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
02 Mar 2021
Reading Borough Council to overhaul IT infrastructure
Council and its children’s services partner award contracts worth £13.2m for shared IT infrastructure Continue Reading
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News
01 Mar 2021
Digital secretary Dowden outlines UK post-Brexit data approach
The UK government is searching for a new information commissioner with an updated remit to use data to support growth and innovation, and plans on reaching new international data partnerships Continue Reading
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Opinion
01 Mar 2021
Budget 2021: Putting tech at the core of the plan for growth
This week’s UK government Budget represents a great opportunity to place tech and digital as the cornerstone of UK economic growth after Brexit Continue Reading
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Opinion
26 Feb 2021
On digital identity, the government gets it wrong again
The latest government proposals to regulate the digital identity sector continue to misunderstand how such a market works – a more API-based approach is needed to deliver the clear benefits of online ID Continue Reading
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News
26 Feb 2021
DCMS gives tablet devices to people with learning disabilities
The government is providing thousands of free tablet devices to those with learning disabilities to help them stay connected Continue Reading
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News
25 Feb 2021
UKtech50 2021: The most influential people in UK technology
Computer Weekly has announced the 11th annual UKtech50 – our definitive list of the movers and shakers in the UK tech sector Continue Reading
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News
25 Feb 2021
UKtech50 interview: Sarah Wilkinson, CEO, NHS Digital
The UKtech50’s most influential person in UK IT in 2021, NHS Digital CEO Sarah Wilkinson, talks about how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the speed of projects, staff pressures and key leadership lessons Continue Reading
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News
24 Feb 2021
Facebook’s AI doctoral research programme makes inroads into UK
Facebook collaborates with University College London to bring artificial intelligence doctoral research programme to the UK, with aim to open-sourcing the findings Continue Reading
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News
24 Feb 2021
Vaccine passports prove an ethical minefield
Privacy campaigners warn that vaccine passports may turn out to be discriminatory and invasive, while technologists agree careful consideration must be given to their design 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
24 Feb 2021
Sadiq Khan wants innovators to support London's recovery
Mayor of London announces partners and goals for the capital’s £1m Resilience Fund, and an extra £500,000 to develop design-led solutions aimed at the challenges presented by the crisis Continue Reading
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News
24 Feb 2021
Appointment of disgraced former Post Office director triggers vote of no confidence in Welsh FA boss
Vote of no confidence in Football Association of Wales boss triggered by recruitment of former Post Office executive who tried to mislead a judge in IT trial Continue Reading
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News
23 Feb 2021
Subpostmaster group calls for prime minister to pause Horizon ‘whitewash’ inquiry
Subpostmasters call for Boris Johnson to pause and reshape the government’s Horizon inquiry Continue Reading
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Blog Post
23 Feb 2021
Industry concerns over government digital identity plans risk a confusing outcome for users
A flurry of recent activity suggests the government is ramping up its plans for the long-awaited demise of Gov.uk Verify, its failed attempt to produce a digital identity system for online public ... Continue Reading
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Opinion
23 Feb 2021
Rogue drones beware: We’re here to ground you
Eugene Kaspersky exclusively lifts the lid on a mysterious, shiny device that’s been sitting in his office Continue Reading
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Podcast
23 Feb 2021
Post Office Horizon and the subpostmasters’ justice fight – Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast
In this episode of the Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast, Karl Flinders joins Caroline Donnelly, Clare McDonald, and Brian McKenna to discuss the Post Office Horizon system that brought havoc to the lives of subpostmasters and subpostmistresses Continue Reading
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News
23 Feb 2021
CyberScotland offers centralised security resource hub
Newly launched partnership brings together security resources for individuals and organisations across Scotland Continue Reading
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News
22 Feb 2021
Startup founders worried about proposed capital gains tax changes
British technology startups are concerned about proposed changes to widen the UK’s capital gains tax, with just over four in five saying they would consider moving their enterprise abroad Continue Reading
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News
22 Feb 2021
Pandemic has exposed fractures in cyber fraud strategy
RUSI report urges a bolder and more coordinated response to cyber-enabled fraud as the pandemic lays bear the scale of the problem Continue Reading
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News
19 Feb 2021
UK to launch 'high-risk, high-reward' research agency, dubbed ARIA
Backed by £800m of public investment, the Advanced Research & Invention Agency (ARIA) will identify and fund groundbreaking science and technology Continue Reading
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Opinion
19 Feb 2021
Fixing government digital transformation – lessons from the early days of GDS
As a new organisation is formed to lead UK digital government, three former government digital leaders share the lessons they learned from the early days of the Government Digital Service Continue Reading
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News
19 Feb 2021
European Commission proposes UK data adequacy agreement
The publication of two draft data adequacy decisions brings the UK closer to a final positive decision, which will enable the continued free flow of data between the EU and the UK if green-lit by member states Continue Reading
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News
19 Feb 2021
Biden will act on cyber security to fix SolarWinds mess
US will take action to modernise its defences in the wake of the SolarWinds attack, says US government cyber lead Anne Neuberger Continue Reading
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News
19 Feb 2021
Fujitsu bosses knew about Post Office Horizon IT flaws, says insider
A former senior developer who worked for Fujitsu on the Post Office IT system that led to subpostmasters being falsely accused of fraud, has claimed bosses knew of fundamental flaws before going live 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
18 Feb 2021
HMRC accused of 'utter hypocrisy' over use of IT contractors enrolled in tax avoidance schemes
Campaign group calls for HMRC to face an investigation, while accusing the department of ‘utter hypocrisy’ for using IT contractors enrolled in disguised remuneration schemes Continue Reading
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News
18 Feb 2021
City of Helsinki adopts MyData principles to improve digital services
Principles on the use of personal data for the benefit of society will guide Finnish capital’s ambitious digital plans Continue Reading
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News
18 Feb 2021
Assessing UK law enforcement data adequacy
Data protection experts discuss the consequences of achieving data adequacy between the UK and EU for the UK’s intelligence services and criminal justice sector Continue Reading
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Opinion
17 Feb 2021
Vaccine passports highlight social impact of systems design
Vaccine or immunity passports are an opportunity to advance the design of trustworthy digital systems, but much more work still needs to be done Continue Reading
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News
17 Feb 2021
HMRC denies misleading House of Lords over IT contractors’ use of tax avoidance schemes
MPs from Loan Charge All-Party Parliamentary Group write to HMRC CEO Jim Harra to demand the department be investigated for breaching the civil service code Continue Reading
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News
16 Feb 2021
NHSX set to become part of new NHS England 'transformation directorate'
Latest plans for the National Health Service’s central digital strategy arm are currently at the proposal stage Continue Reading
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News
16 Feb 2021
Central government should promote data policy compliance, say civil servants
Most civil servants want the government to gain additional powers to promote data policy compliance to ensure better use of data, according to research 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
15 Feb 2021
Post Office to offer digital ID services to customers
Post Office partnership with Yoti is intended to expand customer choice as to how people prove their identity when accessing services Continue Reading
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News
15 Feb 2021
NCSC recognises UK’s top cyber schools
National Cyber Security Centre CyberFirst Schools initiative has handed out 14 gold, silver and bronze awards recognising excellence in cyber security teaching Continue Reading
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News
15 Feb 2021
Government to impose new digital identity system across all Gov.uk services
Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove writes to Whitehall departments mandating the use of a new digital identity system that will allow citizens to be tracked across the Gov.uk website Continue Reading
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News
12 Feb 2021
University benefited from early virtual desktop investments when pandemic struck
Edinburgh Napier University was able to react quickly to some of the main challenges brought by the Covid-19 pandemic Continue Reading
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News
12 Feb 2021
UK border surveillance regime highly privatised, says Privacy International
Research from Privacy International raises concerns about the deep involvement of technology companies in the development and deployment of various technologies throughout the UK’s border regime, along with the lack of scrutiny they receive Continue Reading
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News
11 Feb 2021
The government’s ‘blue skies’ funding agency lacks purpose, MPs find
The £800m research and development funding agency announced in December 2019, lacks a clear purpose so far, according to the Science and Technology Committee Continue Reading
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News
11 Feb 2021
Government launches digital identity trust framework
The government’s draft framework, which aims to set out rules for the use of digital identities, will be tested with industries, services, users and organisations ahead of a final version being published Continue Reading
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News
11 Feb 2021
Nordic states launch joint drone development initiative
Nordic Drone Initiative backed by 16 public and privately owned organisations in Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark to probe the efficient use of airspace for drones Continue Reading
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News
10 Feb 2021
Tech sector calls for renewed cooperation in global digital tax talks
Industry groups want renewed multilateral negotiations between countries about taxation of the digital economy in the wake of Joe Biden’s election as US president Continue Reading
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News
09 Feb 2021
Oracle claims major win in Australian public sector
Australian Data Centres will deploy Oracle’s Dedicated Region Cloud@Customer to host cloud services for the federal government 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
Government launches review of use of health data for research
The review, which will be led by Ben Goldacre, will look at home-efficient and safe use of health data for research and analysis Continue Reading
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News
09 Feb 2021
Experian to close more than two million Gov.uk Verify accounts
Gov.uk Verify’s largest identity provider is closing down its accounts, telling users to re-register with one of the two remaining providers by the end of March 2021 Continue Reading
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News
09 Feb 2021
‘Batman Begins’ cyber attack is a warning to CNI providers
A thwarted cyber attack in a Florida town that could have resulted in the poisoning of the water supply is a timely reminder of the vulnerability of critical services Continue Reading
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E-Zine
09 Feb 2021
Audi fine-tunes its digital performance to boost online car sales
In this week’s Computer Weekly, the digital chief at Audi UK discusses how the carmaker is tackling the slump in new car sales. One of the largest global malware botnets has been taken down, but how much of a blow will it be for cyber criminals? And we hear how one county council made huge savings on its SAP installation. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
08 Feb 2021
Interview: Robert Opp, chief digital officer, United Nations Development Programme
Chief digital officer of the United Nations Development Programme talks about the relationship between digital technologies and sustainability, and how it can be used for a more environmentally-friendly and inclusive future Continue Reading
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News
08 Feb 2021
NHSX backs mobile app to detect kidney disease
The app, which is being funded by the AI in Health and Care Award programme, turns a smartphone camera into a clinical-grade tool to help detect kidney disease Continue Reading
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News
08 Feb 2021
North-West England ‘perfect’ growth area for tech startups
Industry groups mapping the UK’s technology landscape say the North-West of England is a hotspot for growing tech firms, which benefit from increasing investment and geographic proximity to academic and business support networks Continue Reading
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News
08 Feb 2021
Data of thousands of Dutch citizens leaked from government Covid-19 systems
Weak access controls and outdated systems blamed for leaking of the personal details of thousands of Dutch citizens tested for Covid-19 Continue Reading
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News
05 Feb 2021
EncroChat: Appeal court finds ‘digital phone tapping’ admissible in criminal trials
Appeal Court decides EncroChat-encrypted phone records can be used in criminal trials. Critics say the decision means phone tapping no longer has a ‘clear meaning in the digital age’ Continue Reading
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News
05 Feb 2021
Mayor of London launches digital inclusion initiative
Taskforce focused on increasing digital inclusion in London will promote digital skills and increase access to devices and connectivity Continue Reading
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News
05 Feb 2021
Government R&D funding fails to maximise ‘catapult’ potential
Barriers in the UK’s research and development funding system mean technology and innovation centres, also known as catapults, are prevented from maximising their potential economic impact Continue Reading
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News
05 Feb 2021
Financial regulatory body bombarded with malicious emails
New disclosures reveal the FCA’s systems bounced almost a quarter of a million malicious emails in a three-month period Continue Reading
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News
05 Feb 2021
Security firm Stormshield loses source code in cyber attack
Source code from two products developed by French cyber security firm was compromised in a December 2020 incident Continue Reading
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News
04 Feb 2021
UKRI should speed up Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund approval processes, says NAO
Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund’s lengthy approval process leads to delays in funding projects and could be a deterrent, according to the National Audit Office Continue Reading
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News
04 Feb 2021
CCS goes live with £800m NHS IT framework
Digital Capability for Health framework covers development and IT management services for health and social care organisations Continue Reading
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Opinion
04 Feb 2021
Let’s build on the innovation shown by UK tech during pandemic
The UK’s technology sector has innovated and shown leadership through the Covid-19 crisis, particularly with developments in AI. It is now time to maintain and build on that progress, so the UK remains a global force in tech innovation Continue Reading
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News
04 Feb 2021
CDEI: Local government data use must keep up Covid momentum
The Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation says momentum in local authority data use during the Covid-19 pandemic is in danger of being dissipated without central government investment and support for data skills development Continue Reading
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News
03 Feb 2021
Venture capital trusts lobby for relaxed state aid rules
Venture Capital Trust Association chair speaks to Computer Weekly about how the UK’s exit from the EU means state aid rules can be rewritten to allow for the expansion of funding mechanisms used by tech startups Continue Reading
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News
03 Feb 2021
Google grows cloud sales as parent’s profits top $40bn
Alphabet announces massive overall profits and increased Google cloud sales Continue Reading
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News
03 Feb 2021
‘Classic’ Cerber ransomware targets health sector in high volumes
Cerber ransomware-as-a-service seems to have re-emerged as one of the most critical cyber threats facing healthcare organisations, reports VMware Carbon Black Continue Reading
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News
02 Feb 2021
Ten startups graduate from virtual reality-focused accelerator
Startups focusing on building new immersive technology products have completed Digital Catapult’s Augmentor accelerator programme Continue Reading
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News
02 Feb 2021
Nordic region provides autonomous vehicle test bed
Nordic region has the suppliers, environment and appetite for pioneering the development of autonomous vehicles Continue Reading
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News
02 Feb 2021
Liverpool City Council upgrades to cloud-based contact centre
An 8x8 integrated cloud PaaS contact centre with voice, team chat and meetings support is helping to drive the council’s digital agenda Continue Reading
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Opinion
01 Feb 2021
NHS Digital completes NHSmail migration to the cloud
NHS Digital’s Chris Parsons shares how the organisation managed to migrate more than 2.1 million NHSmail accounts to the cloud during a global pandemic Continue Reading
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News
01 Feb 2021
West Midlands refreshes digital strategy
Combined authority’s 2021-2026 digital roadmap aims to address the digital divide and make the West Midlands the most digitally connected region in the country Continue Reading
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News
01 Feb 2021
UKRI suspends services after ransomware attack
UK Research and Innovation was hit by an undisclosed strain of ransomware at the end of January Continue Reading
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News
01 Feb 2021
‘Victory for free speech and openness’ after tribunal confirms no territorial restrictions to FOIA
Freedom of information tribunal rules that investigative journalists and others can use the Freedom of Information Act if they live outside the UK or are not British citizens Continue Reading
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News
29 Jan 2021
Biometrics ethics group addresses public-private use of facial recognition
Home Office’s Biometrics and Forensics Ethics Group releases briefing note on the use of live facial recognition in public–private collaborations following a year-long investigation Continue Reading
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News
29 Jan 2021
Revealed: Brits who fuelled ‘vicious’ conspiracy theory by Trump supporters
Trump supporters have apologised and paid millions in damages to the family of murdered Democratic Party staffer Seth Rich for promoting false allegations that Rich – not Russian agents – stole emails from the Democratic National Committee Continue Reading
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Podcast
27 Jan 2021
HMRC IT PAC rebuke, neurodiversity in focus – Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast
In this episode of the Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast, Caroline Donnelly, Clare McDonald and Brian McKenna discuss the recent Public Accounts Committee report into HMRC IT, neurodiversity, and Gaurav Dhillon as a Silicon Valley CEO Continue Reading
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News
26 Jan 2021
Conservatives broke data law to racially profile millions
The Conservative Party acted illegally in collecting data that inferred voters’ ethnicity and religious background, a Select Committee has heard Continue Reading
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News
26 Jan 2021
Cyber fraud a national security issue, says Rusi report
A report from the Rusi think tank calls for fresh approaches to how we think about fighting fraud Continue Reading
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News
25 Jan 2021
Department for International Trade signs £2.6m deal with Capita
Deal will see department deploy a digital platform to distribute grants to small and medium-sized enterprises Continue Reading
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Opinion
25 Jan 2021
Government Gateway at 20 – looking back at the UK’s most successful digital identity system
Not all legacy IT systems in government cause problems – one has been at the heart of many of the most important online public services for 20 years Continue Reading
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News
22 Jan 2021
Sepa data leaks as agency resists ransom demands
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency is resisting extortion demands from a ransomware gang, but has suffered a data leak in retaliation Continue Reading
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News
21 Jan 2021
Immigration exemption in data protection law faces further legal challenge
Human rights groups set to take legal challenge against immigration exemption to Court of Appeal on the basis that everyone, regardless of their nationality or residence, should have their fundamental rights and freedoms protected as stated in the GDPR Continue Reading
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News
21 Jan 2021
Hackney Council tenders for cyber security upgrade
Suppliers are being invited to tender for enhanced cyber security capabilities at ransomware victim Hackney Council Continue Reading
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News
21 Jan 2021
Gamarue malware found on government-issued school laptops
Devices handed out by the government to support vulnerable children contain malware that appears to be contacting C2 infrastructure in Russia Continue Reading
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Feature
21 Jan 2021
How can healthcare organisations fight increased cyber crime in 2021?
As the Covid-19 pandemic enters what may be its most dangerous phase, we explore how healthcare organisations can ward off cyber threats while preserving their ability to deliver critical care Continue Reading
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News
21 Jan 2021
UKtech50 2021: Vote for the most influential person in UK technology
Our judges have picked a shortlist, and now we invite readers to tell us who should be chosen as the most influential person in the UK tech scene for 2021 – submit your vote now Continue Reading
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News
21 Jan 2021
Interview: Tony Porter, chief privacy officer, Corsight AI
Tony Porter speaks to Computer Weekly about the changes in facial-recognition during his time as surveillance camera commissioner, the ethics of using the technology, and his new role as chief privacy officer at Corsight AI Continue Reading
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News
21 Jan 2021
NHS Business Services Authority launches digital strategy
NHS body’s digital strategy aims to change culture, practices and processes to create an environment where people can do their best Continue Reading
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News
21 Jan 2021
Government needs to ‘take stock’ of digital progress, says Reform
Think-tank says Covid-19 has shown the importance of a ‘digitally enabled’ public sector, but there is still a long way to go to realise the full potential of technology Continue Reading
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News
21 Jan 2021
Digital knowledge must be integral part of Dutch police training
Research reveals gaps in digital knowledge among Netherlands police, with calls for a training ‘roadmap’ to get officers up to speed to tackle cyber crime Continue Reading
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News
20 Jan 2021
More subpostmasters’ prosecutions sent to appeal for wrongful conviction
Four more subpostmasters are to have their appeals against criminal convictions heard in the appeal courts Continue Reading
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Opinion
20 Jan 2021
Where is the UK’s digital strategy?
While the devolved nations press on with their digital plans, the UK government has delayed its digital strategy – yet this is too important for the economy to be put off any further Continue Reading
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News
20 Jan 2021
PAC demands rejigged IT investment action plan from HMRC by end of March 2021
A report by the Public Accounts Committee confirms HMRC is spending too much money on patching legacy IT systems, and needs to prioritise investing in the modernisation of its digital estate Continue Reading
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News
20 Jan 2021
IT scandal exposes legal rule that made it easy for Post Office to prosecute the innocent
Lawyers call for changes to digital evidence rule that made it easier for the Post Office to ‘bamboozle courts’ and make subpostmasters pay a heavy price for its IT failings Continue Reading
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E-Zine
19 Jan 2021
The UK’s struggle with digital schooling
In this week’s Computer Weekly, the UK government’s sudden decision to close schools left many unable to provide children with online schooling - we examine the home learning challenges. Cyber security experts give us their forecasts for 2021. And we find out how technology supports the work of the Guide Dogs charity. Read the issue now. 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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Opinion
19 Jan 2021
Fixing the cracks in public sector digital infrastructure
The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the flaws in the UK's digital government set-up. The appointment of new IT leadership presents an ideal opportunity for the government to fix them Continue Reading
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News
18 Jan 2021
MoD reports 18% rise in data loss incidents
The Ministry of Defence reported more than five hundred data security incidents in 2019-20, with seven serious enough to warrant disclosure to the ICO Continue Reading
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News
18 Jan 2021
Nottinghamshire uses citizen engagement tools to inform residents
Nottinghamshire Council is seeking to expand Granicus integrations after success in using its communications services to keep citizens informed during pandemic Continue Reading
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News
18 Jan 2021
UKtech50: The 2021 longlist
Each year, Computer Weekly launches its annual search for the most influential people in UK IT, where the tech industry nominates who it thinks should be in the top 50 – here is the longlist for 2021 Continue Reading
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News
18 Jan 2021
Community Fibre to supply free 50Mbps broadband for vulnerable London households
Fibre altnet looks to address growing problem of the digital divide and ensure continuity of education in UK capital Continue Reading
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Opinion
18 Jan 2021
The UK tech sector has been a force for good during the Covid-19 pandemic
The UK's digital minister hails the tech companies that have helped people cope with many of the challenges of living through lockdown and the coronavirus pandemic Continue Reading