Social media technology
Social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn have proved enormously popular, and while they are consumer focused, the principles of collaboration and information sharing that they embody are highly relevant for corporate IT. We analyse the latest trends in social media technology, social networking and explain how they can be applied to enterprise IT strategy.
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News
20 Mar 2023
BBC cracks down on TikTok after review
The BBC is asking staff not to install TikTok on corporate-owned devices without a justified business purpose, although its use will still be allowed to share media content with its audiences Continue Reading
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News
17 Mar 2023
UK TikTok ban gives us all cause to consider social media security
The UK government’s ban on TikTok should give all organisations cause to look into what information social media platforms are collecting on us, and what they are using it for Continue Reading
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News
16 Mar 2023
TikTok banned on UK government devices
The UK government has followed in the footsteps of its US and European counterparts and banned the use of Chinese social media app TikTok on official devices Continue Reading
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E-Zine
14 Mar 2023
Digital dedication – the transformation of Guinness World Records
In this week’s Computer Weekly, we find out about the digital transformation at Guinness World Records – dedication, that’s what you need. We examine the new space race – to launch low-orbit, low-cost communications satellites. And we look at the role of technology in sustainability strategies. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
06 Mar 2023
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
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News
02 Mar 2023
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
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News
20 Feb 2023
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
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News
20 Feb 2023
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
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News
14 Feb 2023
Researcher exposes crypto scam network exploiting YouTube
A massive network of fake YouTube videos promoted by automated sock puppet accounts is reeling in hundreds of cryptocurrency enthusiasts and persuading them to hand over their money, WithSecure researchers found Continue Reading
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E-Zine
10 Feb 2023
CW EMEA: Kyiv is ready for anything
CIOs must be ready for the unexpected, but not many CIOs and IT teams face keeping a city’s vital IT running while fighting for their lives. In this issue of CW EMEA, Oleg Polovynko, CIO at Kyiv City Council, explains how the IT team in the Ukrainian capital has kept services running for its residents amid relentless bombing by Russian forces. We also look at how the Netherlands is planning to regulate AI to reduce bias, how highly accurate time protocols ensure fair trading in finance, and the use of technology in agriculture in Denmark. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
10 Feb 2023
BNPL accounted for 12% of UK online spending in January
Buy now, pay later products from fintech providers accounted for 12% of the £8bn spent online in the UK in January, according to analysis Continue Reading
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News
10 Feb 2023
Social media platform Reddit breached in phishing attack
An unspecified threat actor obtained access to internal documents, code and business systems at Reddit after stealing employee credentials in a phishing attack Continue Reading
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News
09 Feb 2023
Cost-of-living crisis creates appetite to switch banks
As millions of Brits struggle with their finances, many view tailored financial services as beneficial Continue Reading
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News
09 Feb 2023
Twitter CEO Elon Musk pauses datacentre downsizing push in wake of outage
Twitter CEO Elon Musk has called a temporary halt to the company’s push to cut costs by downsizing its infrastructure expenditure after an outage left users around the world unable to post tweets Continue Reading
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News
09 Feb 2023
Consumers want tech-driven clothing stores
As consumers increasingly visit stores as the pandemic subsides, NTT Data finds that technology in shops could persuade consumers to return to physical shopping Continue Reading
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News
08 Feb 2023
Prolific social media fraudster jailed for three years
Ramzan Abubakarov of Hendon will serve three-year prison sentence after using Telegram to coordinate series of frauds which netted almost £2m Continue Reading
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Feature
07 Feb 2023
The one problem with AI content moderation? It doesn’t work
The use of artificial intelligence for content moderation is likely to become more pronounced with the passage of the Online Safety Bill, but practitioners and experts question the efficacy of this approach Continue Reading
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News
03 Feb 2023
