IT for government and public sector
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News
14 Jun 2024
Post Office scandal victims in Scotland have convictions quashed
Scotland follows England, Wales and Northern Ireland in exonerating wrongfully convicted subpostmasters en masse Continue Reading
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News
13 Jun 2024
General election 2024: Labour promises to boost digital infrastructure
The Labour Party manifesto for the UK general election promises a new industrial strategy and an overhaul of planning rules to help support the digital and tech sector Continue Reading
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Opinion
07 May 2024
Government plans to scan bank accounts of disabled people will lead to another scandal
The government is sleepwalking into another scandal as it pushes plans for ‘bank scanning’ algorithms to monitor bank accounts of disabled people Continue Reading
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News
07 May 2024
Chinese APT suspected of Ministry of Defence hack
A cyber attack on the Ministry of Defence is suspected to be the work of threat actors working on behalf of Chinese intelligence Continue Reading
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Feature
07 May 2024
What does the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill mean for UK industry?
The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill is the first shift in the UK’s data protection regime since leaving the EU, but what could it mean for UK industry? Continue Reading
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News
07 May 2024
Police told in 2016 that Post Office prosecutor withheld evidence of Horizon errors from court
A campaigning former subpostmaster told Surrey Police he suspected a ‘possible criminal offence’ when he found details of a Post Office prosecutor withholding evidence in a 2010 trial Continue Reading
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E-Zine
07 May 2024
Casting a critical eye on HMRC’s IR35 checker tool
In this week’s Computer Weekly, we investigate what has been going on with HMRC’s Check Employment Status for Tax (CEST) tool. We also speak to the CIO of Danfoss about making datacentres greener and explore the issue of restoring data and system backups after a ransomware or cyber attack. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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07 May 2024
CEST: Putting HMRC’s IR35 status checker under the microscope
In this week’s Computer Weekly, we investigate what has been going on with HMRC’s Check Employment Status for Tax (CEST) tool. We also speak to the CIO of Danfoss about making datacentres greener and explore the issue of restoring data and system backups after a ransomware or cyber attack. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
03 May 2024
EU calls out Fancy Bear over attacks on Czech, German governments
The European Union, alongside member states Czechia and Germany, have accused Russian government APT Fancy Bear of being behind a series of attacks on political parties and government bodies Continue Reading
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News
03 May 2024
Lords say government must ‘go beyond’ current approach to LLMs
Chair of the Lords Communications and Digital Committee has written to the UK’s digital secretary about the government’s approach to generative AI, lamenting a lack of support for copyright holders and measures to ensure competition in AI markets Continue Reading
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News
03 May 2024
Post Office legal boss withheld details from statutory body reviewing miscarriages of justice
The Post Office’s top lawyer held back vital information when requested by the criminal cases review commission, preventing wrongful convictions from being reviewed Continue Reading
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News
02 May 2024
NCSC updates warning over hacktivist threat to CNI
The NCSC and CISA have warned about the evolving threat from Russia-backed hacktivist threat actors targeting critical national infrastructure, after a number of American utilities were attacked Continue Reading
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News
02 May 2024
Post Office investigators saw subpostmasters as ‘enemies’ – and that’s what they became
Post Office investigators were only focused on getting money from subpostmasters blamed for accounting shortfalls, according to a 2013 report commissioned by organisation’s legal boss Continue Reading
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News
02 May 2024
BBC instructs lawyers over allegations of police surveillance of journalist
Lawyers for the BBC have written to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal over allegations that the Police Service of Northern Ireland spied on investigative journalist Vincent Kearney Continue Reading
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News
01 May 2024
EMEA CISOs must address human factors behind cyber incidents
The 17th annual Verizon report on data breaches makes for sobering reading for security pros, urging them to do more to address the human factors involved in cyber incidents, and highlighting ongoing issues with zero-day patching Continue Reading
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Opinion
01 May 2024
Better hygiene may mitigate the need to ban ransomware payments
In the wake of renewed calls for lawmakers to consider enacting legal bans on ransomware payments, the Computer Weekly Security Think Tank weighs in to share their thoughts on how to tackle the scourge for good. Continue Reading
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News
