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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News
07 Jul 2021
US government given permission to appeal UK’s decision to not extradite Julian Assange
US offers assurances that Assange could serve time in his home country of Australia if convicted Continue Reading
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News
07 Jul 2021
ICO to probe Hancock over private email use
Former health secretary faces an investigation by the UK’s data protection watchdog over his use of private email to conduct government business Continue Reading
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News
07 Jul 2021
US Department of Defense cancels controversial $10bn JEDI contract
The US Department of Defense has cancelled the controversial JEDI cloud project awarded to Microsoft and will replace it with multi-supplier contracts. Continue Reading
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News
07 Jul 2021
Opportunists seen targeting Kaseya REvil victims
Malwarebytes researchers highlight new spam campaign targeting businesses impacted by the ongoing Kaseya REvil ransomware incident Continue Reading
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News
06 Jul 2021
Cyber insurance costs up by a third
The frequency and severity of ransomware attacks is a leading factor behind a substantial increase in the cost of obtaining cyber security insurance Continue Reading
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News
05 Jul 2021
Government sets out plan for digital regulation
The plan aims to make the UK a “global leader” in digital regulation, boost economic growth and maximise the potential of digital technology Continue Reading
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News
05 Jul 2021
How Transport for West Midlands works with geospatial data
Covid-19 showed why greater data granularity is key, with Transport for West Midlands turning to geospatial data to understand demand for services Continue Reading
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News
05 Jul 2021
CIO interview: Simon McKinnon, chief digital and information officer, DWP
The Department for Work and Pensions’ CDIO sheds light on its digital ambitions and how it is bringing more digital capability in-house through the integration of Benefits and Pension Digital Technology Services staff Continue Reading
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News
05 Jul 2021
Government genomically sequences 600,000 Covid-19 samples
More than 600,000 positive Covid-19 tests have been genomically sequenced by the government to identify genes that make people more susceptible to severe symptoms, and to monitor different variants of the virus Continue Reading
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News
03 Jul 2021
Berlin court finds EncroChat intercept evidence cannot be used in criminal trials
In a major setback for police hacking operations, Berlin’s regional court has decided that intercepted data from the EncroChat phone network should not be used in criminal prosecutions Continue Reading
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News
02 Jul 2021
UK needs legislation with specific focus on biometric technologies
The UK’s former biometrics commissioner has told MPs that Parliament should explicitly legislate on the use of biometric technologies so it is clear to both police and private companies which uses are acceptable Continue Reading
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News
02 Jul 2021
Should I be worried about PrintNightmare?
The accidental publication of proof of concept code for a Windows vulnerability, and the reclassification of said bug from low to critical severity, has the cyber community concerned. Is it right to be? Continue Reading
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News
01 Jul 2021
UK government issues “safety by design” guidance for tech firms
The guidance is designed to help technology companies embed safer design for users into their services in anticipation of the Online Safety Bill becoming law Continue Reading
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News
01 Jul 2021
US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency launches ransomware assessment tool
Newly launched service will help US organisations understand how prepared they are to deal with a ransomware attack Continue Reading
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News
01 Jul 2021
Ten more former subpostmasters set to have wrongful convictions overturned
Another 10 subpostmasters are set to have their criminal convictions quashed as part of one of the biggest miscarriage of justice in British history Continue Reading
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Blog Post
30 Jun 2021
Clashing agendas, by David Freud - review: How Universal Credit got there in the end
It was nearly 10 years ago, in October 2011, when Computer Weekly first reported on concerns about the IT project behind Universal Credit. That was five months before the new Coalition government’s ... Continue Reading
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News
29 Jun 2021
New Nobelium attacks a reminder to attend to cyber basics
A new campaign from the same threat group that broke into SolarWinds serves as a reminder that cyber crime gangs will try to exploit any avenue they can, even if technically unsophisticated Continue Reading
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News
29 Jun 2021
UK Cyber Security Council launches inaugural initiatives
Security association seeks to determine terms of reference for committees to oversee standards and ethics, and qualifications and careers in the cyber sector Continue Reading
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News
29 Jun 2021
EU recognises UK data protection adequacy but warns against divergence