Finance regulator finding more misleading promotions quicker through improved digital tools
UK finance regulator able to find and block misleading promotions faster through improved digital tools Continue Reading
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News
03 Feb 2023
FCA cracks down on misleading promos by social media influencers
Social media is becoming a major part of the FCA’s work in clamping down on misleading financial advertising and promotions, with multiple influencers rapped for their behaviour Continue Reading
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News
01 Feb 2023
Romance fraudsters stole £65m from Brits since 2020
Online romance fraudsters have scammed Brits out of £65m in the past three years, according to retail bank TSB Continue Reading
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News
01 Feb 2023
CryptoRom scam abuses Apple and Google app stores to claim victims
Sophos researchers report on two fake apps used by romance scammers to lure victims into parting with their money, both of which were able to escape the attention of Apple and Google app store safeguards Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Jan 2023
Fine-tune a social media emergency plan with ISO 22329:2021
Social media and its effective management are major interests for emergency management professionals. Find out how ISO's recent standard can help guide a social media strategy. Continue Reading
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News
31 Jan 2023
Digital banking changing the high street forever as banks close branches and open alternatives
Banks are reshaping their channels as customers move to digital services, with physical innovation complementing digital strategies Continue Reading
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News
27 Jan 2023
Lords question ‘extensive’ government online safety powers
Digital minister Paul Scully defends government Online Safety plans to give secretary of state powers to direct Ofcom Continue Reading
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Opinion
23 Jan 2023
The rise of fraud in pop culture is impacting consumers’ digital trust
Shows such as The Tinder Swindler and Inventing Anna were big money-earners for Netflix in 2022, but Onfido’s Mike Tuchen says their popularity risks damaging consumer trust Continue Reading
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News
20 Jan 2023
WhatsApp’s £4.8m fine raises questions for organisations using behavioural advertising
The Irish Data Protection Commissioner has fined WhatsApp, owned by Meta, in a case that will raise questions for organisations that rely on contracts rather than consent to comply with GDPR when offering behavioural advertising Continue Reading
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News
19 Jan 2023
UK seeks to ban sharing ‘positive’ Channel crossing videos online
Under UK government amendments to the Online Safety Bill, video footage that shows people crossing the Channel in a ‘positive light’ could be added to a list of illegal content that all tech platforms must proactively prevent from reaching users, while senior managers could face further criminal sanctions Continue Reading
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News
17 Jan 2023
Cloudflare urged to clamp down on pirates, counterfeiters
A whitepaper produced by brand protection specialist Corsearch calls on Cloudflare to do more to stop online content piracy and sales of counterfeit goods Continue Reading
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News
16 Jan 2023
The Security Interviews: Protecting your digital self
Our digital self – the virtual presence of who we are online – has a pervasive influence in the real world. People make judgements based on these digital depictions, so what can be done to ensure positive representation? Continue Reading
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News
06 Jan 2023
Proposed digital fraud refund rules risk excluding many victims
Proposals to establish a fraud refund mechanism in the UK risk excluding many victims of digitally enabled fraud, a major bank has warned Continue Reading
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News
06 Jan 2023
Meta to appeal £345m fine for Facebook and Instagram privacy breaches
Social media company Meta is to appeal after the Irish Data Protection Commission fined the company for breaching GDPR Continue Reading
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Feature
05 Jan 2023
Top trends in tech, and retail’s early adopters
Computer Weekly identifies the retail industry’s early adopters of what McKinsey & Co deems the top tech trends Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Dec 2022
Developed for Big Science in Europe, highly accurate time protocols ensure fair trading in finance
Protocols developed for use at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research are now being used for many other applications, including financial services Continue Reading
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News
21 Dec 2022
Top 10 retail technology stories of 2022
Computer Weekly looks at what 2022 had in store for the retail industry – after the pandemic increasing technology adoption for most of the retail sector, what have firms put in place to survive the next few years? Continue Reading
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E-Zine
20 Dec 2022
The Post Office IT scandal – cock-up or cover-up?
