management hinders digital government

Procurement, legacy systems, data fragmentation and the changing IT market are among the issues highlighted in a review of digital services Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Will the UK become an AI powerhouse?

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we analyse the UK government’s new AI strategy and ask if the ambitious plans are achievable. The latest EU regulation affecting cyber security, called DORA, will affect digital resilience plans for many businesses – we examine the implications. We also look at the benefits and technologies behind cloud data lakes. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Greek authorities subject refugees to invasive surveillance

Greek border authorities are subjecting asylum seekers to invasive phone confiscations and artificial intelligence-powered surveillance, in another potential violation of European data protection laws Continue Reading

By

• Lydia Emmanouilidou

Government calls for expert views on computer evidence to learn lesson from Post Office scandal

The government is calling for evidence from experts in computing and law to help it ensure no repeat of the miscarriages of justice in the Post Office scandal Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Labour announces plans to overhaul digital government

The Government Digital Service will be expanded along with changes to the way technology is funded, built and delivered across the public sector, as Labour aims for improvements previous administrations struggled to achieve Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

Government plans to revamp digital services to save £45bn

Legacy IT and the use of tech contractors is costing taxpayers billions. The government aims to fix the public sector with AI and new digital services Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

The death of the piggy bank marks coming of age of a fintech

Fintech is a broad church that can be applied to high finance and child savings alike, as the team at startup Those Beyond have demonstrated Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Singtel’s 5G network slicing to boost Singapore’s defence and security

Singapore’s defence and security technology agencies will leverage Singtel’s 5G network slicing technology nationwide to combat evolving security threats and enhance national security Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, Informa TechTarget

ST Logistics teams up with Lenovo on smart warehouses

The Singapore logistics firm is partnering with Lenovo to integrate AI and automation into its warehouse operations Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, Informa TechTarget

US Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban

The US Supreme Court has upheld a legal ban on TikTok, meaning that the video-sharing application will be shut down from midnight on Sunday 19 January Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

£150m AI framework agreement set to drive NHS forward

NHS Shared Business Services is looking to deploy artificial intelligence across the NHS Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Researchers say AI fails to describe complexities of Holocaust

Using AI in Holocaust education will require the responsible digitisation of historical assets, as well as collaboration between system providers and domain-specific experts, to ensure effective guardrails that protect against misuse Continue Reading

By

• Vipin Chimrani, Computer Weekly

Lords debate government approach to automated decision-making

During the second reading debate of a Lords private members’ bill seeking to better regulate public sector algorithms, the government argued existing measures were sufficient to protect the public Continue Reading

By

• Vipin Chimrani, Computer Weekly

Cyber innovation to address rising regulatory, threat burden

The Computer Weekly Security Think Tank considers how security leaders should best navigate the multitude of new national and multinational regulations affecting their work, and ensure their organisations remain compliant and protected Continue Reading

By

• Nick New, Optalysys

Enterprises need to make better choices to reduce GenAI emissions

Capgemini says the high environmental costs of generative artificial intelligence systems mean organisations need to develop roadmaps to make their use more sustainable Continue Reading

By

• Vipin Chimrani, Computer Weekly

Can AI rescue the public sector and deliver its long-promised digital transformation?

The UK government sees artificial intelligence as a tool for 'national renewal' - but unless it overhauls its approach to policymaking and delivery for the AI age, its plans are doomed to fail Continue Reading

By

• Jerry Fishenden
• Cassian Young

A guide to DORA compliance

We look at the new EU regulation for cyber resiliency, the role of IT asset management in auditing and third-party risks Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Post Office’s military culture and the “infallible computers illusion” destroyed lives

Rupert Lloyd Thomas joined the Post Office in 1974, where he spent the best part of 30 years. He reveals the inner working of the organisation which contributed to the widest miscarriage of justice in history. Continue Reading

By

• Rupert Lloyd Thomas

Takeda opens innovation centre in Bengaluru

Global biopharmaceutical giant Takeda opens its first Asian Innovation Capability Centre in Bengaluru to speed up drug discovery and development Continue Reading

By

• Kavitha Srinivasa

Biden signs new cyber order days before Trump inauguration

With days left in the White House, outgoing US president Joe Biden has signed a wide-ranging cyber security executive order with far-reaching implications Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Fujitsu staff at HMRC to strike for two days over pay

