Will local government transformation be set back by coronavirus?
Having long suffered from a scarcity of funding, councils could be forgiven for deprioritising investments in new tech. But public and private and sector leaders tell PublicTechnology that digital has never been more important.
Scotland curbs click-and-collect services
Option can only be used for essential goods
Microsoft ‘a few weeks away’ from fixing issue affecting Scottish digital learning platform
Education Scotland stresses there is a ‘manual workaround’
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Consultation to examine police use of drones and body-worn video
Scottish Parliamentary committee invites views from the public
Online harms law could see social networks fined billions of pounds
Ofcom will have power to penalise sites that fail to remove harmful content
Companies House implores firms to file accounts online to avoid delays
Registrar cites lack of staff at HQ
Union raises concerns over Cabinet Office bullying
Head of PCS union says that seeming drop in instances of bullying does ‘not reflect the sad reality’
MPs point to lack of data as major barrier to closing government skills gaps
PAC finds that the Cabinet Office lacks the right information to address a dearth of expertise in areas including digital and commercial
Stockport reaches 8,000 citizens with digital skills drive
Council CEO claims use of tech platforms has enabled local residents to stay connected
ICO urged to protect workers from surveillance software
MPs, unions and academics call for rules on the use of tech that can monitor remote workers
Plans for Crown Consultancy unit ‘watered down’, report claims
Unit will reportedly advise on use of external firms rather than replace them
Minister pledges to improve access to Covid testing ‘via non-digital routes’
Users are encouraged to use online platform, but DHSC insists other methods can be used
Remote working opened the doors to cyberattack and data breach risks – we can close them
In 2020 public sector organisations have been tested to a degree never experienced before. According to CrowdStrike, increasing cybersecurity attacks are an additional complication they must navigate in an injurious year.
Defra confident of ‘smooth and orderly transfer’ to post-Brexit import IT system
Minister says incoming platform has been subjected to ‘intense scrutiny’
Scottish Government to put £2bn into creating ‘globally-competitive high-tech economy’
New national investment bank will support sustainable technology to support drive for net zero emissions target
Government urged to bring in emergency legislation to combat vaccine disinformation
Shadow minister and campaign group call for new laws
Government immigration advisers flag concerns over availability of data
Chair of Migration Advisory Committee calls for more timely information
Hancock and Dowden ask social networks to stem vaccine misinformation
Ministers met with platforms last month
MoJ seeks £2m polygraph partner ahead of major trial of lie detectors for offenders
Minister floats potential six-year deal as use of lie-detectors set to be greatly expanded
Government review calls for mandatory transparency in public sector use of algorithms
Laws must also be updated, according to Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation
Government explores AI to monitor use of face coverings
Technology could then provide messages designed to promote ‘positive engagement’
HMRC estimates ‘£20 a year’ cost for businesses of switch to Making Tax Digital
Minister says department has sought to minimise costs
MoD gets £24bn boost to create National Cyber Force
Boris Johnson claims extra funding represents ‘biggest investment since Cold War’