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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Feature
28 Sep 2023
Retailers and customers alike open to AI, but calls for caution
Retail-related studies into AI’s influence suggest its capabilities are welcome by the sector and shoppers alike – but tech leaders advise treading cautiously Continue Reading
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News
20 Sep 2023
Parliament passes sweeping Online Safety Bill but tech companies still concerned over encryption
Ofcom will consult on standards to enforce new powers, but tech companies remain concerned about the impact of the bill’s ‘spy clause’, which could require them to scan encrypted messages 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
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Feature
17 Jun 2022
What the EU’s content-filtering rules could mean for UK tech
EU proposals to clamp down on child sexual abuse material will have a material impact on the UK’s technology sector Continue Reading
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News
16 Jun 2022
Interpol arrests thousands in global cyber fraud crackdown
A two-month operation saw law enforcement agencies in 76 countries crack down on organised cyber fraud Continue Reading
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News
10 Jun 2022
Former CEO explains how Dreams went from nightmare to fantasy
In 2013, Mike Logue joined Dreams after it had been saved from administration – he explains how data and communication rebuilt the business Continue Reading
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Feature
31 May 2022
Attack of the clones: the rise of identity theft on social media
The proliferation of social media has resulted in the rise of identity theft on these platforms, with accounts copied for fraudulent or malicious purposes. What can be done to mitigate it? Continue Reading
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News
24 May 2022
ICO orders facial recognition firm Clearview AI to delete all data about UK residents
UK data watchdog fines facial recognition company Clearview AI £7.5m for multiple privacy breaches. The firm, which offers services to law enforcement, faces growing pressure from regulators and legal action around the world Continue Reading
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News
06 May 2022
UK digital markets regulator to be given statutory powers
Digital Markets Unit will be put on statutory footing by UK government to ensure technology giants do not abuse market power, but announcement comes with no clear indication of when legislation will be introduced Continue Reading
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News
28 Apr 2022
Naver outlines global AI ambitions
South Korean internet giant Naver has built a global research network to advance and apply its artificial intelligence capabilities across its services Continue Reading
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Podcast
28 Apr 2022
Metaverse, women in software – Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast
Cliff Saran joins Clare and Brian, in Caroline’s absence, to discuss the metaverse, Windows 11, the Makers Women in Software Power List, and how CIOs do technology in 2022 Continue Reading
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Blog Post
13 Apr 2022
Consumerism in the metaverse
The Easter break and springtime gives everyone a chance to reflect, looking forward to holidays, spending time with the family and indulging in good food and retail therapy. Traditionally, with ... Continue Reading
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News
12 Apr 2022
The metaverse: A virtual reality check
The so-called metaverse is years away, but many businesses are keen to ride the industry hype in a bid to benefit from first-mover advantage Continue Reading
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Opinion
07 Apr 2022
Online Safety Bill: Collaborating to make the internet safer for all
The UK government's plan to regulate the internet and social media includes some positive and progressive measures – but by working with industry, a lot more could be achieved Continue Reading
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News
28 Mar 2022
IT professionals wary of government campaign to limit end-to-end encryption
Members of the Chartered Institute of IT, the professional body for technology professionals in the UK, warn against limiting end-to-end encryption Continue Reading
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News
28 Mar 2022
Most big businesses are taking up banking as a service
API-based banking services allow corporate customers to offer financial services without the need for heavy tech development or regulatory approval Continue Reading
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News
23 Mar 2022
Meta teams up with NatWest Bank to support female entrepreneurs in the UK
Partnership will see female business owners receive financial readiness and digital training, and help with increasing their business connections and networks Continue Reading
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News
23 Mar 2022
Chinese state media use Facebook to push pro-Russia disinformation on Ukraine war
Facebook owner Meta accused of failing to follow its own policies by not disclosing how Chinese state media were targeting Facebook users with ‘propaganda’ ads about the conflict in Ukraine Continue Reading
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News
17 Mar 2022
Accenture: Trust and opportunities in the metaverse
The metaverse is the wild west of the internet, but pioneering businesses are laying the foundations for a new era of virtual reality Continue Reading