The European Commission has granted the UK data adequacy, allowing data sharing between the EU and the UK, but warns it may yet be revoked Continue Reading
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News
28 Jun 2021
Insurers unprepared for challenges of underwriting ransomware
RUSI think tank calls for an industry-wide reset amid intense challenges for providers of cyber security insurance Continue Reading
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News
28 Jun 2021
HMRC-branded phishing scams surge despite protections
The number of HMRC-branded phishing scams surged 87% in the past 12 months, according to latest revealed figures Continue Reading
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Opinion
25 Jun 2021
Universal Credit: What went wrong, and what we learned
The architect of one of the biggest and most controversial government policies – and IT failures – of the past decade gives his inside view of the project, and how Computer Weekly was a thorn in their side Continue Reading
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News
25 Jun 2021
NCSC CEO: UK-Ireland collaboration crucial to stop cyber threats
Speaking at a conference in Dublin, NCSC Lindy Cameron is highlighting the importance of continued collaboration between the UK and Ireland to protect shared interests and counter security threats Continue Reading
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News
25 Jun 2021
Anglesey schools offline after cyber attack
Isle of Anglesey County Council is investigating a cyber attack that has forced it to shut down systems at all five secondary schools on the island Continue Reading
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News
25 Jun 2021
Deliveroo riders do not have right to unionise, UK court rules
A legal bid to establish collective bargaining rights for Deliveroo riders been dismissed in court, with judges ruling that they are not entitled to the right to form or join a trade union 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
24 Jun 2021
Make ransomware payments illegal, say 79% of cyber pros
Report produced for MSSP Talion claims overwhelming support for the criminalisation of ransomware payments Continue Reading
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News
23 Jun 2021
City of York picks Barracuda Networks for data protection
York Council needed to refresh its backup service to bring new security protections after it went ‘all-in’ on Microsoft Office 365 Continue Reading
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News
23 Jun 2021
European Union to set up new cyber response unit
Proposed Joint Cyber Unit will tackle a rising number of serious incidents impacting public services, businesses and citizens of the EU Continue Reading
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News
23 Jun 2021
UK councils reported over 700 data breaches to ICO in 2020
Data disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act reveals an estimated 700 data breaches were reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office by local councils last year Continue Reading
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News
22 Jun 2021
EU regulators call for ban on biometrics in public spaces
European Union’s data protection regulators say facial recognition and other biometric identification technologies present too great a risk to fundamental human rights to be allowed in public spaces Continue Reading
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News
22 Jun 2021
CDEI: UK public wants clear algorithmic transparency policies
A research exercise by the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation has found the UK public wants clear, easy-to-understand information about algorithms in use by the public sector Continue Reading
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News
22 Jun 2021
Boris Johnson unveils plans for National Science and Technology Council
Prime minister Boris Johnson has announced plans to set up a National Science and Technology Council, which will help the UK realise and maximise the opportunities of scientific and technological breakthroughs Continue Reading
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22 Jun 2021
Government Digital Service sets out three-year strategy
The new GDS strategy up to 2024 includes a focus on making Gov.uk a single, trusted source of information, joining up services, and creating a pan-government digital identity solution Continue Reading
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E-Zine
22 Jun 2021
A new three-year plan for digital government
In this week’s Computer Weekly, the new CEO of the Gov-ernment Digital Service, Tom Read, explains his three-year strategy for improving online public services. EU attempts to regulate AI are under fire – we examine the issues. And we find out how Bupa is turning to the cloud to deliver per-sonalised healthcare. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
21 Jun 2021
UK public largely supportive of Amazon workers unionising
A poll released on Prime Day by UK-based trade union Unite shows strong public support for Amazon workers should they choose to unionise Continue Reading
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News
21 Jun 2021
Parliamentary devices left in taxis, buses, trains and pubs
Nearly 100 devices belonging to parliamentary staffers, including MPs and peers, were lost or stolen over the course of 2019 and 2020 Continue Reading
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News
21 Jun 2021
Post Office pays 400 subpostmasters compensation for losses caused by computer errors
The Post Office has so far compensated 400 subpostmasters who suffered losses because of errors in the organisation’s Horizon computer system Continue Reading