In this week’s Computer Weekly, the second phase of the Post Office IT scandal inquiry revealed further shocking details at every turn – we review the latest evidence. We examine progress of the roll-out of fast broadband connectivity across the UK. And as the Online Safety Bill returns to Parliament, we look at the ongoing arguments about how to keep the internet safe. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
13 Dec 2022
Crime Stoppers Tasmania debuts new reporting portal
Reporting tool will enable the public to share crime-related information with law enforcement agencies to support policing in Tasmania Continue Reading
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E-Zine
06 Dec 2022
Is Twitter still safe, and should you stop using the platform?
In this week’s Computer Weekly, with a litany of security and compliance issues caused by Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter, we ask if it’s still safe for enterprises. Our latest buyer’s guide examines the technologies and best practices behind data visualisation. And we look at the emerging devices for accessing the metaverse. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
05 Dec 2022
Fake investment ads persist on Meta’s social networks
Online adverts for investment scams relating to property and crypto assets are still getting past measures designed to stop them Continue Reading
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News
02 Dec 2022
Twitter ‘replacement’ Hive Social shuts off service in privacy alert
Hive Social, a recently established social media network, has temporarily closed its servers to address deep structural privacy issues identified by ethical hackers Continue Reading
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News
29 Nov 2022
Cyber criminals exploiting naked TikTok ‘challenge’
Malware operators lured targets by promising them they would be able to view nude videos of TikTok users Continue Reading
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News
29 Nov 2022
‘Legal but harmful’ clause dropped from Online Safety Bill
Online Safety Bill’s ‘legal but harmful’ provision will be dropped by the UK government in favour of public risk assessments, tools to help users control the content they consume, and new criminal offences around self-harm Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Nov 2022
Extended reality can be empathic reality
In the metaverse, eliciting empathy might become an important feature for many applications, including gaming and industrial uses, and there is even the potential that applications that focus on emphatic results will create their own market niche Continue Reading
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Opinion
28 Nov 2022
Protecting children as they spend years in virtual worlds
To protect children online, we must now focus on pre-emptive and robust regulation around immersive technologies Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Nov 2022
XR’s wide range of interface technologies: Achieving total immersiveness
Visuals are important to create convincing representations of the real world in extended reality, but they are neither inclusive nor do they provide a sufficiently authentic sensation in virtual worlds. Genuine immersiveness will require interfaces that address the breadth of human senses Continue Reading
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News
24 Nov 2022
Meta faces UK lawsuit over surveillance business model
The High Court case against Meta could set a precedent for millions of UK users to object to their personal data being collected and processed for advertising purposes Continue Reading
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News
22 Nov 2022
Ducktail spins new tales to hijack Facebook Business accounts
The increasingly active Ducktail cyber crime operation is refining its operations, seeking new methods to compromise its victims’ Facebook Business accounts Continue Reading
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News
18 Nov 2022
Is Elon Musk’s Twitter safe, and should you stop using it?