More public image woes for Fujitsu as hundreds of staff to strike after colleagues at HMRC get significantly bigger pay rise Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Russia’s Star Blizzard pivots to WhatsApp in spear-phishing campaign

The Russian cyber spy operation known as Star Blizzard changed tactics after a takedown operation by Microsoft and the US authorities, turning to widely used messaging platform WhatsApp to try to ensnare its targets Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

NAO calls for ‘cross-government’ revamp of IT procurement to improve ‘big tech’ project outcomes

The National Audit Office has highlighted a series of shortcomings in the government’s approach to digital procurement Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Spot the difference: National Data Strategy/National Data Library

The Labour government appears to be taking every opportunity to emphasise that it has a plan for growth. This is set against the backdrop of the inauguration of Donald Trump as US president and the ... Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Almost half of UK banks set to miss DORA deadline

A significant minority of financial services organisations in the UK will not be fully compliant with the EU’s DORA cyber and risk management regulation when it comes into force on 17 January Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

L’Oréal: Making AI worth it

No stranger to advanced technologies, the cosmetics firm is partnering with IBM on GenAI capabilities to support its sustainability goals Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Bank of England and New York counterpart exchange puts technology cooperation into 3D

A staff exchange between regulators will see US and UK financial technology experts cross the Atlantic Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

DDN seeks AI leadership as it bags $300m investment

DDN aims to take high-performance computing expertise and become a leader in storage for artificial intelligence. It builds on years in the HPC space, and now has £300m from Blackstone, a fund with an AI focus Continue Reading

By

• Yann Serra, LeMagIT

Davos 2025: Digital supply chains at risk as world faces two years of turbulence

World Economic Forum urges digital business leaders to build the resilience of supply chains, improve cyber defences and develop contingency plans Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Government, Nesta and ODI issue £600k smart data challenge to technologists

Department for Business and Trade, Challenge Works and the Open Data Institute have issued a Smart Data Challenge to app developers and entrepreneurs with a total prize fund of £600,000 Continue Reading

By

• Brian McKenna, Enterprise Applications Editor

Users protest, flee TikTok as clock ticks on US ban

As the US Supreme Court prepares to rule on the future of TikTok, rumours of a sale are swirling around Washington DC while panicked users make plans for an exodus Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Biggest Patch Tuesday in years sees Microsoft address 159 vulnerabilities

The largest Patch Tuesday of the 2020s so far brings fixes for more than 150 CVEs ranging widely in their scope and severity – including eight zero-day flaws Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

UK’s female fintech leaders hit harder by investment collapse

UK fintechs led by women suffered disproportionately as a result of the fall in investment in the sector Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

The AI Opportunities Action Plan is recommended reading

The government's strategy for accelerating AI has been many months in the making - is it enough, and what regulatory environment will be appropriate? Continue Reading

By

• Lord Chris Holmes, House of Lords

Backup technology explained: The fundamentals of enterprise backup

We look at backup and its role in enterprise data protection, including what to backup and how often, RPO and RTO, full and incremental, and if backups can be replaced by snapshots Continue Reading

By

• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

The UK government's AI plan covers all the bases but needs a dose of pragmatism

With the launch of its AI Opportunities Action Plan, few people can complain that the UK government is not taking the potential of artificial intelligence seriously. With 50 recommendations in the ... Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

Davos 2025: Misinformation and disinformation are most pressing risks, says World Economic Forum

World leaders, business chiefs and civil society organisations will discuss the risks posed by misinformation, disinformation and artificial intelligence at the World Economic Forum Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Subpostmasters won’t get financial redress until mid-2027 at current rate of progress

Campaigning former subpostmaster warns that some members of the group that took the Post Office to court might not receive financial redress until mid-2027 Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Government funding to help businesses discover AI value

The government is betting the bank on the power of artificial intelligence to fix the public sector, mend roads and boost the UK economy Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Labour's AI Action Plan - a gift to the far right

Critical computing expert Dan McQuillan argues that, on top of the clear social and environmental harms associated with the technology, Labour's vapid fixation on AI-led growth in lieu of real change will further enable the far right. Instead, he proposes an alternative strategy of 'decomputing'. Continue Reading