01 May 2024
DWP anti-fraud measures will allow monitoring of bank accounts of landlords, carers and parents
Parliamentarians raise concerns that a proposed law to require banks to monitor the accounts of millions of people receiving state benefits could lead to those on welfare being denied accommodation or bank accounts Continue Reading
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News
01 May 2024
Autonomous weapons reduce moral agency and devalue human life
Military technology experts gathered in Vienna have warned about the detrimental psychological effects of AI-powered weapons, arguing that implementing systems of algorithmic-enabled killing dehumanises both the user and the target Continue Reading
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News
30 Apr 2024
Persistent data breaches deny people with HIV dignity and privacy
The ICO has urged charities and healthcare organisations that work with people living with HIV to do better when it comes to protecting their personal data, after the HIV status of more than 100 people was accidentally disclosed by London’s Central YMCA Continue Reading
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News
30 Apr 2024
Global majority united on multilateral regulation of AI weapons
Foreign ministers and civil society representatives say that multilateralism is key to controlling the proliferation and use of AI-powered autonomous weapons, but that a small number of powerful countries are holding back progress Continue Reading
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News
30 Apr 2024
Barnsley Council drives social care efficiency with Copilot
Microsoft generative AI tool Copilot is being used to streamline many of the admin tasks Barnsley Council social care workers need to do Continue Reading
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Opinion
29 Apr 2024
Ransomware payment bans need universal buy-in
In the wake of renewed calls for lawmakers to consider enacting legal bans on ransomware payments, the Computer Weekly Security Think Tank weighs in to share their thoughts on how to tackle the scourge for good. Continue Reading
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News
29 Apr 2024
Post Office misjudged campaigner it labelled a ‘bluffer’
Social media, a trade union and tech expertise helped former subpostmasters expose Post Office bug myth Continue Reading
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News
26 Apr 2024
Post Office scheme was a ‘charade’ that never intended for large compensation pay-outs
The Post Office established a scheme to compensate subpostmasters affected by tech faults, but it was just a ‘charade’, says Public Inquiry KC Continue Reading
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Opinion
26 Apr 2024
Security Think Tank: Maybe let's negotiate with terrorists
In the wake of renewed calls for lawmakers to consider enacting legal bans on ransomware payments, the Computer Weekly Security Think Tank weighs in to share their thoughts on how to tackle the scourge for good. Continue Reading
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News
26 Apr 2024
European Parliament approves platform worker directive
The approval of the platform worker directive gives member states two years to incorporate its measures into their national legislation, which includes provisions on how to classify the employment of gig workers and deploy algorithmic decision-making at work Continue Reading
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News
26 Apr 2024
Post Office ‘lied’ to subpostmasters when forced to meet them, says former federation representative
Post Office executives were forced to meet subpostmasters to discuss an unexplained error in their branch, then misled the branch managers over remote access Continue Reading
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News
25 Apr 2024
More evidence emerges that Post Office executive misled High Court judge
Evidence in the questioning of 35-year Post Office veteran reveals the lengths the Post Office went to in hiding computer system vulnerabilities Continue Reading
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News
24 Apr 2024
Lords debate amendment to law on use of computer evidence in light of Post Office scandal
Peers to debate amending the law on the use of computer evidence in court, which is partly to blame for the wrongful prosecutions of hundreds of former subpostmasters Continue Reading
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Opinion
23 Apr 2024
Security Think Tank: Cyber sector, you have failed this community
In the wake of renewed calls for lawmakers to consider enacting legal bans on ransomware payments, the Computer Weekly Security Think Tank weighs in to share their thoughts on how to tackle the scourge for good. Continue Reading
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News
23 Apr 2024
Post Office boss used husband’s descriptions in 'Orwellian' ploy to downplay Horizon problems
Post Office CEO sought advice from husband on what words to use in reports to downplay known errors in software, inquiry told. Continue Reading
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Opinion
23 Apr 2024
Questions for IT and cyber leaders from the CSRB Microsoft report
The US government's CSRB report on last year's state sponsored cyber attacks on Microsoft raises significant concerns for Redmond and its customers. Expert Owen Sayers outlines five key questions IT and cyber security leaders should now consider Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Apr 2024
Five reasons why – and when – cloud storage is the answer
