IT legislation and regulation
Understanding the law as it applies to IT management can be one of the hardest task for IT leaders, but the growing burden of regulatory compliance makes it essential. Legislation and regulation affects enterprise IT in many ways, not just in long-standing tasks such as contracts and software licensing. We examine the latest legal development and how they affect IT managers, and talk to the experts in IT legislation and regulation to explain what it means to your organisation.
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E-Zine
20 Jan 2023
CW APAC January 2023 – Trend Watch: CIO Trends
As we enter a new year, it remains vital for IT leaders to keep track of the latest developments across the industry. In this handbook, focused on CIO trends in the Asia-Pacific region, Computer Weekly looks at predictions for 2023, how the Australian Red Cross managed a donation surge, Mondelez’s digital transformation and Singapore’s public sector IT strategy Continue Reading
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E-Zine
21 Nov 2022
CW APAC: Trend Watch: Artificial intelligence in APAC
Artificial intelligence is becoming more commonplace across business. In this handbook, focused on the adoption of the technology in the Asia-Pacific region, Computer Weekly looks at what still stands in its way, Dell’s deep learning model, how AI can realise its potential in healthcare, and the pros and cons of using AI and ML applications in the cloud. Continue Reading
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News
15 Apr 2021
Ireland’s DPC launches probe into Facebook leak
The Irish Data Protection Commission has launched an ‘own volition’ inquiry into the leak of data from 500 million Facebook profiles Continue Reading
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E-Zine
15 Apr 2021
CW Middle East: Qatari regulator launches platform to help combat money laundering
The Qatar Financial Markets Authority is using a digital platform to enable financial services professionals to assess their knowledge of anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism. Also in this issue, read how the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the IT spending patterns among enterprises in Saudi Arabia. Continue Reading
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News
14 Apr 2021
CMA provisionally clears merger of Virgin and O2
Six months after being requested to review joint venture that could transform UK’s wired and wireless communications provision, UK competition watchdog CMA removes potential major hurdle to Virgin and O2 merger Continue Reading
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News
14 Apr 2021
FBI accesses ProxyLogon target servers to disrupt cyber criminals
US Justice Department reveals successful court-authorised effort to clamp down on ProxyLogon exploitation Continue Reading
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News
14 Apr 2021
Remote workers largely supportive of a UK right to disconnect
The introduction of a “right to disconnect” in the UK is popular among workers and has backing from trade unions Continue Reading
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News
14 Apr 2021
EU set to tilt AI balance in favour of citizen rights
New draft EU regulations aim to protect people from biased decision-making Continue Reading
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Opinion
14 Apr 2021
Security Think Tank: Vaccine passports cannot be taken lightly
What are the security issues and challenges presented by vaccine passports, and how should they be designed and used with ethics and privacy in mind? Continue Reading
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Opinion
14 Apr 2021
Security Think Tank: Vaccine passports must be secure by design
What are the security issues and challenges presented by vaccine passports, and how should they be designed and used with ethics and privacy in mind? Continue Reading
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News
13 Apr 2021
EncroChat lawyers raise questions over use of PII secrecy orders on UK decryption capabilities
Lawyers claim that public interest immunity certificates may have been used to withhold information on UK intelligence agencies’ ability to decrypt encrypted communications Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Apr 2021
Why some jobseekers have turned to cyber crime during the pandemic
Research shows that many people have been seeking cyber crime-related work on the dark web, but why? Continue Reading
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Opinion
12 Apr 2021
What has a year of home working meant for the DPO?