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News
17 Mar 2022
Ukrainian tech journalists join fight to fill news void
Technology journalists in Ukraine are raising funds to enable them to help Ukrainians survive during the Russian invasion Continue Reading
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News
15 Mar 2022
Meta fined €17m over EU data breaches
The Irish Data Protection Commissioner has fined Meta after finding it in breach of GDPR rules Continue Reading
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Opinion
14 Mar 2022
Encryption myths versus realities of Online Safety Bill
The UK government can’t legislate the impossible – a safer society depends on encryption, not breaking it Continue Reading
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News
10 Mar 2022
Government to force tech firms to stop fraudsters using their platforms for scams
Changes to legislation will make social media and search engine firms responsible for preventing fraudsters using their platforms to commit crimes Continue Reading
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News
03 Mar 2022
Use of encrypted Telegram platform soars in Ukraine, Russia
Encrypted messaging service Telegram is proving a valuable asset to both sides in Russia’s war on Ukraine Continue Reading
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Feature
25 Feb 2022
Information in the metaverse is A Tale of Two Cities
The metaverse will make it easier to access an increasing wealth of information, but it also will make it more difficult to distinguish real from fake, accurate from wrong – and that goes for information as well as the information sources themselves Continue Reading
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News
25 Feb 2022
Irish data watchdog calls for ‘objective metrics’ for big tech regulation
Helen Dixon, Ireland’s data protection commissioner, says EU regulators must agree on metrics to measure the effectiveness of data protection regulation Continue Reading
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News
23 Feb 2022
Paid-for advertising still not covered in Online Safety Bill
Consumer group Which? calls again for government to include measures against scam paid-for advertising in the Online Safety Bill Continue Reading
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News
21 Feb 2022
Zoom gains NCSC Cyber Essentials Plus and NHS security badges
Video platform Zoom has added a number of UK-specific cyber certifications to help it demonstrate its platform is safeguarded against common threats Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Feb 2022
It takes a village: Protecting kids online is everyone’s responsibility
The rapid uptake of smartphones among children has contributed to the increasing number of cases of cyber bullying and online grooming. Is this an educational issue or a cultural problem, and can modern enterprise help? Continue Reading
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Blog Post
16 Feb 2022
The metaverse offers a chance to reassess
Looking at the artists who pulled their catalogues from Spotify due to the Joe Rogan podcasts, the most powerful voice is the voice of the content creators, rather than legislators or the platform ... Continue Reading
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News
09 Feb 2022
Minister defends digital economy legislation before Lords
A digital minister has said that the UK’s forthcoming digital markets legislation is ‘superior’ to similar efforts in the EU, but could not commit to a specific time frame for when it will be introduced to Parliament Continue Reading
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News
02 Feb 2022
Mechanism underlying cookie popups found in breach of GDPR
A fundamental element of the mechanism by which the advertising industry requests tracking consent from web users has been found in breach of the General Data Protection Regulation Continue Reading
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News
27 Jan 2022
Microsoft uses Q2 2022 earnings to delve into metaverse
Company’s CEO sees a role for Microsoft that takes the metaverse beyond gaming and into the business sphere Continue Reading
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News
27 Jan 2022
Bank account switching accelerates as consumers choose digital services
Surge in UK consumers changing current account providers is a sign that digital banking services are eating into the traditional sector Continue Reading
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News
25 Jan 2022
Twitter to expand Singapore engineering hub
Twitter will double its engineering workforce in Singapore by 2023, as part of its regional expansion plans Continue Reading
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News
24 Jan 2022
MPs say Online Safety Bill fails to tackle full range of harms
A DCMS select committee has warned that the Online Safety Bill should be expanded to cover more types of harmful content, such as child abuse material designed to circumvent content removal Continue Reading
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News
21 Jan 2022
ICO criticises government-backed campaign to delay end-to-end encryption
Data protection watchdog warns that delaying end-to-end encryption will put children at risk Continue Reading
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News
20 Jan 2022
Advantages of traditional banks are weakening amid digital challenge, says FCA
Weakening of the advantages enjoyed by traditional banks over the years is “driven by digital innovation and changing consumer behaviour”, says regulator Continue Reading
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News
19 Jan 2022
Government funds charity campaign to warn big tech over the risks of encryption to children
Barnardo’s and other charities begin a government-backed PR campaign to warn of the dangers end-to-end encryption poses to child safety, which has been criticised as being ‘one-sided’ Continue Reading
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News
19 Jan 2022
Content removal will not stop misinformation, says Royal Society
Censorship of scientific misinformation online could exacerbate feelings of distrust, so government should look at information literacy and funding fact checkers instead, says report Continue Reading
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Feature
11 Jan 2022
A legal minefield called the metaverse
Will the metaverse create a $1tn revenue market? Who knows? How long will it take to reach this lofty potential? Who can tell? Will people invest across this emerging landscape of speculative riches? You bet Continue Reading
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News
11 Jan 2022
Companies propose scanning content pre-encryption to fight CSAM
Firms working on the UK government’s Safety Tech Challenge have suggested that scanning content before encryption will help prevent the spread of child sexual abuse material – but privacy concerns remain Continue Reading
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E-Zine
11 Jan 2022
How Pepsi is taking digital to the max
In this week’s Computer Weekly, we talk to PepsiCo’s digital director about delivering innovation in customer experience. Our first buyer’s guide of 2022 examines hybrid cloud storage. And we find out how Arkwright and Granville from the BBC sitcom Open All Hours are inspiring retailers 40 years on. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
06 Jan 2022
France fines Facebook and Google over alleged cookie malpractice
French data protection authorities clamp down on tech platforms for purposely making it more burdensome for users to decline tracking cookies Continue Reading
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News
05 Jan 2022
Fintech players get cosy in Luxembourg
Luxembourg aims to play a larger role in the rapidly growing global fintech market Continue Reading
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News
31 Dec 2021
Top 10 Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcasts of 2021
The Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast team began the year discussing the online fallout from the storming of the White House and finished it discussing IT and climate change, touching on bees and datacentres along the way Continue Reading
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News
29 Dec 2021
Top 10 retail technology stories of 2021
Computer Weekly looks at what 2021 had in store for the retail industry – did technology help retailers recover from the effects of the pandemic? Continue Reading
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Blog Post
14 Dec 2021
Live from the Lord Moon of the Mall (Pt. III)
Matt Baker once asked David Cameron, “How on earth do you sleep at night?” But for Matt Hancock, a big cup of Horlicks usually sees him spark out by eight o’clock. By nine, he’s stumbling into his ... Continue Reading
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News
14 Dec 2021
Joint committee publishes report on improving Online Safety Bill
MPs and peers release report on Online Safety Bill following five-month inquiry into the draft legislation and make a number of recommendations on how it can be improved to deal with harmful content and abuse on the internet Continue Reading
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E-Zine
14 Dec 2021
The rules for a safer internet
In this week’s Computer Weekly, as the government publishes the Online Safety Bill, we look at what the laws mean for internet services. A ransomware victim shares the insider story of the trauma of losing their corporate IT systems. And we ask, what happens when quantum computers get too powerful to verify their output? Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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E-Zine
09 Dec 2021
CW Europe: Norway embraces internet of things
Norway is becoming a centre of IoT innovation as tech developers tackle some of the country’s unique challenges, in areas such as fish farming, power distribution and monitoring of boats. Also in this issue, find out why Utrecht University media scientist José van Dijck has won an award, and read about Estonia’s country-as-a-service scheme. Continue Reading
- 09 Dec 2021
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News
08 Dec 2021
Number of .uk domain suspensions at record low
Statistics from Nominet show how effective law enforcement action against cyber crime in the UK is paying off Continue Reading
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News
06 Dec 2021
Consumers say supermarkets among best at social engagement
Many types of business have improved their online interactions with consumers as a result of the pandemic, with consumers claiming supermarkets are among the most engaging Continue Reading
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News
30 Nov 2021
MI6 will ‘open up’ to tech firms to innovate faster than adversaries, says chief Richard Moore
MI6 will use investment fund to back tech companies to develop long-term technologies that will help it to keep pace with China and Russia Continue Reading
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30 Nov 2021
AstraZeneca looks at the bigger picture in enterprise social media
How do you work with people in different time zones and from different cultures and what happens when people leave the company? Continue Reading
