Government warned over need to protect the metaverse in Online Safety laws
Campaigners warn that ‘virtual actions are not adequately addressed’ by existing law or pending legislation
DWP to boost digital services and data-sharing to improve benefits system for disabled people
Range of reforms announced in new policy document published alongside budget
How CDDO is working to make government services great
In this piece for PublicTechnology, head of strategy and standards Ben Tate provides an update...
More Content
Norway suspends ‘deeply intrusive’ contact-tracing app and deletes all existing data
The country’s data-protection authority has placed a ban on the collection of information via the software after Amnesty investigation
NHS seeks £7m supplier to take over coronavirus testing website
External provider will need to ensure ‘service is accessible, automated, and successfully scaled’
Contact-tracing app began 11-week load-testing programme in mid-May, documents reveal
Contract with software firm Eggplant runs until end of July
NHS Digital to lead work to supply GPs with coronavirus testing data
Primary care minister says work, which will begin within a couple of weeks, ‘needs to be carefully done to minimise safety risks’
Government still sitting on three quarters of laptops bought to help vulnerable children during lockdown
As of this week, fewer than 50,000 of the 200,000 devices due to be delivered as part of £85m scheme have reached the intended recipients
Using data to better understand the hidden crime of domestic abuse
Criminal justice data shows about 60,000 convictions per year, while public surveys reveal 2.4 million adults experience domestic abuse. The ONS tells PublicTechnology how it has brought together information from a range of sources to help policy makers and support services
Human rights watchdog raises concerns over impact of courts reform on disabled people
EHRC also flags up need for more data on impact of remote hearings
Mr Motivator joins Whitehall’s online Pride celebrations
Civil service marks Pride month by hosting a range of digital events and celebration for the LGBT+ community
EC warns outside states are sowing coronavirus disinformation in Europe
China and Russia are among those claimed to be undertaking ‘targeted influence operations’
NHS smartphone GP provider shares users’ consultation videos with other people after ‘software error’
ICO alerted to data breach at Babylon Health
Review to examine whether UK electoral laws are fit for digital age
The Committee on Standards in Public Life claims that online campaigning has ‘transformed the way parties engage with voters’
DfE to gather data on thousands of pupils and parents to support coronavirus policy response
Department is to set up an online research hub to conduct regular surveys
Four-fifths of citizens want more government communication in face of fake news
Half the population believe they have been exposed to misinformation during the coronavirus pandemic and want to see more official TV ads
DWP’s ‘serious IT challenges’ pegged as key cause of disparity in benefits system during coronavirus crisis
Chair of arm’s-length body praises government response but identifies lower payments for recipients of legacy benefits as one of several ‘rough edges’
Regulator says coronavirus testing data ‘falls well short of expectations’
Head of statistics watchdog tells health secretary ‘it is not surprising data is widely criticised and mistrusted’
Passport applications plummet in March
Number of citizens using online and postal service drops by more than half
London Fire Brigade seeks tech tool to record ‘safety events’
Commissioner posts contract notice seeking to log ‘near misses’ and other incidents
Data experts sought as government recruits 30 deputy directors for coronavirus response
Cabinet Office advertises for cross-government positions
Government launches programme to develop IoT ‘kitemark’
Grants available to support improvement of consumer assurance
Test and trace scheme to keep citizens’ personal data for 20 years
PHE also reveals outsourcers Serco and Sitel will process sensitive information and claims length of retention is ‘because Covid-19 is a new disease’
NHS seeking to ‘lock in’ better use of tech necessitated by coronavirus
Minister says health service is seeking to ensure it continues to benefit from initiatives such as remote working