Byron Shirley of The Compliance Space explores how the role of the data protection officer has changed in the past 12 months Continue Reading
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News
09 Apr 2021
Egypt, Italy and US most affected in Facebook leak
Researchers at VPN firm Surfshark have been analysing data on 533 million people leaked from Facebook Continue Reading
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News
09 Apr 2021
Loan Charge Group MPs demand IR35 shake-up to stop contractors becoming ‘zero-rights employees’
Inquiry by Loan Charge All-Party Parliamentary Group calls on government to tweak IR35 legislation during passage of next Finance Bill Continue Reading
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News
08 Apr 2021
Nation-state cyber attacks double in three years
Cyber attacks backed by nation states are becoming more frequent and varied, moving the world closer to a point of ‘advanced cyber-conflict’, according to a University of Surrey research project Continue Reading
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News
07 Apr 2021
Facebook ducks calls to apologise over huge data leak
Facebook gives its side of the story as data on millions of its users leaks, but is yet to apologise for security lapses that put half a billion people at risk of compromise Continue Reading
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News
07 Apr 2021
Digital Markets Unit starts work on codes of conduct for tech giants
Digital markets regulator officially launched to ensure tech giants such as Facebook and Google cannot exploit their market dominance to crowd out competition and stifle innovation online Continue Reading
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News
07 Apr 2021
Irish employees’ ‘right to disconnect’ enshrined in code of practice
A code of practice giving employees the ‘right to disconnect’ from work and not engage in electronic communications outside of their normal hours has come into effect in Ireland Continue Reading
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News
06 Apr 2021
Facebook data leak could be outside scope of GDPR
Regulators may be unable to do much about leaked data on 533 million Facebook users, as it seems to have been stolen before GDPR came into force Continue Reading
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News
06 Apr 2021
US court issues Google API with Java ruling
US Supreme Court rules that specifying an API function call to enable third-party developers to access functionality should not be copyrighted Continue Reading
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News
06 Apr 2021
IR35 reforms: Private sector start date prompts mixed picture of predictions for contracting market
The IR35 tax avoidance reforms take hold in the private sector, prompting a mixed picture of predictions from stakeholders about what the future holds for contractors in the UK Continue Reading
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News
01 Apr 2021
Clearer service information could add 1.6 million full-fibre homes by 2025
Report finds that the speed at which Britain could benefit from the economic and social impact of billions of pounds of full-fibre infrastructure investment could be improved by clear labelling and information on broadband services Continue Reading
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News
01 Apr 2021
EncroChat hearings delayed as lawyers seek disclosure on police hacking
Court hearings precipitated by police cracking the EncroChat secure mobile phone network have been delayed after defence lawyers request further disclosures on police decryption capabilities Continue Reading
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News
01 Apr 2021
IR35 reforms: Loan charge and employers’ NI issues prompt calls for legislative revamp
As the government prepares to extend the IR35 reforms to the private sector, contracting stakeholders say it is high time the ‘flawed’ legislation was scrapped entirely Continue Reading
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News
31 Mar 2021
IR35 reforms: HMRC denies ‘squandering’ datasets that could rid umbrella sector of rogue players
Concerns grow about the number of IT contractors at risk of joining non-compliant umbrella firms ahead of the IR35 reforms taking hold in the private sector Continue Reading
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News
31 Mar 2021
Nordics run information sharing on digital vaccination passports
Nordic countries advance plans for digital Covid-19 vaccination passports in a bid to kick-start their economies Continue Reading
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News
30 Mar 2021
IR35 reforms: Slow government progress on umbrella regulation exposes IT contractors to tax risks
With thousands of IT contractors set to start working through unregulated umbrella companies for the first time when the IR35 reforms take hold in the private sector, concerns are growing about the danger this could pose to their income and tax affairs in years to come Continue Reading
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30 Mar 2021
IR35 reforms: Confusion over who pays employers’ NI leaves IT contractors out of pocket
Litigators are circling as thousands of contractors realise that the 2017 roll-out of IR35 reforms to the public sector may have resulted in unlawful tax deductions – and the private sector could be next Continue Reading
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News
29 Mar 2021
How far has open banking come in Europe?