We look at when cloud storage can be the best choice, with considerations that include performance, scalability and agility, cost, management simplicity, and security and resilience Continue Reading
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News
23 Apr 2024
Expert investigating Capture system refuses to meet ‘untrustworthy’ Post Office
A former Post Office executive has refused to meet his past employer to discuss the controversial Capture system Continue Reading
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News
23 Apr 2024
Lords split over UK government approach to autonomous weapons
During a debate on autonomous weapons systems, Lords expressed mixed opinions towards the UK government’s current position, including its reluctance to adopt a working definition and commit to international legal instruments controlling their use Continue Reading
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Feature
22 Apr 2024
Securing the edge: A new battleground in mobile network security
Edge computing is transforming approaches to mobile network infrastructure, but failure to secure it can expose networks and data to cyber threats. Learn more about the dangers and potential solutions Continue Reading
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Feature
22 Apr 2024
Austrian AI: from academia to commercial success and beyond
Austria has established itself as a European frontrunner when it comes to artificial intelligence exploration and, importantly, deployment Continue Reading
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News
22 Apr 2024
Fujitsu to cut UK jobs as Post Office scandal fallout hits sales
Japanese supplier’s role in the Post Office Horizon scandal is beginning to hurt its UK business, with job cuts announced Continue Reading
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News
22 Apr 2024
NCSC announces PwC’s Richard Horne as CEO
Former PwC and Barclays cyber chief Richard Horne set to join UK’s National Cyber Security Centre as CEO Continue Reading
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News
22 Apr 2024
Post Office lawyer was a jack of all trades, but failed his own
Post Office IT scandal inquiry hears how a lawyer was at the centre of the Post Office’s attempts to prevent problems with its IT system becoming public knowledge Continue Reading
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News
22 Apr 2024
IT leaders hiring CISOs aplenty, but don’t fully understand the role
Most businesses now have a CISO, but perceptions of what CISOs are supposed to do, and confusion over the value they offer, may be holding back harmonious relations, according to a report Continue Reading
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News
21 Apr 2024
Crime agency criticises Meta as European police chiefs call for curbs on end-to-end encryption
Law enforcement agencies step up demands for ‘lawful access’ to encrypted communications Continue Reading
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News
19 Apr 2024
Report reveals Northern Ireland police put up to 18 journalists and lawyers under surveillance
Disclosures that the Police Service of Northern Ireland obtained phone communications data from journalists and lawyers leads to renewed calls for inquiry Continue Reading
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News
19 Apr 2024
Unisys reveals no link to development of controversial Post Office software
IT supplier finds no evidence that it was involved in the development of controversial Post Office software Continue Reading
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News
19 Apr 2024
Tech companies operating with opacity in Israel-Palestine
Tech firms operating in Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel are falling “woefully short” of their human rights responsibilities amid escalating devastation in Gaza, says Business & Human Rights Resource Centre Continue Reading
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News
19 Apr 2024
CEST: Putting HMRC’s IR35 status checker under the microscope
Since its launch in March 2017, HMRC's online IR35 status checker tool has come under fierce criticism and scrutiny, only exacerbated in recent weeks by the disclosure it has not been updated in five years Continue Reading
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Definition
18 Apr 2024
G-Cloud (Government Cloud)
G-Cloud (Government Cloud) is a U.K. government program to promote government-wide adoption of cloud computing. Continue Reading
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Opinion
18 Apr 2024
Security Think Tank: Approaches to ransomware need a course correction
In the wake of renewed calls for lawmakers to consider enacting legal bans on ransomware payments, the Computer Weekly Security Think Tank weighs in to share their thoughts on how to tackle the scourge for good. Continue Reading
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News
18 Apr 2024
TUC publishes legislative proposal to protect workers from AI
Proposed bill for regulating artificial intelligence in the UK seeks to translate well-meaning principles and values into concrete rights and obligations that protect workers from systems that make ‘high-risk’ decisions about them Continue Reading
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News
18 Apr 2024
Lords to challenge controversial DWP benefits bank account surveillance powers
Members of the House of Lords are pressing for amendments to the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill following concerns over government powers to monitor the bank accounts of people receiving benefits Continue Reading
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News
18 Apr 2024
Gov.uk One Login accounts on the rise
