Category: computer programs

What are the data privacy considerations of Contact Tracing Apps? – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted May 4th, 2020 in computer programs, coronavirus, data protection, emergency powers, human rights, news, privacy by sally

‘Coronavirus presents a serious threat to society, legitimising the collection of public health data under Article 9:2 (g) of GDPR regulations, which allows the processing of such data if “necessary for reasons of substantial public interest”. Some of this collection will take the form of contact tracing apps, which have been used in containing the spread of coronavirus in countries such as Singapore.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 1st May 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Nyasha Weinberg: Parliament must legislate on the government’s plans for contact tracing apps – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted May 4th, 2020 in computer programs, constitutional law, coronavirus, data protection, emergency powers, human rights, news, parliament, privacy by sally

‘ Today the Joint Committee on Human Rights will take evidence from the Information Commissioner, academics and the CEO of NHSX on the risks to the right to privacy (Article 8 ECHR) if a contact tracing app is introduced to track and slow the spread of the coronavirus. This is helpful scrutiny of the government’s plans. Yet if the government goes ahead with its proposed contact-tracing application it is essential that the processing of large amounts of personal data by the state, even if done in the public interest, needs a clear legal basis in the form of specific legislation.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 4th May 2020

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Lifting The Lockdown: Is A Phone App The Answer? – Each Other

Posted April 17th, 2020 in bills, computer programs, coronavirus, data protection, emergency powers, freedom of movement, human rights, news, privacy by sally

‘With the UK’s coronavirus lockdown extended for three more weeks, some people are looking towards a planned NHS phone app as “holding the key” to easing restrictions. But how realistic is this expectation and could there be unexpected consequences? EachOther examines.’

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Each Other, 16th April 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

Councils face legal action over access to education during lockdown – Local Government Lawyer

Posted April 15th, 2020 in children, computer programs, education, equality, local government, news, school children by sally

‘The Good Law Project is to take legal action against councils over access to education by children from low income families during the lockdown.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 9th April 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

UK councils face lawsuits over access to education in lockdown – The Guardian

Posted April 7th, 2020 in computer programs, coronavirus, education, emergency powers, equality, government departments, news, school children by sally

‘The UK government must ensure pupils from poor backgrounds have computers and internet connections during the coronavirus lockdown or face legal action for depriving children of their education, according to a group of legal activists.’

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The Guardian, 6th April 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Post Office IT system that ruined lives ‘still faulty’, MPs told – BBC News

Posted March 11th, 2020 in compensation, computer programs, Criminal Cases Review Commission, news, postal service, theft by tracey

‘A faulty till system that led to sub-postmasters being wrongly accused of stealing money is still not working properly, MPs have been told.’

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BBC News, 10th March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Let’s face it: use of automated facial recognition technology by the police – UK Police Law Blog

Posted February 24th, 2020 in artificial intelligence, computer programs, data protection, facial mapping, human rights, investigatory powers, news, police, privacy by sally

‘The case of R (Bridges) v Chief Constable of South Wales Police & Information Commissioner [2019] EWHC 2341 (Admin); [2020] 1 WLR 672 is said to have been the first claim brought before a court anywhere on planet earth concerning the use by police of automated facial recognition (“AFR”) technology. There could be nothing wrong with posting scores of police officers with eidetic memories to look out for up to a 800 wanted persons at public gatherings. So why not use a powerful computer, capable of matching 50 faces a second with a database of (under) 800 suspects, to do this job much more cheaply and instantaneously, flagging any matches to a human operator for final assessment? According to the Divisional Court in Bridges, this may, depending on the facts of each particular deployment, be lawful.’

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UK Police Law Blog, 21st February 2020

Source: ukpolicelawblog.com

Rules urgently needed to oversee police use of data and AI – report – The Guardian

Posted February 24th, 2020 in artificial intelligence, budgets, codes of practice, computer programs, data protection, facial mapping, news, police, race discrimination by sally

‘National guidance is urgently needed to oversee the police’s use of data-driven technology amid concerns that it could lead to discrimination, a report has said.’

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The Guardian, 23rd February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

What are the rules on workplace surveillance? – BBC News

Posted February 21st, 2020 in computer programs, data protection, employment, human rights, news, privacy, spying by sally

‘Barclays has faced a backlash after it piloted a system that tracked the time employees spent at their desks. The company has since scrapped the system – but how common is workplace surveillance and what lengths are employers allowed to go to monitor their staff?‘

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BBC News, 20th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New setback in race to begin whiplash reform in April – Legal Futures

Posted February 10th, 2020 in accidents, computer programs, damages, delay, electronic filing, internet, Ministry of Justice, news, personal injuries, road traffic by sally

‘The Civil Procedure Rule Committee last week put off approving the rules for the new whiplash portal until next month, it is understood, making the April start-date all-but impossible.’

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Legal Futures, 10th February 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

High Court critical of approach to evidence in Post Office litigation – Henderson Chambers

Posted January 30th, 2020 in chambers articles, computer programs, expert witnesses, news, postal service by sally

‘In the final judgment of this long-running group litigation, the court found numerous issues with the Post Office’s Horizon IT system and ruled in favour of the subpostmasters and subpostmistresses. The overarching point that emerges is the importance of advancing a realistic case, supported by properly considered and careful expert and factual witness evidence.’

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Henderson Chambers, 22nd January 2020

Source: www.hendersonchambers.co.uk

Post Office ‘assisting’ review of postmasters’ convictions – BBC News

Posted January 20th, 2020 in computer programs, Criminal Cases Review Commission, fraud, news, postal service, theft by sally

‘The Post Office says it is ”assisting the Criminal Cases Review Commission to the fullest extent” with inquiries into cases of postmasters convicted of theft and fraud.’

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BBC News, 19th January 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Call for Bank of England executive to quit over security breach – BBC News

Posted December 20th, 2019 in audio recordings, banking, computer programs, data protection, news by tracey

‘A former member of the Bank of England has called for the resignation of its chief operating officer after it emerged an audio feed of sensitive information had been leaked to traders.’

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BBC News, 19th December 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Subpostmasters ‘vindicated’ as high court finds IT system had ‘bugs and defects’, paving way for further legal action – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 17th, 2019 in accounts, computer programs, malicious prosecution, news, postal service by tracey

‘Former subpostmasters who brought legal action against the Post Office say they have been “vindicated” after the High Court finds that their IT system had “bugs and defects,” paving the way for further legal action.’

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Daily Telegraph, 16th December 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Mark Duggan shooting report challenged by human rights groups – The Guardian

Posted December 5th, 2019 in computer programs, firearms, forensic science, human rights, inquests, news, police, professional conduct, reports, unlawful killing by sally

‘The official report into the police shooting of a man whose death sparked the 2011 riots is facing a new challenge from human rights investigators who say a virtual model of the shooting shows its main conclusion is wrong.’

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The Guardian, 5th December 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Crypto statement a ‘watershed’ for English law – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 25th, 2019 in computer programs, contracts, cryptocurrencies, electronic commerce, electronic filing, internet, interpretation, news by sally

‘In its first substantive output since being announced a year ago, the LawTech Delivery Panel last week posted good news for anyone developing, or working with, products based on blockchain encryption technology.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 25th November 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Refreshing legal clarity on cryptocurrencies and smart contracts – Technology Law Update

Posted November 20th, 2019 in computer programs, contracts, cryptocurrencies, electronic commerce, news by sally

‘A UK Government-backed task force has reviewed the status of cryptocurrencies and smart contracts under the existing law. In a new Legal Statement, they offer some welcome clarity to these evolving technologies.’

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Technology Law Update, 19th November 2019

Source: www.technology-law-blog.co.uk

Cryptoassets and smart contracts valid in English law – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 18th, 2019 in computer programs, cryptocurrencies, documents, electronic filing, financial regulation, news by sally

‘Assets and contracts created with blockchain-type encryption technology have validity under existing English law, a high-powered group of legal experts chaired by a senior member of the judiciary reported today.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 18th Novembe 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Rise of the algorithms – UK Human Rights

Posted November 5th, 2019 in artificial intelligence, benefits, computer programs, facial mapping, immigration, judicial review, news by sally

‘The use of algorithms in public sector decision making has broken through as a hot topic in recent weeks. The Guardian recently ran the “Automating Poverty” series on the use of algorithms in the welfare state. And on 29 October 2019 it was reported that the first known legal challenge to the use of algorithms in the UK, this time by the Home Office, had been launched. It was timely, then, that the Public Law Project’s annual conference on judicial review trends and forecasts was themed “Public law and technology”.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 4th November 2019

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Chaotic court system threatens justice for vulnerable, say MPs – The Guardian

Posted November 1st, 2019 in budgets, computer programs, courts, electronic filing, equality, HM Courts Service, internet, news, reports, select committees by sally

‘The most vulnerable in society are at risk of being excluded from access to justice due to poor digital skills, lack of legal advice, court closures and “dilapidated” courthouses, MPs have warned in a damning critique of the government’s modernisation programmes.’

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The Guardian, 31st October 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com