Open banking is a relatively new concept, having come into effect in Europe only in the last couple of years. So what is the state of play? Continue Reading
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News
29 Mar 2021
Backup survey: UK councils’ downtimes five times longer than average
Backup product supplier Veeam’s freedom of information request finds councils’ average downtime is seven hours and that backup and disaster recovery testing is not done frequently Continue Reading
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News
29 Mar 2021
UK courts face evidence ‘black hole’ over police EncroChat mass hacking
French investigators have refused to disclose how they downloaded millions of messages from a supposedly secure cryptophone network used by organised criminals – leaving UK courts to grapple with a forensic ‘black hole’ of evidence Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Mar 2021
Backup appliances the hot topic for Pas-de-Calais fire brigade
With requirements for strict, long-duration backup and archiving, French fire brigade set out to replace optical media with a StorageCraft appliance and disaster-proof storage Continue Reading
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News
26 Mar 2021
Openreach defies Covid to hit full-fibre target
BT-owned broadband provision division includes more than 170 city locations in multi-billion-pound gigabit broadband build including cities of Birmingham, Belfast, London and Manchester Continue Reading
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News
25 Mar 2021
Cyber security complacency puts UK at risk, says NCSC head
National Cyber Security Centre CEO Lindy Cameron, in her maiden speech in the role, warns of challenges ahead for the UK and sets out the future agenda for cyber Continue Reading
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News
23 Mar 2021
IR35 reforms: Confusion over who pays employers’ NI leaves IT contractors out of pocket
Litigators are circling as thousands of contractors realise that the 2017 roll-out of IR35 reforms to the public sector may have resulted in unlawful tax deductions – and the private sector could be next Continue Reading
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News
22 Mar 2021
Altnet association warns of threat to UK full-fibre roll-out
Independent Networks Co-operative Association warns that recent momentum in gigabit broadband implementation could be delayed if independent providers and their investors believe UK comms regulator is not willing to listen to their concerns Continue Reading
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News
22 Mar 2021
CIO interview: Juliette Atkinson, IT director, Bradford University
Bradford University’s IT director took a different route than most to get into IT leadership Continue Reading
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News
19 Mar 2021
UK government aims to get national broadband project back on track with Project Gigabit
First areas revealed in £5bn government scheme to deliver gigabit broadband connections to help recovery from the pandemic, achieve growth and levelling up Continue Reading
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News
18 Mar 2021
Ofcom revamps wholesale broadband rules to ramp up full-fibre roll-out
UK comms regulator announces new guidelines for the UK wholesale telecoms market, with the principal aim to drive investment in fibre gigabit services and support the closure of the UK’s copper network Continue Reading
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News
18 Mar 2021
Vaccine passports cannot put basic rights at risk, warns BCS
BCS warns of challenges to come as the government presses on with its plans for Covid-19 vaccine passports Continue Reading
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News
17 Mar 2021
Ofcom raises £1.356bn in principal stage of new 5G spectrum auction
After announcing their plans to extend and improve basic 4G connectivity around the country, the UK’s mobile operators are celebrating their principal gains in the 5G arena with low-band and mid-band spectrum Continue Reading
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News
17 Mar 2021
Cyber sector welcomes PM’s defence review
Security commentators approve of measures to improve the UK’s cyber resilience, strengthen its R&D and skills base, lead on the development of new technology and promote a free, open, peaceful and secure global internet Continue Reading
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News
16 Mar 2021
Banks still lack tech skills at the top
Banks have made progress in adding IT knowledge in their boardrooms, but they need more as digital transformation accelerates Continue Reading
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News
16 Mar 2021
Government calls for input into Covid-19 vaccine passports
Evidence gathering exercise will inform the development of the UK’s proposed Covid-19 vaccine passport scheme Continue Reading
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News
15 Mar 2021
UK plans ‘full spectrum’ approach to national cyber security
PM Boris Johnson expands on proposed National Cyber Force and plans to set up a north of England Cyber Corridor Continue Reading
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News
15 Mar 2021
IR35 private sector reforms: IPSE warns of UK contracting talent exodus unless start date delayed
Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed research into what contractors plan to do once the IR35 reforms come into play highlights growing risk of talent shortages Continue Reading
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News
12 Mar 2021
IR35 private sector reforms: IT contractors ‘growing reluctant’ to work for ‘blanket banning’ firms
IT-focused staffing company Ellis Recruitment Group shares its take on how the contracting market is responding to the private sector firms enforcing blanket bans Continue Reading
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Opinion
12 Mar 2021
Security Think Tank: US security efforts may centre on collaboration
As US president Joe Biden sets out his agenda for the next four years, we consider the opportunities for renewed international collaboration on cyber security, what aspects of cyber Biden should focus on, and ask how the industry can make its voice heard Continue Reading
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News
11 Mar 2021
UK digital regulators set out plans to strengthen cooperation
Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum outlines plans for the coming year, marking a shift towards a more collaborative regulatory approach Continue Reading
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News
11 Mar 2021
Attack on surveillance cameras a warning over security, ethics
The attack on a video surveillance startup by a hacktivist group raises questions not just over cyber security, but the use and extent of surveillance technology Continue Reading
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E-Zine
11 Mar 2021
CW Europe: Nordic tech startups create blueprint for post-Covid working environment
Business can learn lessons from Nordic tech startups to prepare employees to return to the office after Covid restrictions end. Also read why Netherlands police need a training ‘roadmap’ to get them up to speed to tackle cyber crime. Continue Reading
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News
10 Mar 2021
Met Police chooses Capgemini as strategic IT infrastructure services provider
Capgemini has a history of providing the force with day-to-day technology services, and will now deliver its infrastructure services under the Pegasus programme Continue Reading
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News
10 Mar 2021
Government’s refusal of freedom of information request about Post Office scandal ‘deeply concerning’
MP condemns department’s ‘bizarre’ rejection of freedom of information request linked to Post Office IT scandal Continue Reading
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News
10 Mar 2021
Police crack world’s largest cryptophone network as criminals swap EncroChat for Sky ECC
Belgian and Dutch police have breached the encryption of users of Sky ECC, the world’s largest cryptophone network. There are significant parallels with the international police operation against the EncroChat cryptophone network which led to hundreds of arrests Continue Reading
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News
09 Mar 2021
Belgian police raid 200 premises in drug operation linked to breach of encrypted phone network
More than 1,600 police and law enforcement officials conduct drug raids after the compromise of an encrypted mobile phone network that has parallels with EncroChat Continue Reading
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News
09 Mar 2021
EBA restores services after Microsoft Exchange attack
European Banking Authority was breached through vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange Server, but is now back online Continue Reading
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News
08 Mar 2021
US teases retaliation over state-backed cyber attacks
Consequences for alleged perpetrators of the SolarWinds attack are expected within the next few weeks Continue Reading
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News
05 Mar 2021
Affordable legal advice for all – from a robot
Artificial intelligence project strives to make legal advice affordable to the whole of society Continue Reading
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News
05 Mar 2021
Innovation underpinned by trustworthy governance, says CDEI
Public support for greater use of digital technologies such as AI depends on how much trust people have in its governance, says report Continue Reading
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News
04 Mar 2021
IR35 private sector reforms: HMRC under fire over ‘omission’ of employers’ NI from webinar guidance
HM Revenue & Customs confirms it has corrected a calculation error in a recent educational IR35 webinar that saw it fail to factor in employers’ NI in examples of how payments should be made between end-clients, agencies and PSCs post-April 2021 Continue Reading
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News
04 Mar 2021
UK contactless payment limit more than doubled
UK increases the amount that can be spent in one go using a contactless payments card to £100 Continue Reading
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News
03 Mar 2021
IR35 private sector reforms: Hays calls on Treasury to delay April 2021 start date by a year
UK and Ireland managing director of recruitment giant Hays writes to HM Treasury to demand a delay and review of the government’s plans to roll out the IR35 reforms to the private sector from April 2021 Continue Reading
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News
02 Mar 2021
EU seeking pan-European Covid-19 passport solution
The European Union’s proposal could see the creation of a Covid-19 vaccine passport to enable travel across the EU Continue Reading
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News
02 Mar 2021
Goldman Sachs CEO comments highlight need for home working balance
The remote working revolution has been prominent in the banking sector and organisations have a balancing act to perform once the pandemic passes 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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News
01 Mar 2021
Covid accelerates Bradford University remote working project
Pandemic injected fuel into university’s existing project to introduce remote working Continue Reading
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News
01 Mar 2021
What it means to be born digital
We speak to Robert Wigley about his new book, Born Digital, which looks at the societal impact of Generation Z Continue Reading
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News
01 Mar 2021
IR35 private sector reforms: Royal Mail contractors ‘frustrated’ by tax status test regime
Royal Mail contractors are ‘frustrated’ by the lack of transparency over their changing tax status, as the company confirms it is moving those ‘likely to be’ inside IR35 onto PAYE working arrangements Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Mar 2021
The driving force behind the EU colocation market’s climate-neutral push
Colocation and hyperscale datacentre providers across Europe are under pressure from governments, regulators and the user community to curb carbon emissions Continue Reading
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News
26 Feb 2021
IR35 private sector reforms: Argos to offshore work of digital team in Milton Keynes to Mumbai
Retailer Argos confirms it has ‘identified opportunities’ to offshore tasks performed by its digital team, while its IR35 compliance strategy has seen the majority of contractors declared in-scope of the new rules, sources claim Continue Reading