Since August 2023, more than 1.8 million people verified their identity using the Gov.uk One Login app, while face-to-face verifications have also increased Continue Reading
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News
18 Apr 2024
IT expert who helped expose Post Office scandal offers to investigate second controversial system
IT expert Jason Coyne, who played a critical part in exposing the Post Office Horizon scandal, said he would examine the Capture System Continue Reading
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News
17 Apr 2024
Mandiant formally pins Sandworm cyber attacks on APT44 group
Mandiant has formally attributed a long-running campaign of cyber attacks by a Russian state actor known as Sandworm to a newly designated advanced persistent threat group to be called APT44 Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Apr 2024
EU AI Act explained: What AI developers need to know
A guide to help enterprises building and deploying AI systems understand EU AI regulations Continue Reading
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News
16 Apr 2024
Post Office boss signed off hush money to cover up smoking gun
A former Post Office boss admitted the pain and suffering of subpostmasters could have been avoided had the organisation done the right thing Continue Reading
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News
16 Apr 2024
CISOs not yet convinced to invest in AI
CISOs say their eyes are fixed firmly on threats like ransomware and supply chain attacks, and while AI is becoming a threat that needs to be dealt with, it’s not yet an immediate spending priority Continue Reading
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Opinion
16 Apr 2024
2024 election security: Confronting disinformation and deepfakes
Although disinformation and deepfakes are a threat to electoral integrity, we already have ways to counter emerging threats and there is an opportunity is to adapt and scale these approaches to counter the challenge to democracy, writes Saj Huq. Continue Reading
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News
16 Apr 2024
NHS England scouts for national CCIO
The new national chief clinical informatics officer (CCIO) role comes with a salary offer of up to £146,000 and includes leading NHS England’s Transformation Directorates digital clinical informatics team Continue Reading
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News
16 Apr 2024
Alan Bates and JFSA won’t back down in fight with government and Post Office
Over the past 15 years, Computer Weekly has learnt that Alan Bates and the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance don’t give up, and it would be crass to disregard their plans Continue Reading
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Feature
15 Apr 2024
Big tech’s cloud oligopoly risks AI market concentration
The oligopoly that big tech giants have over cloud computing could translate to a similar domination in the AI market, given the financial and compute resources needed to make the technology effective at scale Continue Reading
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Opinion
15 Apr 2024
Threat actors look to stolen credentials
In 2023, threat actors wrought havoc on corporate networks by logging in through valid accounts, and as bad actors begin investing in AI to help them identify priority targets, this problem is only expected to worsen in the future Continue Reading
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News
15 Apr 2024
EU’s AI Act fails to protect the rule of law and civic space
Analysis reveals that the AI Act is ‘riddled with far-reaching exceptions’ and its measures to protect fundamental rights are insufficient Continue Reading
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Opinion
15 Apr 2024
AI tapped for citizen outreach as India goes to the polls
Political parties in this year’s high-stakes elections are leveraging AI for the first time, but measures to curtail misuse must continue to evolve with the rapid developments of the technology Continue Reading
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News
12 Apr 2024
Apple iPhone security alert renews spyware concerns
An Apple security alert received by users in 92 countries raises fresh fears over ongoing campaigns by users of mercenary spyware products Continue Reading
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News
12 Apr 2024
UK in critical need of regulation to fight misinformation online
Misinformation, where it is generated by AI, poses a serious threat due to the ease with which plausible false content can be created and spread Continue Reading
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News
12 Apr 2024
Government could still replace Fujitsu in key nuclear contract
Fujitsu’s first government contract of the year could be just a stay of execution as department says that all replacement options are still being considered Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Apr 2024
The UK government’s G-Cloud procurement framework: Everything you need to know
The G-Cloud procurement framework emerged in 2012 to provide UK public sector buyers with a faster, easier and more transparent means of acquiring IT services. How has it fared in achieving its aims? Continue Reading
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News
12 Apr 2024
Post Office boss said subpostmasters had hands in till and blamed technology for missing cash
Former boss reacted to 2009 Computer Weekly expose by telling a colleague that 'subbies with their hands in the till' were blaming technology for their own theft Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Apr 2024
European Digital Identity Wallet: One ID for EU citizens