With a litany of security and compliance issues exposed and in many cases caused by Elon Musk’s takeover of social media platform Twitter, some may be asking if it’s still safe or appropriate to use Continue Reading
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News
15 Nov 2022
TikTok influencers are better than finance firms for money advice, say quarter of young adults
Young people are turning to TikTok-based influencers for advice on how to manage their finances and where to bank Continue Reading
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News
13 Nov 2022
Metaverse could add up to $1.4tn a year to Asia’s GDP
The metaverse may still be in its infancy, but sustained investments in the technology over the next decade could have a significant impact on Asia’s economy Continue Reading
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News
13 Nov 2022
Online scam victims lose an average of £1,000 each
New data from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau shows victims of online fraud lose an average of £1,000 per person Continue Reading
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Blog Post
10 Nov 2022
Naughty Twitter fingers
The BBC’s recent three-part show on Elon Musk, tirelessly narrated in the sultry style of an M&S advert for a facetious, cannabis-seasoned gammon joint, veers into puff-piece territory way too ... Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Nov 2022
How to incorporate social media into SEO strategies
While social media marketing and SEO seem like two separate practices, when used together, they can enhance any organization's digital marketing strategy. Continue Reading
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News
07 Nov 2022
Keeping personally identifiable data personal
As it celebrates its 100th birthday, the BBC has begun a pilot looking into its role in enabling the general public to store their personal data Continue Reading
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News
04 Nov 2022
Elon Musk begins mass Twitter layoffs via email
New Twitter owner Elon Musk has begun the process of cutting the company’s workforce in half, but is already facing a legal backlash for allegedly violating US labour laws Continue Reading
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News
02 Nov 2022
Shadow digital secretary outlines Labour’s tech priorities
Labour’s digital and technology plans focus on reining in the power of the tech giants, boosting connectivity across the UK, and improving online safety Continue Reading
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Opinion
31 Oct 2022
How to build consumer trust with a privacy-by-design approach
Undertaken with the right mindset and technology, privacy by design delivers value to consumers and builds trust for the long term Continue Reading
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News
28 Oct 2022
FYUZ 2022: Telecom Infra Project, Intel launch metaverse mMIMO collaboration
Global community designed to drive infrastructure services to advance global connectivity enters into partnership with chip giant Continue Reading
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News
27 Oct 2022
Government ups cyber support for elderly, vulnerable web users
DCMS announces a funding boost to help the elderly, disabled and other vulnerable groups stay safe online and avoid being misled by disinformation Continue Reading
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News
27 Oct 2022
LinkedIn adds new features to safeguard user privacy, security
Social media platform is adding a number of features and systems designed to protect legitimate users from inauthentic profiles and activity Continue Reading
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News
27 Oct 2022
Santander calls for cooperation to tackle APP fraud
New report puts forward key recommendations that the banking sector, government and other industries could take to tackle authorised push payment fraud Continue Reading
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News
27 Oct 2022
Meta tightens purse strings as it spends on Reality Labs
Facebook’s parent company is betting the business on a long-term strategy to move social media into the metaverse Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Oct 2022
Putting metaverse concerns into perspective
All breakthroughs in technology have come with downsides, so what risks and concerns are there with the advent of the metaverse? Continue Reading
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News
25 Oct 2022
Dutch lawyers raise human rights concerns over hacked cryptophone data
Dutch defence lawyers say in an open letter that there is a risk of unfair trials unless they are allowed to test the reliability and legitimacy of hacked cryptophone evidence Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Oct 2022
XR applications are already changing businesses
Many still regard the metaverse as a technology looking for an application. Yet company leaders would be surprised to learn how commercially usable augmented and virtual reality applications already are Continue Reading
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Blog Post
19 Oct 2022
Yeezy bought me
The artist formerly known as Kanye West has tied a ribbon round his recent package of white supremacist slogans, George Floyd family agitation and anti-Semitic tropes with an agreement to purchase ... Continue Reading
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Feature
19 Oct 2022
The metaverse’s developing industry structure
Challenges to create seamlessly working metaverse solutions exist not only on the technology side, but also on the business and partnership side. But the developing commercial landscape has not yet gelled. Small players, startups and even individuals have the opportunity to carve out profitable niches, perhaps even create the next big players Continue Reading