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News
25 Feb 2021
IR35 private sector reforms: Contractors call for further delays to April 2021 start date
Research by the online tax consultancy arm of Ernst & Young reveals lack of preparedness among contractors for the onset of the IR35 tax avoidance reforms in the private sector Continue Reading
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News
25 Feb 2021
GCHQ sets out rules of the road for AI in cyber
A paper produced by GCHQ shows how the intelligence agency can use artificial intelligence responsibly as a tool to protect the UK’s national security Continue Reading
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News
25 Feb 2021
Npower shuts off app after credential stuffing attack
Npower customers will have to log in to their accounts on its website after its app was withdrawn following a security breach Continue Reading
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News
25 Feb 2021
Tech-enabled hybrid working enables HSBC to cut 40% of its global office space
Bank is making huge reductions in the amount of office space it uses through a global hybrid-working policy Continue Reading
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News
25 Feb 2021
MHRA and other agencies to offer new resources for scam victims
New landing page resources will replace .uk domains suspended for criminal activity to help members of the public access appropriate guidance Continue Reading
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News
25 Feb 2021
IR35 private sector reforms: What IT contractors need to know
Computer Weekly asks contracting experts to answer questions about PSC bans, compliant umbrella companies and challenging status determinations, with the latest IR35 reforms coming into place 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
Businesses forced to ask IT service providers for help during pandemic
IT service providers have been approached by long-time enterprise customers asking for price cuts due to the impact of the pandemic 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
Tech worker-centric umbrella company launches to target IT contractors 'displaced' by IR35
As the number of private sector firms enforcing blanket bans on contractors grows, Techcentre Umbrella is offering IT workers ‘displaced’ by the reforms a safe haven, claims its founder Continue Reading
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News
23 Feb 2021
AI powers reputational damage insurance policy
Reputational damage has an immediate impact on a company’s share price, and brand loyalty built over many years can be lost in an instant Continue Reading
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News
22 Feb 2021
Malaysia government intervenes to drive 5G forward
The government of Malaysia pledges to spend 15bn ringgit to set up an entity that would be granted spectrum and operational scope to manage 5G roll-outs 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
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
NCSC cyber defence scheme blocked thousands of scams in 2019
The NCSC has reported another productive year for its Active Cyber Defence programme Continue Reading
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News
19 Feb 2021
Uber drivers should be classified as ‘workers’, UK Supreme Court confirms
Supreme Court ruling brings Uber’s four-year legal battle to have its drivers classified as self-employed to an end, and could see its drivers in line to receive thousands of pounds in compensation 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
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
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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News
17 Feb 2021
North Korean Lazarus Group hackers indicted in US
Charges filed relate to Lazarus Group’s long-running cyber crime spree, including financial theft and extortion, WannaCry malware and the cyber attack on Sony Pictures 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
Egregor ransomware arrests confirmed
Authorities confirm that they have arrested an undisclosed number of cyber criminals associated with the Egregor ransomware 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
17 Feb 2021
Swedish central bank extends digital currency project
Sweden's central bank has extended its pilot of a digital currency for at least another year Continue Reading
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News
17 Feb 2021
Law firm and cyber criminals clash over source of stolen data
Cyber attack victim Jones Day says its data was stolen in a supply chain attack, but the gang holding it to ransom disagrees Continue Reading
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News
16 Feb 2021
Qatar regulator launches platform to monitor human understanding of financial crime
Qatari financial services regulator works with global body to provide digital platform to assess whether financial services workers understand how to prevent financial crime Continue Reading
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News
16 Feb 2021
Egregor ransomware associates arrested amid disruption
Undisclosed number of arrests made in Ukraine after investigators tracked bitcoin ransom payments Continue Reading
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News
16 Feb 2021
IR35 private sector reforms: HMRC reminds firms to use ‘reasonable care’ when applying new tax rules
As the countdown to the IR35 reforms being rolled out to the private sector continues apace, HM Revenue and Customs issues compliance guidance for firms in-scope of the new rules Continue Reading
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Opinion
16 Feb 2021
Security Think Tank: Towards a united state of security
As US president Joe Biden sets out his agenda for the next four years, we consider the opportunities for renewed international collaboration on cyber security, what aspects of cyber Biden should focus on, and ask how the industry can make its voice heard Continue Reading
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Opinion
15 Feb 2021
Security Think Tank: Renewed US stability may ease cyber tensions
As US president Joe Biden sets out his agenda for the next four years, we consider the opportunities for renewed international collaboration on cyber security, what aspects of cyber Biden should focus on, and ask how the industry can make its voice heard Continue Reading