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News
18 Jun 2021
NHS App reaches six million users, thanks to Covid vaccine feature
More than two million new users have downloaded the NHS App since it was updated in May to include Covid-19 vaccination status Continue Reading
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News
18 Jun 2021
ICO issues guidance on facial recognition in public spaces
Information commissioner’s concern over the problematic use of facial recognition in public spaces has prompted her to publish official guidance on its deployment, while civil society calls for an outright ban Continue Reading
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News
18 Jun 2021
UK taskforce calls for cutting GDPR protections
The UK’s Taskforce on Innovation, Growth and Regulatory Reform has recommended scrapping safeguards against automated decision-making contained in the General Data Protection Regulation Continue Reading
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News
17 Jun 2021
Technology takes centre stage in UK government reform
The government’s tech recovery programme includes a pledge to shift towards data interoperability and phasing out legacy systems Continue Reading
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News
17 Jun 2021
GDS to improve Gov.uk with user monitoring
Gov.uk’s measurement approach is expected to enhance the experience of 335 million users of the government’s online platform Continue Reading
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News
16 Jun 2021
Tech sector trade union campaigns to protect workers’ privacy
A UK-based trade union for technology workers and others employed by tech companies is organising around the issue of worker’s privacy and workplace monitoring Continue Reading
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News
15 Jun 2021
NHS Test and Trace picks Risk Ledger to secure supply chain
Risk Ledger’s technology promises ‘unparalleled’ visibility into NHS Test and Trace’s supply chain Continue Reading
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News
15 Jun 2021
Oliver Dowden hails Tech Zero Taskforce at CogX
Government backs a group of UK tech companies and associations to combat the climate emergency, drive green investment and help consumers make greener choices Continue Reading
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News
15 Jun 2021
The Security Interviews: How to build a government model to ‘hack for good’
Kyle Hanslovan started Huntress to give back after a career in the intelligence sector. After US authorities took action to help people hit by the Microsoft Exchange attacks, we discussed how governments can ‘hack for good’ Continue Reading
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News
15 Jun 2021
Scottish government awards digital identity platform contract to Scott Logic
Supplier is working on a two-year project to create a digital identity service through a suite of common platforms that will be adopted across Scottish government Continue Reading
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Feature
14 Jun 2021
Europe’s proposed AI regulation falls short on protecting rights
The European Commission’s proposal for artificial intelligence regulation focuses on creating a risk-based, market-led approach replete with self-assessments, transparency procedures and technical standards, but critics warn it falls short of being able to protect people’s fundamental rights and mitigating the technology’s worst abuses Continue Reading
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News
11 Jun 2021
FBI planned a sting against An0m cryptophone users over drinks with Australian investigators
Australian Federal Police and the FBI came up with the idea over drinks: build a cryptophone network with a built-in backdoor and sell it to crime gangs around the world Continue Reading
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News
11 Jun 2021
UK promises tougher line on cyber crime
Speaking ahead of the G7 Summit, foreign secretary Dominic Raab says the UK is ready to take on cyber criminals and other malicious actors wherever they may be Continue Reading
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News
11 Jun 2021
UK and US to develop tech and science partnership
Partnership will explore collaboration in areas such as innovation, research, defence, security, intelligence and law enforcement, as well as making sure technology is ‘used as a force for good’ Continue Reading
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News
10 Jun 2021
Central government spent £4.4bn on IT in 2020
Tussell report finds that central government increased tech spend during the Covid-19 pandemic, and HM Revenue and Customs is the biggest spender Continue Reading
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News
10 Jun 2021
Risk data shows UK energy sector most vulnerable to cyber attack
New report compiled by insurance firm Hiscox reveals the state of cyber preparedness in the UK and beyond Continue Reading
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News
09 Jun 2021
FBI arrests distributors accused of selling An0m encrypted phones to crime groups
Working with overseas law enforcement, the FBI has arrested eight people and named a further 13 accused of distributing An0m phones to organised crime groups Continue Reading
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Blog Post
08 Jun 2021
With the National Data Strategy, execution is everything
This is a guest blogpost by Peter Campbell, Data & AI practice director at Kainos The latest stage in the National Data Strategy – the Government’s response to consultation – shows the UK has a ... Continue Reading
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News
08 Jun 2021
Did government allow Post Office to sack forensic accountants to cover up Horizon scandal?
Whatever the Post Office told government about its decision to sack investigators examining subpostmaster prosecutions for theft could identify if the government was part of a cover-up Continue Reading
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News
08 Jun 2021
CIO interview: Tom Read, chief executive, Government Digital Service
The new chief at GDS has outlined a three-year strategy for the organisation, and tells Computer Weekly he wants to get back to the core focus of building products for use across government Continue Reading
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News
07 Jun 2021
Police raids around world after investigators crack An0m cryptophone app in major hacking operation
Police in 16 countries carried out raids on after Australian Police and the FBI cracked an encrypted An0M communications network used by crime groups Continue Reading
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News
07 Jun 2021
EU privacy chief investigates use of US cloud services
Use of Amazon and Microsoft’s cloud services by public sector bodies in the European Union is being scrutinised by the bloc’s privacy watchdog Continue Reading
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News
07 Jun 2021
MoD launches digital strategy
The Ministry of Defence aims to invest an additional £1.6bn in digital over the next 10 years, and plans to establish a federated ecosystem of digital innovators and developers to ensure continuous progress Continue Reading
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News
07 Jun 2021
Bank of England calls for feedback on digital currencies
The UK financial services regulator is calling for feedback from organisations, including tech firms, on the use of cryptocurrency Continue Reading
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News
07 Jun 2021
EC launches digital identity framework
The European digital identity will be available to citizens, residents and businesses across the EU, and member states will offer digital identity wallets on a national level Continue Reading
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News
07 Jun 2021
NCSC updates schools ransomware guidance amid surge
The National Cyber Security Centre says it is dealing with a renewed surge of ransomware attacks targeting schools, colleges and universities Continue Reading
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News
07 Jun 2021
IBM pushes back against US government data requests
Technology giant IBM says the US government has ‘no jurisdiction’ to request data from its European entities Continue Reading
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News
04 Jun 2021
UK immigration exemption in Data Protection Act found unlawful
Court of Appeal rules immigration exemption unlawful, but further hearings will follow to decide what remedies must be put in place Continue Reading
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News
04 Jun 2021
Secrecy around EncroChat cryptophone hack breaches French constitution, court hears
French lawyers claim that investigators are unlawfully withholding details of a cryptophone hacking operation in a case that could impact UK prosecutions Continue Reading
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News
03 Jun 2021
Swedish university is behind quantum computing breakthrough
Chalmers University of Technology simplifies the process of measuring the temperatures of quantum computers during complex calculations Continue Reading
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News
03 Jun 2021
Royal Navy trials AI during exercise in Scotland
The Royal Navy is testing two different artificial intelligence systems to see how they would perform against a supersonic missile threat Continue Reading
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Feature
02 Jun 2021
What the Telecommunications (Security) Bill means for UK industry
The Telecommunications (Security) Bill is intended to reinforce the security of the UK telecommunications infrastructure, but what are the implications for industry? Continue Reading
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News
01 Jun 2021
Government on the hunt for Advanced Research and Invention Agency CEO
First CEO of the high-risk, high-reward research agency will be in charge of shaping the research, culture and setup of the organisation and define its strategy to identify and fund ground-breaking science and technology Continue Reading
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Opinion
01 Jun 2021
Long-term thinking is vital to secure UK’s critical infrastructure
To face down the threat of cyber warfare against UK CNI, the government needs long-term thinking that looks beyond the next general election cycle, says Advent-IM’s Mike Gillespie Continue Reading
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News
01 Jun 2021
NHS trust’s Pioneer data platform joins up care delivery and improves outcomes
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust aims to improve patient care by bringing together anonymised health data from different care settings to better understand the patient journey Continue Reading
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News
01 Jun 2021
Post Office scandal public inquiry finally begins after chances to address problems were ignored
The Post Office Horizon scandal inquiry begins with subpostmaster campaign group waiting for full details before committing its support Continue Reading
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News
28 May 2021
Privacy experts concerned over NHS data collection plans
Security and data privacy experts warn NHS Digital that its data collection plans could increase risk and cause a public backlash Continue Reading
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News
27 May 2021
BCS demands reform to rules on computer evidence following Post Office Horizon scandal revelations
Professional IT body wants changes to how computer evidence is used in court in the wake of the Post Office case Continue Reading
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News
27 May 2021
Loss of 150,000 police records made worse by management failures
The loss of 150,000 records from a number of national policing systems was caused by a human coding error, but made worse by process and management failures Continue Reading
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News
27 May 2021
Uber signs collective bargaining agreement with GMB
Uber and GMB sign “landmark” collective bargaining agreement with no ability to negotiate on earnings, attracting criticism from smaller unions that it lacks teeth Continue Reading
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Definition
27 May 2021
National Security Agency (NSA)
The National Security Agency (NSA) is a federal government intelligence agency that is part of the United States Department of Defense and is managed under the authority of the director of national intelligence (DNI). Continue Reading
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News
27 May 2021
Singapore deploys drones to monitor reservoir water quality
Singapore’s national water agency PUB is deploying autonomous drones at six reservoirs to monitor water quality and other activities to improve operational efficiency Continue Reading
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News
27 May 2021
NGOs file complaints against Clearview AI in five countries
Privacy and human rights organisations have asked data protection regulators in the UK, France, Austria, Italy and Greece to investigate controversial facial recognition company Clearview AI Continue Reading
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News
26 May 2021
Department for Education’s e-learning unpreparedness widens inequality among students
Department is ‘surprisingly resistant’ to a lessons-learned exercise based on findings during Covid, says Public Accounts Committee report Continue Reading
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News
26 May 2021
Google offers free tech skills training to UK jobseekers
Online training in areas such as IT support and UX design will be available through the Department for Work and Pensions Continue Reading
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News
26 May 2021
‘It's a good day when we refer a case,’ CCRC tells MPs during review of Post Office prosecutions
Criminal Cases Review Commission will not allow pressure on its resources to prevent subpostmasters seeking a review of their criminal convictions Continue Reading
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News
25 May 2021
GCHQ bulk interception programme breached privacy rights, Strasbourg court rules
European Court of Human Rights finds that the UK’s bulk surveillance programme breached citizens’ privacy rights Continue Reading
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News
25 May 2021
IR35: MPs denied vote to amend Finance Bill to ‘curb or kill’ umbrella companies
MPs were denied the opportunity to vote in favour of amending the incoming Finance Bill to ‘curb or kill’ umbrella companies, prompting industry watchers to double down on calls for regulation 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
25 May 2021
UK startups lack gender diversity in senior technical roles
Women account for about 2-3% of engineering and technology directors in startups and scaleups, says report Continue Reading
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News
24 May 2021
UK to have digital border by end of 2025
Home secretary’s plans for immigration reform include border crossing technology, online immigration status service and electronic travel authorisation system Continue Reading
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News
24 May 2021
Government pumps £166.5m into green technology
The government funding will be awarded to innovators, businesses and academics across the UK to develop technologies in carbon capture, greenhouse gas removal and hydrogen Continue Reading
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News
24 May 2021
IR35: MPs urged to back ‘curb or kill’ umbrella company-focused Finance Bill amendments
Two amendments to the incoming Finance Bill that have the potential to ban the use of umbrella companies are being voted on by MPs in the House of Commons today Continue Reading
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News
23 May 2021
Innovation and skills at the heart of CBI report
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) wants an inclusive and innovative economy, with increased research and development (R&D) investment and better digital intensity and adoption, particularly among SMEs Continue Reading
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News
21 May 2021
NHS Education for Scotland defends 'decade-long' public cloud deal with AWS
The training arm of NHS Scotland has come under fire from members of the public sector IT supplier community over its decision to award a 10-year cloud contract to AWS Continue Reading
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News
21 May 2021
Government Digital Service sets out three-year strategy
The new GDS strategy up to 2024 includes a focus on making Gov.uk a single, trusted source of information, joining up services, and creating a pan-government digital identity solution Continue Reading
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News
20 May 2021
UK regulators commit to closer cooperation on digital economy
Two UK regulators have issued a joint statement and signed a memorandum of understanding on the need for closer collaboration on digital markets Continue Reading
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News
20 May 2021
Government sets out implementation plan for genomics strategy
The 2021-22 implementation plan for government’s 10-year Genome UK strategy includes improving diversity of genomics data, rolling out whole genome sequencing to rare diseases patients, and delivering a proof of concept for a next-generation approach to cancer treatment Continue Reading
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News
20 May 2021
Subpostmaster campaign group to meet Post Office scandal inquiry chair
The subpostmaster campaign group JFSA refused to cooperate with initial inquiry because it ‘lacked teeth’, but is now willing to talk after it was put on a statutory footing Continue Reading
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News
20 May 2021
UK government publishes framework on automated decision-making
The framework focuses on making the use of algorithms and automated decision-making systems within the public sector more ethical, transparent and accountable Continue Reading
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News
19 May 2021
‘Nothing off the table’ in statutory Post Office scandal inquiry
The government confirmed that the inquiry into the Post Office Horizon IT scandal will be given statutory status and wider scope Continue Reading
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News
19 May 2021
India’s HCL to hire 1,000 tech professionals in the UK
Indian IT suppliers set to create thousands of IT jobs in the UK, which supports their intention to have more staff based closer to customers Continue Reading