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E-Zine
18 Oct 2022
How Russia hacked a former MI6 spy chief
In this week’s Computer Weekly, Russian hackers leaked emails and documents from British government, military, and intelligence officials – we examine the implications. New EU laws will govern online safety and the use of AI, but what do they mean for organisations? And we look at the growth in checkout-free shopping. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
14 Oct 2022
Malicious WhatsApp add-on highlights risks of third-party mods
Kaspersky researchers discovered a malicious version of a widely used WhatsApp messenger mod, highlighting the risks of using so-called mods Continue Reading
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News
14 Oct 2022
Protecting children by scanning encrypted messages is ‘magical thinking’, says Cambridge professor
Ross Anderson argues in a rebuttal to GCHQ experts that using artificial intelligence to scan encrypted messaging services is the wrong approach to protecting children and preventing terrorism Continue Reading
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E-Zine
13 Oct 2022
CW Middle East: Qatar strengthens cyber defences ahead of FIFA World Cup
Being the first Arab country to host the World Cup is pressure enough on Qatar, but there is also a massive cyber security challenge associated with any event of this magnitude. Read about its preparations. Also in this issue, find out about the unique challenges of hiring IT professionals in Saudi Arabia. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
12 Oct 2022
Spot the idiot
In what at first glance looked like the inventor of affordable rolled gift wrap finally having enough, Damien Hirst last week began the process of burning those of the 10,000 individual A4 ... Continue Reading
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News
12 Oct 2022
Qualcomm unveils next-gen MR, VR devices based on Snapdragon platform
New premium-tier extended reality platform is said to deliver 50% higher sustained power and 30% improved thermal performance to enable more immersive metaverse experiences in smaller, lighter form factors Continue Reading
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News
12 Oct 2022
Meta presents vision for business metaverse
How can hybrid teams collaborate seamlessly? Meta believes virtual reality tied to business applications is the way forward Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Oct 2022
Morrisons joins the fast-growing retail media movement
More retailers are becoming publishers as they realise the potential of their online assets, helping to fuel a new fast-growth segment of digital marketing – and Morrisons is no exception Continue Reading
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News
06 Oct 2022
EU rolling out measures for online safety and AI liability
The European Council has approved the passage of the Digital Services Act to protect people’s rights online, while the European Commission has announced proposals to help those negatively affected by artificial intelligence to claim compensation Continue Reading
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News
06 Oct 2022
Proposals for scanning encrypted messages should be cut from Online Safety Bill, say researchers
Automatic scanning of messaging services for illegal content could lead to one billion false alarms each day in Europe Continue Reading
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Opinion
05 Oct 2022
Everything you wanted to know about the metaverse
Possession may be nine-tenths of the law, but the unique qualities of digital assets mean they do not easily fit into the age-old legal concept of ownership Continue Reading
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News
28 Sep 2022
Online Safety Bill needs complete overhaul, say rights groups
Civil society groups write to new digital minister to challenge various aspects of the upcoming Online Safety Bill, which they say threatens rights to privacy and freedom of expression Continue Reading
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News
27 Sep 2022
Telefónica, Qualcomm collaborate to build XR, metaverse systems
Partnership designed to grow metaverse and extended reality ecosystem using Snapdragon Spaces as well as upskilling Telefónica’s internal teams and external innovation programmes in XR hardware and applications Continue Reading
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News
22 Sep 2022
Privacy Pledge signatories dream of alternative internet
A group of privacy-focused organisations have come together to establish a set of principles for taking the internet back from big tech and surveillance capitalism Continue Reading
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News
02 Sep 2022
IFA 2022: Qualcomm announces Meta partnership as it stakes out connected future
Chip giant unveils plans to embed its connectivity technology – encompassing Wi-Fi 7, 5G and even satellite – within virtual and real-world environments to drive connected experiences Continue Reading
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News
24 Aug 2022
Alleged Twitter security failings spell trouble ahead
Twitter’s former security head, Peiter Zatko, has alleged a number of serious cyber failures at the social media platform, raising the spectre of investigations and sanctions Continue Reading
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News
16 Aug 2022
Older customers prefer phone calls to chatbots
Businesses are increasingly adopting customer-facing digital technologies, but the older generation are not so keen to embrace tech Continue Reading