The European Digital Identity Wallet is a personal digital wallet with which you will be able to identify yourself digitally in the future. Is this the solution for a centralised ID? Continue Reading
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News
11 Apr 2024
PSNI criticised after ‘utterly vague’ answers on covert surveillance of journalists
The Policing Board of Northern Ireland has asked the Police Service of Northern Ireland to produce a public report on its use of covert surveillance powers against journalists and lawyers after it gave ‘utterly vague’ answers Continue Reading
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News
11 Apr 2024
Facial recognition to play key role in UK shoplifting crackdown
UK government will fund roll-out of police facial recognition across the country as part of its crackdown on shoplifting and violence against retail staff, but civil society groups say the government is attempting to police its way out of the cost-of-living crisis Continue Reading
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News
11 Apr 2024
Former Post Office executive’s neglect prolonged Horizon reliability myth
Executive’s failure to provide terms of reference for a controversial Post Office investigation into its own computer system resulted in a one-sided whitewash report Continue Reading
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News
11 Apr 2024
AI skills gap blocking public sector take-up
A Salesforce report claims that a lack of skills in artificial intelligence is preventing effective take-up of generative AI to enhance frontline citizen services across the public sector Continue Reading
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News
11 Apr 2024
CMA set to tackle interconnected web of strategic AI partnerships
Google, Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon and Nvidia are all collaborating on AI foundation models, potentially to the detriment of fair, open and effective competition Continue Reading
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News
11 Apr 2024
IR35: HMRC restores Github access to deleted CEST source code, but confirms update data lost
After the source code for its much-maligned online IR35 status checker tool was deleted in error from Github, HMRC confirms it has now been re-uploaded, but any data about past updates to the tool have been lost Continue Reading
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News
11 Apr 2024
Fujitsu public sector contracts dry up in Post Office scandal aftermath
Disgraced IT supplier has won just one public sector contract following public anger over Post Office scandal Continue Reading
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News
11 Apr 2024
Government dismisses Lords’ concerns over facial recognition
UK government is claiming police forces’ use of live facial recognition is comprehensively covered by existing laws, in response to a Lords investigation that found police lacked a clear legal basis to deploy it Continue Reading
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News
10 Apr 2024
Biden considering whether to end prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange
US president Joe Biden says he is considering requests by Australia to end the prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange under espionage and computer fraud charges Continue Reading
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News
10 Apr 2024
Subpostmasters stealing from branches ‘didn’t make sense,’ former judge tells inquiry
The former judge who chaired a scheme set up by the Post Office to settle claims against its Horizon system said he told bosses their prosecutions of subpostmasters "didn't make sense" Continue Reading
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News
10 Apr 2024
The challenges of securing a UK semiconductor supply chain
The UK’s national semiconductor strategy aims to establish the country's credentials as a leader in the sector. We look at how it stacks up Continue Reading
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News
10 Apr 2024
IR35: HMRC rushing to restore CEST source code deleted from Github ‘in error’
HMRC has confirmed online repository containing code underpinning maligned IR35 status-checker tool has been taken down ‘in error’ by team working to decommission legacy platform that used to host platform Continue Reading
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News
09 Apr 2024
Report highlights shortcomings in UK chip plans
The national semiconductor strategy needs to encourage greater collaboration with international parters such as South Korea Continue Reading
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News
09 Apr 2024
Civil servants more to blame for Post Office cover-up than ministers, says Alan Bates
Campaigning former subpostmaster believes the civil service has more to answer for than ministers in the Post Office Horizon scandal Continue Reading
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News
09 Apr 2024
UK plc failing on multiple cyber measures
Government report shows 50% of businesses and 32% of charities reported a cyber attack or breach in the past 12 months and organisations across the UK are failing on multiple cyber measures Continue Reading
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News
09 Apr 2024
Public worried by police and companies sharing biometric data
More than half of the British public do not feel comfortable with police forces sharing biometric data with the private sector, including facial recognition images, to tackle crimes such as shoplifting Continue Reading
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News
09 Apr 2024
Is a cyber arms control treaty out of reach?