By

• Dan McQuillan

Many are called, but few are chosen: Secrets of MI5 watchers revealed

Despite advances in electronic surveillance, security service MI5 still relies on human ‘watchers’. Government documents reveal what it takes to follow suspects without being detected Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Interview: Wendy Redshaw, chief digital information officer, NatWest Retail Bank

The retail bank is moving at pace to introduce generative AI into key customer-facing services as part of a wider digital transformation across the organisation Continue Reading

Generating customer experience at NatWest Bank

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we find out how NatWest Bank is using generative AI to enhance its customer experience. Our latest buyer’s guide examines the emerging regulatory compliance environment affecting IT leaders. And we learn how Toyota is turning to automation to improve its helpdesk support service for employees. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

UK government plans to extend ransomware payment ban

A ban on ransomware payments by UK government departments will be extended to cover organisations such as local councils, schools and the NHS should new government proposals move forward Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Metro mayors face similar digitisation challenges to banks, but lack their resources

UK regional leaders want to be independent of central government when it comes to digital transformation decision-making, but don’t fully understand what’s ahead Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Why we need better cyber regulation to protect the UK from disruption

The Computer Weekly Security Think Tank considers how security leaders should best navigate the multitude of new national and multinational regulations affecting their work, and ensure their organisations remain compliant and protected. Continue Reading

By

• Adam Stringer, PA Consulting

CNI operators should ask these 12 questions of their OT suppliers

The NCSC, CISA and others have set out 12 cyber security considerations CNI organisations and other users of operational technology should incorporate into their buying processes to force their suppliers to do better Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Experts say ‘something has to break’ before banks slow IT-driven cost-cutting measures

Banks will cut costs until something breaks and they are forced to scale back, according to industry experts Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

AI is meant to free up time and yet somehow… It's stealing it

Realising the liberatory potential of artificial intelligence requires a culture shift that places people before profits and productivity Continue Reading

By

• George Kailas, ProsperoAI

Third-party storage: Key storage supplier offers in big three clouds

We look at storage supplier offerings available in the big three public clouds, their pros and cons, and key use cases Continue Reading

By

• Stephen Pritchard

Gramedia speeds up inventory checks with RFID

Indonesian bookstore giant has sped up inventory checks, minimised shrinkage and improved customer experience with RFID-powered checkout kiosks and exit gates Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, Informa TechTarget

US bank FNBO uses Pindrop to tackle voice fraud, deepfakes

Learn how First National Bank of Omaha in the US is enhancing customer authentication and verification in its contact centres, eliminating friction points and making life easier for its customer service teams, with Pindrop voice security technology Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Mandiant: Latest Ivanti vulns exploited by Chinese cyber spooks

Threat actors are once again lining up to exploit vulnerabilities in the widely used Ivanti product suite, with an apparent link to Chinese espionage activity Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

UK Defence Committee urges MoD to embrace AI

Defence Committee outlines changes it thinks the Ministry of Defence should make to realise the battlefield advantages of artificial intelligence Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

UK fintech investment drops by almost double global average

Global fintech investments fell 20% compared to 37% in the UK, according to latest Innovate Finance figures Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Fear the technologists, not the technology? The rise of the tech baron

News in the international media lately seems strangely dominated by a new phenomenon – more stories are being written about technologists, than technologies. With the impending inauguration of ... Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

The Data Bill: Computer evidence and the burden of proof

Lords' debate on the government's new Data Bill has once again brought a focus on the law that supports the use of computer evidence in courts - and the need for urgent reform to avoid another Post Office scandal Continue Reading

By

• Lord Chris Holmes, House of Lords

German court finds hacked EncroChat phone evidence inadmissible

The Berlin Regional Court has found that evidence obtained by a joint French and Dutch operation to hack the EncroChat encrypted mobile phone network is legally inadmissible, raising questions about its use in other European countries Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Post Office scandal-stained Fujitsu orders staff to cut costs amid widening UK losses

Japanese supplier reports a loss of £170m in the UK in its latest financial statement and orders UK staff to cut costs Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Nato membership boosts Finnish civil and military tech startups

Tech companies in Finland and Sweden that offer civil and military products are benefitting from Nato military alliance Continue Reading

By

• Gerard O'Dwyer

Why CISOs should build stronger bonds with the legal function in 2025

The Computer Weekly Security Think Tank considers how security leaders should best navigate the multitude of new national and multinational regulations affecting their work, and ensure their organisations remain compliant and protected. Continue Reading

