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
26 Mar 2024
Apple, Meta and Alphabet under EU scrutiny
Under the new Digital Markets Act, European commissioners are looking at potential issues with the way Apple, Alphabet and Meta operate their platforms Continue Reading
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News
21 Mar 2024
US sues Apple, alleging smartphone monopoly
A major legal action against Apple over its dominance of the smartphone market has kicked off in the US, alleging anticompetitive practices on Apple’s part that have damaged the sector and restricted consumer choice Continue Reading
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News
28 Jun 2021
Zopa Bank to make profit in its first year
Bank set up by peer-to-peer lending fintech firm expected to make a profit in its first year Continue Reading
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Blog Post
25 Jun 2021
The dangers of binary arguments in a complex and relative digital world
In his 1983 book, Modern times: a history of the world from the 1920s to the year 2000, historian Paul Johnson claims the modern world started on 29 May 1919, when astronomers studying a solar ... Continue Reading
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News
24 Jun 2021
Google hands third-party cookies a stay of execution
Google’s proposed Privacy Sandbox initiative – which will see third-party cookies phased out in the Chrome web browser – has been pushed back to 2023 Continue Reading
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News
24 Jun 2021
Online Safety Bill unfit for purpose, says new campaign group
Campaign group set up to oppose Online Safety Bill says the duty of care is too simplistic, cedes too much power to US corporations and will, in practice, privilege the speech of journalists or politicians Continue Reading
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News
22 Jun 2021
NSPCC, IWF help under-18s scrub their nude photos from the web
Report Remove tool is designed to be used by under-18s to report nude images or videos of themselves that have appeared online Continue Reading
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Feature
14 Jun 2021
Video commerce and livestreaming make waves in retail
The growth in e-commerce during the pandemic is well documented, but the fragmented retail environment has also helped video commerce and livestreaming rise to prominence Continue Reading
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News
14 Jun 2021
G7 commits to action on ransomware, digital privacy
The G7 urges Russia to do more to hold criminal ransomware gangs operating from within its borders to account as it commits to more action on the issue Continue Reading
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News
11 Jun 2021
CMA secures commitments from Google on future of cookies
The Competition and Markets Authority is opening a consultation on commitments offered to it by Google to ensure its Privacy Sandbox proposals do not harm digital advertising markets Continue Reading
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News
09 Jun 2021
Klarna takes on UK credit card providers with feature that breaks up online payments
Fintech unicorn introduces feature to its app in the UK which will challenge traditional credit card providers Continue Reading
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News
27 May 2021
MP-backed push to stop tech giants claiming super-deduction tax relief thwarted
Move to prevent the likes of Amazon using the government's new super-deduction policy to minimise their UK tax liabilities even further fails to win support in the House of Commons Continue Reading
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News
25 May 2021
Stockholm’s startup scene seeks more diversity
Swedish capital has created a world-leading tech startup environment, but it still lacks the diversity of people needed to move it to the next level Continue Reading
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Opinion
25 May 2021
Online Safety Bill: an opportunity for tech to get it right
Long-awaited proposals for regulating internet companies still leave much to be defined – and the tech sector must take the lead in finalising a plan that works for society and government Continue Reading
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News
24 May 2021
How Virgin Atlantic used Workplace from Facebook to great advantage during the pandemic
Virgin Atlantic was an early adopter of Workplace from Facebook. We find out how the collaboration tool has supported the airline throughout the pandemic Continue Reading
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News
20 May 2021
Pandemic tech use heightens consumer privacy fears
Report on consumer attitudes to privacy finds evidence of a “heightened sense of fear” as digital footprints expand inexorably Continue Reading
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News
18 May 2021
Irish High Court dismisses legal bid by Facebook over EU-US data transfers
Latest twist in long-running legal battle sees Facebook lose legal bid to prevent the Irish Data Protection Commissioner suspending its transfer of data about European citizens to the US Continue Reading
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News
13 May 2021
Refuge launches tech safety site for domestic abuse victims
Created with the help of survivors, Refuge’s resource site offers guidance on protecting yourself from tech-enabled domestic abuse Continue Reading
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News
12 May 2021
UK government publishes Online Safety Bill draft
Bill builds on previous commitments by the government, which has added new measures to uphold democracy and freedom of speech while making tech giants more accountable Continue Reading
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News
07 May 2021
Reddit enlists HackerOne to run public bug bounty programme
Online community platform is opening up its HackerOne bug bounty programme to any ethical hacker who cares to have a look under the bonnet Continue Reading
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News
06 May 2021
Government urged to add scam protections to Online Safety Bill
Group of organisations calls for the government to use the Online Safety Bill to protect people from cyber scams Continue Reading
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News
06 May 2021
Tech startups turn to digital PR platform for media exposure
Digital PR platform Newspage helps early-stage tech startups with limited resources increase their visibility to journalists and news organisations Continue Reading
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Opinion
27 Apr 2021
Why we need to reset the debate on end-to-end encryption to protect children
Private messaging is the front line of abuse, yet E2EE in its current form risks engineering away the ability of firms to detect and disrupt it where it is most prevalent Continue Reading
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News
22 Apr 2021
ToxicEye malware exploits Telegram messaging service
The Telegram instant messaging service is being used by malicious actors to manage a remote access trojan called ToxicEye Continue Reading
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News
18 Apr 2021
Government puts Facebook under pressure to stop end-to-end encryption over child abuse risks
Facebook faces growing government pressure to abandon its plans to offer users end-to-end encryption to secure the privacy of their messages as the NSPCC raises concerns about child protection Continue Reading
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News
15 Apr 2021
Ireland’s DPC launches probe into Facebook leak
The Irish Data Protection Commission has launched an ‘own volition’ inquiry into the leak of data from 500 million Facebook profiles Continue Reading
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News
13 Apr 2021
Covid-19 left people feeling vulnerable to cyber crime
Around 15 million people in the UK experienced cybercrime in the past 12 months, with a cumulative 64 million hours wasted dealing with the fallout Continue Reading
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News
09 Apr 2021
Egypt, Italy and US most affected in Facebook leak
Researchers at VPN firm Surfshark have been analysing data on 533 million people leaked from Facebook Continue Reading
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News
09 Apr 2021
NCSC: Using your pet’s name as a password is very stupid
If your email password is still Rex, Rover or Mr Fluffles, it’s probably best to change it, the NCSC has said Continue Reading
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News
07 Apr 2021
Facebook ducks calls to apologise over huge data leak
Facebook gives its side of the story as data on millions of its users leaks, but is yet to apologise for security lapses that put half a billion people at risk of compromise Continue Reading
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News
07 Apr 2021
Digital Markets Unit starts work on codes of conduct for tech giants
Digital markets regulator officially launched to ensure tech giants such as Facebook and Google cannot exploit their market dominance to crowd out competition and stifle innovation online Continue Reading
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News
06 Apr 2021
Facebook data leak could be outside scope of GDPR
Regulators may be unable to do much about leaked data on 533 million Facebook users, as it seems to have been stolen before GDPR came into force Continue Reading
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News
29 Mar 2021
Big Tech eclipses telecoms and arms giants as biggest lobbying spenders
Facebook and Amazon are spending more on lobbying and campaign contributions than any other companies in the US, including those in the arms and telecommunications sectors that have traditionally been the highest political spenders Continue Reading
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News
25 Mar 2021
Facebook disrupts Chinese espionage operation
Social media giant’s in-house security team has tracked down and disrupted a long-running Chinese campaign targeting the Uighur Muslim minority Continue Reading
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Blog Post
24 Mar 2021
Bamby on thin ice
YouTube has claimed it rushed to remove an offensive rap advert before the Advertising Standards Authority’s verdict on it even came in. The promo for Bamby H2O, an artist with fewer Instagram ... Continue Reading
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News
12 Mar 2021
Web founder calls for ubiquitous, safe internet access for young people
Internet access has a direct correlation to GDP. On the 32nd birthday of the world wide web, its founder calls for improvements to safe access Continue Reading
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Blog Post
12 Mar 2021
What the Net can learn from car culture
In an open letter celebrating the birthday of the web Tim Berners-Lee and co-author, Rosemary Leith have called for better connectivity for young people in order to build a better post Covid world. ... Continue Reading
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News
11 Mar 2021
UK digital regulators set out plans to strengthen cooperation
Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum outlines plans for the coming year, marking a shift towards a more collaborative regulatory approach Continue Reading
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News
09 Mar 2021
UK's Starling Bank reaches unicorn status
UK app-based bank Starling reaches unicorn status following its latest round of funding Continue Reading
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News
03 Mar 2021
Pandemic brings good online sales growth for smaller retailers
IMRG data shows smaller retailers did ‘astronomically well’ in online sales growth after Covid-19 took hold last year Continue Reading
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News
01 Mar 2021
What it means to be born digital
We speak to Robert Wigley about his new book, Born Digital, which looks at the societal impact of Generation Z Continue Reading
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News
26 Feb 2021
Nordic startups strive to fuel international e-commerce transformation
Nordic startups are developing technology for retailers that want to improve the customer experience when buying online Continue Reading
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News
24 Feb 2021
Is Clubhouse safe, and should CISOs stop its use?
With more concerns being raised over the privacy and security of social media app Clubhouse, we consider whether security teams should consider restricting or stopping employees from using it Continue Reading
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News
24 Feb 2021
Internet companies should provide real-time data on disinformation, Lords told
Fact-checking experts tell House of Lords inquiry that upcoming Online Safety Bill should force internet companies to provide real-time information on suspected disinformation, and warn against over-reliance on AI-powered algorithms to moderate content Continue Reading
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News
23 Feb 2021
AI powers reputational damage insurance policy
Reputational damage has an immediate impact on a company’s share price, and brand loyalty built over many years can be lost in an instant Continue Reading
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News
18 Feb 2021
Swedish police fined for unlawful use of facial-recognition app
Sweden’s data watchdog has found that Swedish police failed to conduct the data protection checks required by law before using controversial facial-recognition tool Continue Reading
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News
15 Feb 2021
Digital investments will add £232bn to UK economy by 2040
The UK economy could grow by £232bn over the next two decades if investments in digital technologies continue Continue Reading
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News
11 Feb 2021
Verizon Business, Deloitte gain retail edge with 5G
Operator’s 5G and mobile edge compute technology, coupled with IT consultancy’s retail industry and solution engineering experience, aims to improve store operating efficiency and enhance the customer experience Continue Reading
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News
10 Feb 2021
Dating app users warned to watch out for scammers
A vast amount of money was lost to romance scammers last year, and with millions of people isolated in lockdown the problem is getting worse, according to a report Continue Reading
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Podcast
10 Feb 2021
Disinformation and the US DNC emails leak controversy – Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast
In this episode of the Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast, the team are joined by Bill Goodwin to discuss the role of disinformation in the 2016 Democratic National Committee emails leak Continue Reading
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News
09 Feb 2021
Facebook sued for data-sharing practices with third parties
Data protection claim filed in London against social media giant for its alleged failure to give at least one million users in England and Wales meaningful control over their personal data Continue Reading
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News
09 Feb 2021
Data breaches are a ticking timebomb for consumers
Damage from data breaches goes far beyond the impact to the target organisation – an obvious fact that is too often overlooked, says F-Secure Continue Reading
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News
04 Feb 2021
Revolut rewrites policy to include permanent remote working
Challenger finance firm Revolut is redesigning its office spaces and introducing permanent remote working policies Continue Reading
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Blog Post
03 Feb 2021
Funkier than a Moskito tweeter
The husband and wife who made hundreds of millions selling Bebo to AOL before buying it back for a relative pittance five years later have spent lockdown planning to relaunch the site (again). In a ... Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Feb 2021
Three approaches to remote collaboration for home workers
The coronavirus has led to working from home being the ‘new norm’. We look at how collaboration technologies could work in the long term Continue Reading
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News
29 Jan 2021
Commerzbank announces big job cuts and branch closures
German bank is closing hundreds of branches and cutting thousands of jobs as it reshapes for the digital age Continue Reading
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News
27 Jan 2021
Grindr complaint results in €9.6m GDPR fine
Norway’s data protection authority plans to apply a fine totalling 10% of LGBTQ+ dating app Grindr’s revenues over its data sharing practices Continue Reading
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News
22 Jan 2021
ICO resumes adtech investigation
The UK Information Commissioner’s Office was criticised for ending its investigation into alleged malpractice in advertising technology, but has now resumed its probe Continue Reading
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News
22 Jan 2021
Google threatens to cut off Australia
Google’s threat to end its Australian Search operation comes in the face of new legislation that would force it to pay media publishers for news content Continue Reading
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News
20 Jan 2021
HSBC closing more branches as customers turn to digital channel
Bank announces branch closures as it reshapes its network for the digital age Continue Reading
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Podcast
19 Jan 2021
Parler v AWS, digital schooling, ambulance data – Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast
In this episode of the Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast, Caroline Donnelly, Clare McDonald and Brian McKenna discuss the purgation of Parler, the traumas of digital schooling and the South Central Ambulance Service’s use of data to support their operations during the Covid-19 pandemic Continue Reading
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News
19 Jan 2021
Click fraud levels reach new heights in pandemic
Small companies risk losing £10,000 a year, and enterprises as much as £520,000, to cyber criminals as click fraud volumes spike Continue Reading
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News
14 Jan 2021
All EU states can take data protection cases against Facebook, says EU court
An opinion from the European Court of Justice has the potential to lead to a flood of privacy complaints against Facebook if upheld Continue Reading
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Feature
14 Jan 2021
Big Tech's uneasy balance of capitalism, censorship
Big tech companies' enforcement of acceptable use policies following Capitol riots is questioned, as some say First Amendment rights to free speech should extend to social networks. Continue Reading
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News
13 Jan 2021
Court to rule on Facebook data sharing after Schrems drops legal challenge against Irish regulator
Irish High Court says it will issue a judgment as soon as possible over a draft decision by Ireland’s data protection commissioner to order Facebook to stop the transfer of data about EU citizens to datacentres in the US Continue Reading
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Opinion
13 Jan 2021
What does Brexit mean for the future of UK digital policy? A view from Europe
Any decisions by the UK government to diverge from EU policies and values over digital policy and regulation could cause real economic problems for UK businesses Continue Reading
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News
12 Jan 2021
Parler collapse opens door to phishing attacks
The shutdown of controversial social media site Parler, and the publication of huge amounts of user data scraped by ethical hackers, is giving cyber crime experts cause for concern Continue Reading
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News
08 Jan 2021
Tech sector reacts to Trump social media bans
Facebook, Instagram and others moved to limit US president’s social media access after the violence in Washington DC, but experts have condemned them for acting too slowly, while disinformation about the riots persists Continue Reading
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Blog Post
06 Jan 2021
Talk that talk
Brian Clough once said that if he was given a magic wand and wanted to improve the standard of UK life overnight, he would have Rupert Murdoch removed from this planet. For 12 hours on Tuesday 5 ... Continue Reading
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News
29 Dec 2020
Top 10 financial services stories of 2020
Here are Computer Weekly’s top 10 financial services IT stories of 2020 Continue Reading
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Opinion
23 Dec 2020
It’s time to accept that disinformation is a cyber security issue
Tackling the manipulation of truth and facts is no easy task, and it’s time for the cyber security sector to take up the challenge Continue Reading
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News
22 Dec 2020
Top 10 retail technology stories of 2020
Computer Weekly looks at what 2020 had in store for the retail industry – just how did technology help retailers adapt to changing customer behaviour during the pandemic? Continue Reading
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News
17 Dec 2020
Dodgy browser extensions put social media users at risk
More than three million users of third-party browser extensions for Instagram, Facebook, Vimeo and others have been infected with malware, according to Avast Continue Reading
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Opinion
16 Dec 2020
Why our online harms laws will be good for tech
The UK's minister for digital infrastructure explains the government's thinking behind its proposals to regulate internet companies such as Facebook, Google and others Continue Reading
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News
15 Dec 2020
UK government unveils details of upcoming online harms rules
Online Harms Bill due early 2021 will introduce GDPR-style fines for technology companies that breach online duty of care rules Continue Reading
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News
10 Dec 2020
French regulators fine Google and Amazon over cookie policies
Google and Amazon rapped over their use of advertising cookies by the French data protection authorities Continue Reading
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News
10 Dec 2020
Cyber Helpline awarded lottery funding to support victims
The Cyber Helpline, a UK charity that provides emergency support to victims of cyber crime and online stalking, is to receive funding from the National Lottery Continue Reading
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News
09 Dec 2020
Calls for Facebook break up as US issues lawsuits for anti-competitive behaviour
Antitrust lawsuits issued by the US Federal Trade Commission and 48 attorneys general call for the breakup of Facebook following 10 years of anti-competitive behaviour Continue Reading
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News
08 Dec 2020
CMA sets out plan to regulate technology giants
With its new Digital Markets Unit, the CMA is hoping to curb the excesses of the internet, improve competition and give more choice to consumers Continue Reading
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News
07 Dec 2020
Grindr and others patch critical Android bug
Fixes for CVE-2020-8913 deployed as app developers shore up their defences against a disclosed Google Play vulnerability Continue Reading
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Feature
04 Dec 2020
Digital donations: retailers using technology to offer something back
Some charities require corporate support like never before, and retailers are finding new ways to use technology to facilitate donations Continue Reading
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News
04 Dec 2020
What next for the now-profitable app-based Starling Bank?
Starling bank is the first of the new breed of UK digital banks to make a profit, so where next? Continue Reading
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News
03 Dec 2020
Allied Irish Bank prioritises digital services as it cuts workforce
Bank is cutting its operating costs by 10% with job cuts and facility closures, but will continue to invest heavily in technology Continue Reading
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News
03 Dec 2020
Lax Android app developers putting millions of users at risk
Eight months after Google patched a critical vulnerability, developers have failed to update their apps, putting millions of users of apps such as dating services Bumble and Grindr at risk Continue Reading
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News
02 Dec 2020
Covid-19: Cyber criminals will target vaccine programmes
Interpol issues a global alert to law enforcement as the UK becomes one of the first countries to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for use Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Nov 2020
How retailers are using tech to cope with changing footfall
Customer behaviour was shifting long before the coronavirus pandemic accelerated the online shopping boom, so what technology are retailers using to keep stores relevant? Continue Reading
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News
27 Nov 2020
Lords propose making tech giants pay for using news
Digital platforms such as Google and Facebook profit from running adverts alongside publishers’ content, but no financial compensation is given for carrying that content, says Lords committee Continue Reading
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News
27 Nov 2020
UK government ramps up efforts to regulate tech giants
The Digital Markets Unit of the Competitions and Markets Authority aims to protect consumer privacy and lower barriers to entry for businesses Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Nov 2020
How retailers are using digital to engage with Covid Christmas shoppers
Christmas is likely to be different this year because of the pandemic, and there is likely to be an altered shopping experience. So how are retailers using digital to cope with this shift in festive shopping? Continue Reading
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News
23 Nov 2020
Amazon Swedish language site will expand reach of local retailers
Amazon launches Swedish language website and promises to make more products available in the Nordic region Continue Reading
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Blog Post
18 Nov 2020
Vax doesn’t have to be vexing
The Labour Party has called for emergency laws to prevent social media companies from playing host to anti-vaccine content. You’d’ve thought the ruling elite would have already got the memo to ... Continue Reading
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Feature
13 Nov 2020
Covid-19: How retailers are using technology to respond to changing shopping habits
As the coronavirus outbreak accelerates the shift in consumer behaviour, how are retailers using technology to keep customers engaged? Continue Reading
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News
12 Nov 2020
Online kids’ game Animal Jam confirms large breach
Cyber criminals have stolen data on 46 million Animal Jam player accounts via a third-party attack Continue Reading
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News
11 Nov 2020
EU aid funds used to train ‘unaccountable intelligence agencies’ in high-tech surveillance
Hundreds of documents obtained by campaign group Privacy International show how the EU is supporting surveillance programmes in the Balkans, the Middle East and Africa Continue Reading
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News
10 Nov 2020
Better data sharing needed to help children during pandemic
Closing gaps in data infrastructure will help the education sector respond better to children’s needs during the Covid-19 pandemic, says Open Data Institute Continue Reading
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News
09 Nov 2020
EU moves closer to encryption ban after Austria, France attacks
Draft resolution document setting up an EU-wide ban on end-to-end encryption is set to be waved through this week Continue Reading
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News
03 Nov 2020
GDPR lawsuit against Oracle and Salesforce moves forward
Class action suit seeks claims worth more than £10bn over the processing of personal information Continue Reading
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Opinion
28 Oct 2020
The Google antitrust case is more about politics than economics
It’s not entirely clear what economic reasons led the US government to try to tackle Google’s search monopoly, which suggests it is mostly about politics Continue Reading
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News
28 Oct 2020
Privacy and online safety are focus of new UKRI research funding
Online safety research centre of excellence will look into technology to boost privacy and tackle disinformation, fake news, conspiracies and other online harms Continue Reading
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Blog Post
22 Oct 2020
Chatting Schmidt
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt spends his webcam chat for the Wall Street Journal Tech Live event insisting we should all be grateful to the tech giants, despite the fact they’ve become, by his own ... Continue Reading
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News
15 Oct 2020
UK regulators lack the skills and expertise to cope with increasing use of algorithms
MPs told that multiple regulators will be needed to govern the ever-growing use of algorithmic systems in all areas of the economy and public sector Continue Reading
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News
14 Oct 2020
US Elections: Malicious internet domains spike as campaigns heat up
Internet domains related to the US presidential election are 56% more likely to be malicious than regular ones Continue Reading