The world needs cyber arms control more than ever, but the challenges facing a multilateral agreement will be hard to surmount, according to researchers at Germany’s Digital Society Institute Continue Reading
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News
09 Apr 2024
Labour promises digital red book and smartphones for children with diabetes
The Labour Party has announced plans for children’s health records to be put on parents’ NHS App, while also partnering with Virgin Media O2 to give children with type 1 diabetes smartphones to check their blood sugar Continue Reading
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News
09 Apr 2024
Government struggles to upgrade legacy IT systems, says PAC chair
In her annual report, Public Accounts Committee chair Meg Hillier calls legacy IT one of government’s ‘big nasties’ and says money urgently needs to be spent to fix the situation Continue Reading
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News
09 Apr 2024
Police forces check intelligence and criminal databases after errors discovered in O2 phone data
Criminal Bar Association calls for information about reliability of communications data used in criminal trials to be disclosed Continue Reading
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News
09 Apr 2024
Greek government fined over AI surveillance in refugee camps
Greece’s Data Protection Authority has issued a €175,000 fine against the country’s migration ministry over its deployment of artificial intelligence-powered security systems in refugee camps after the watchdog’s investigation found ‘serious shortcomings’ with the roll-out Continue Reading
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News
08 Apr 2024
UN adopts ‘landmark’ resolution on making AI safe and trustworthy
A UN draft resolution promoting the use of artificial intelligence in sustainable development and the protection of human rights was backed by over 120 member states Continue Reading
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News
08 Apr 2024
Further extension to controversial Post Office contract with Fujitsu inevitable
Post Office is seeking software developers as it replaces the controversial Horizon system from Fujitsu with an in-house alternative Continue Reading
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News
08 Apr 2024
Some former Post Office staff should be jailed over scandal, says government minister
Government minister outlines the real prospect that people will be jailed for their roles in the Post Office Horizon scandal Continue Reading
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News
08 Apr 2024
MPs will grill Cabinet Office over Fujitsu contract bidding pause
Parliamentary select committees have their eyes trained on Fujitsu’s response to the Post Office Horizon scandal, with its pause on bidding for contracts under scrutiny Continue Reading
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News
05 Apr 2024
China ramps up use of AI misinformation
Microsoft researchers have identified a growing pattern of AI-laced misinformation and political interference coming from Chinese threat actors Continue Reading
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Feature
05 Apr 2024
Post Office Horizon IT scandal inquiry: Two years of shocking revelations
Read about two years of shocking revelations from the Post Office Horizon scandal inquiry Continue Reading
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News
05 Apr 2024
Future Councils pilot finds systemic blockers to digital innovation
Councils face a range of challenges, hindering digital transformation, including inconsistent approaches to making the case for change, complexities surrounding resource allocations, lack of data and time Continue Reading
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News
05 Apr 2024
Europol offers law enforcement agencies data on Europe’s most threatening crime networks
Europol has collected and analysed data from over 40 countries to identify 800 most threatening criminal networks operating in Europe in what it describes as a unique dataset for law enforcemnt Continue Reading
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News
05 Apr 2024
UKtech50 2024 – help us find the most influential people in UK IT
Computer Weekly’s annual search for the 50 most influential people in UK IT is on – let us know who you would like to nominate for this year's list Continue Reading
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News
05 Apr 2024
Environment Agency dumps Fujitsu as Post Office scandal takes its toll
Troubled supplier loses flood warnings contract with government department after almost a decade Continue Reading
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News
04 Apr 2024
IR35 reforms: Incoming legislative tweak could reignite contracting market, experts claim
A long-awaited tweak to the IR35 rules that will put a stop to HMRC over-collecting tax from non-compliant entities is great news for IT contractors, experts claim Continue Reading
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News
04 Apr 2024
Fujitsu should stop bending rules, stop bidding and pay up, says MP
MP Liam Byrne calls on Fujitsu to put actions behind the promises it made to MPs, victims of the Post Office scandal and UK taxpayers Continue Reading