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Opinion
04 Aug 2022
Reimagining ethical digital technology
With ever-increasing digitisation leading to greater dependence on a range of digital technologies, enterprises need to urgently look at how they can incorporate ethical and social considerations into the tech they develop Continue Reading
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News
02 Aug 2022
UK safety tech sector sees strong revenue and employment growth
Safety tech is now one of the fastest-growing sectors in the UK tech industry, with jumps in revenue, investment and employment Continue Reading
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News
28 Jul 2022
Facebook net income drops 36% as economic outlook worsens
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is planning to slash spending by $6bn, but remains focused on AI development Continue Reading
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News
26 Jul 2022
Meta publishes first-ever human rights report
Meta details its approach to protecting and promoting human rights, but civil society groups say the company has failed to grapple with the human rights risks associated with its own business model Continue Reading
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News
26 Jul 2022
Ducktail infostealer targets Facebook Business users
Newly uncovered Ducktail operation targets individuals with access to Facebook Business service and tries to steal their accounts Continue Reading
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News
22 Jul 2022
LinkedIn most impersonated brand in phishing attacks
Social network LinkedIn, along with Microsoft and DHL, are just some of the brands that are most frequently imitated by cyber criminals conducting phishing attacks Continue Reading
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News
21 Jul 2022
GCHQ experts back scanning of encrypted phone messages to fight child abuse
Ian Levy, technical director of the NCSC, and Crispin Robinson, technical director of GCHQ, back client-side scanning software on mobile phones to detect child abuse Continue Reading
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News
14 Jul 2022
How hostile government APTs target journalists for cyber intrusions
Proofpoint shares data on multiple campaigns of cyber intrusions against journalists originating from threat actors aligned to the governments of China, Iran, North Korea and Turkey Continue Reading
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News
14 Jul 2022
Government pauses Online Safety Bill’s progress
The government has paused the Online Safety Bill’s journey towards becoming law, amid timetable pressure Continue Reading
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News
13 Jul 2022
Digital break-up kit to help women get out of bad relationships safely
Domestic abuse charity Refuge teams up with Avast to equip women with the knowledge to effectively and safely end a relationship digitally Continue Reading
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News
12 Jul 2022
Brits say social media must do more to block harmful content
UK citizens want social media companies to do more to prevent harmful content appearing on their platforms Continue Reading
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News
08 Jul 2022
Ofcom publishes Online Safety Roadmap
The roadmap sets out how the online harms regulator will approach implementing the UK’s online safety regime, and tells tech firms to start preparing for the new rules Continue Reading
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News
07 Jul 2022
Deliciously Ella – how the brand adopted D2C during the pandemic
Plant-based brand Deliciously Ella did not intend to sell directly to customers, but shifting unsold stock during the pandemic opened digital doors for the brand Continue Reading
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News
07 Jul 2022
Tech companies face pressure over end-to-end encryption in Online Safety Bill
An amendment to the Online Safety Bill, currently going through Parliament, will put pressure on tech companies over end-to-end encrypted messaging services Continue Reading
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News
07 Jul 2022
The Security Interviews: Inside Russia’s Ukraine information operation
Computer Weekly speaks to Craig Terron of Recorded Future about delving deep inside the Russian disinformation machine, and how the Kremlin’s strategy is set to evolve Continue Reading
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News
29 Jun 2022
Romance scammers exploit Ukraine war in cynical campaign
Romance scammers can make easy money exploiting people looking for love, but in this newly observed campaign linked to the Ukraine war they are playing on deeper emotions Continue Reading
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News
28 Jun 2022
Digital Poverty Alliance unveils evidence review
Evidence review into the state of digital poverty in the UK sets out policy principles and recommendations, which will be used as the basis for a national action plan to eliminate the issue Continue Reading
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News
28 Jun 2022
Avast uncovers ‘thieves’ kitchen’ of malware-writing teens
Researchers stumble across online community of 11 to 18-year-olds constructing, exchanging and spreading malware Continue Reading
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News
23 Jun 2022
Non-European tech giants could be subject to EU-backed anti-greenwashing directive
EU-backed push to tighten up the sustainability reporting processes for companies that do business in Europe gathers pace Continue Reading