By

• Mandy Andress, Elastic

Former subpostmasters invited to take part in Post Office Capture compensation scheme development

Government will look at a selection of cases where subpostmasters experienced unexplained losses while using the Post Office’s pre-Horizon accounting system Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

The Data Bill: Considering datacentres' hunger for power

New legislation to govern the use of data needs to also consider the implications of all that data when it comes to powering the datacentres needed to store and process our growing demand for information Continue Reading

By

• Lord Chris Holmes, House of Lords

Government develops quantum tech for military

A high-tech atomic clock has been developed by a ‘secret lab’ and aims to decrease the reliance on GPS technology Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Revised NHS App key to tackling waiting list

The updated app is being positioned as a streamlined approach for patients and NHS providers to communicate and book appointments Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

US Treasury incident a clear warning on supply chain security in 2025

A cyber incident at the US Department of the Treasury – blamed on a Chinese state actor – raises fresh warnings about supply chain risk after it was found to have originated via vulnerabilities in a remote tech support product Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Post Office staff list 14 scandal-stained individuals who should have honours stripped

Staff of the Post Office and Royal Mail from the past and present have written to the Forfeiture Committee requesting honours to be stripped from 14 people with links to the Horizon scandal Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Foodora tests drone and robot deliveries in Sweden

Food delivery firm tests out drone and robot deliveries in Swedish capital Continue Reading

By

• Gerard O'Dwyer

Sir Alan Bates has ‘serious concerns’ over Post Office scandal compensation budget

Campaigning former subpostmaster welcomed ‘positive’ select committee report but voiced concern over inclusion of legal costs in compensation pot Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Collaborative transport optimisation helps towards decarbonisation goals

Real-life pilot projects show the potential, but industry mindset change is required to help retail and wholesale fleets drive major decarbonisation gains in the year ahead Continue Reading

By

• Ben Sillitoe

Post Office scandal campaigners awarded OBEs in New Year Honours List

Former subpostmasters and campaigners Jo Hamilton, Lee Castleton, Seema Misra and Christopher Head honoured for their part in 20-year fight against the Post Office – along with former Computer Weekly reporter Rebecca Thomson Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

What is Dunelm doing for women in tech?

A dedicated Women in Tech Week event, coffee roulette, and boosting knowledge, confidence and connections – the women in tech work at Dunelm is building momentum Continue Reading

By

• Ben Sillitoe

Top 10 government IT stories of 2024

The past year has provided one of the biggest changes in government for 14 years, with Labour coming to power. With it, the new government has brought plenty of tech promises Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Top 10 financial services stories of 2024

Here are Computer Weekly’s top 10 financial services stories of 2024 Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Navigating the practicalities of AI regulation and legislation

What CIOs need to know about the global patchwork of existing and upcoming laws governing AI – and what CIOs need to be doing about them Continue Reading

By

• Mary Branscombe, Computer Weekly

Top 10 police technology stories of 2024

Here are Computer Weekly’s top 10 police technology stories of 2024 Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Top 10 NHS IT stories of 2024

The past year has provided a marked change in the approach to technology in the National Health Service, which has struggled to cope under significant pressure. We look back at the stories that made the headlines in 2024 Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Post Office creates CTO role to support ‘extensive and complex’ plans

Post Office bolsters its IT leadership team as it grapples with massive tech transformation with the nation looking on Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Interview: How Green Cargo’s IT switched tracks to logistics success

Green Cargo CIO Ingo Paas took a few turns to establish his company as a composable enterprise able to flex and react quickly Continue Reading

By

• Martin Veitch

Why Keir Starmer’s plan to rewire Whitehall needs an IT-rethink

The government likes large scale IT projects but the prime minster’s plans to rewire Whitehall call for smaller, faster more agile work Continue Reading

By

• Alex Case

Interview: Wendy Redshaw, chief digital information officer, NatWest Retail Bank

The retail bank is moving at pace to introduce generative AI into key customer-facing services as part of a wider digital transformation across the organisation Continue Reading

By

• Mark Samuels

Government introduces technology adoption review

Whitehall has launched a call for evidence on barriers to adopting new technologies in the UK, wanting to know what needs to change for the country to stay at the forefront of technology adoption Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Top 10 data and ethics stories of 2024

Here are Computer Weekly’s top 10 data and ethics stories of 2024 Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor