Facebook and Instagram could be hit by new laws if they do not do enough to stamp out anti-vaccine messages – Daily Telegraph

‘Social media firms could be hit with new laws to stop them allowing the spread of anti-vaxxers’ myths online, the Health Secretary has said.’

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Daily Telegraph, 26th March 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Pre-ticked ‘cookie’ consent boxes prohibited – OUT-LAW.com

Posted March 26th, 2019 in consent, EC law, internet, news by sally

‘Online service providers cannot rely on pre-ticked agreements to place ‘cookies’ on the devices of internet users, a legal adviser to the EU’s highest court has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 25th March 2019

Source: www.out-law.com

Adtech, ePrivacy and the GDPR – Panopticon

Posted March 25th, 2019 in advertising, data protection, internet, news, privacy by sally

‘Scarcely a week goes by without my saying to someone or other (clients, colleagues, my children round the dinner table): the GDPR is not an exhaustive regime – where applicable, you need to ensure compliance with ePrivacy laws as well. Especially when it comes to electronic marketing communications, cookies and related ad tech. This inevitably prompts the question: aren’t we supposed to be getting a new ePrivacy law? What’s the delay?’

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Panopticon, 22nd March 2019

Source: panopticonblog.com

Paedophiles caught by vigilantes face tougher charges – Daily Telegraph

‘Paedophiles caught in undercover stings by vigilantes are to face tougher charges under new rules being introduced by prosecutors.’

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Daily Telegraph, 18th March 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Regulate social media to protect children from ‘online wild west’, say MPs – The Independent

Posted March 18th, 2019 in children, codes of practice, internet, mental health, news by tracey

‘In a new report looking at the impact of social media on mental health, MPs said platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram should be regulated by Ofcom and forced to adhere to a statutory code of conduct.’

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The Independent, 18th March 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Digital Freedom: Are Your Rights At Risk? – Rights Info

Posted March 15th, 2019 in bills, copyright, data protection, EC law, human rights, internet, news, privacy by sally

‘As propaganda, ‘fake news’ and other forms of disinformation become increasingly common from governments, individuals and powerful organisations across the world, it’s become harder than ever for the average person to discern facts from fiction.’

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Rights Info, 14th March 2019

Source: rightsinfo.org

R (X) v General Medical Council General Medical Council v X – Blackstone Chambers

‘The Administrative Court has handed down judgment in the case of Dr X which raises important issues about the extent to which a regulator may have to modify its usual publication procedures for reporting disciplinary outcomes where the practitioner claims that publication would expose him or her to a real and immediate risk of death.’

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Blackstone Chambers, 11th March 2019

Source: www.blackstonechambers.com

Tina Malone: Shameless star avoids jail after revealing James Bulger killer Jon Venables’ new identity – The Independent

‘Shameless star Tina Malone has avoided going to jail after she admitted to breaching an injunction that protected the identity of James Bulger killer Jon Venables by sharing a post on social media.’

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The Independent, 13th March 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Lords urge tougher rules for tech firms – BBC News

Posted March 11th, 2019 in data protection, internet, news, ombudsmen, parliament, privacy, regulations, standards by sally

‘Tech firms, such as Google and Facebook, must improve their “inadequate” responses to privacy and data breaches and anti-social content, a House of Lords report says.’

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BBC News, 9th March 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Capacity to use the internet – Transparency Project

‘Two recent judgments in the Court of Protection sparked the usual inaccurate headlines suggesting that the court had ridden roughshod over the rights of adults with learning difficulties to access the internet, and more specifically social media. In particular this one from The Times stood out: Social workers can stop vulnerable people using social media.’

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Transparency Project, 9th March 2019

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

House of Lords report calls for digital super-regulator – The Guardian

Posted March 11th, 2019 in children, duty of care, internet, news, ombudsmen, parliament, regulations, standards by sally

‘The House of Lords has called for the creation of a digital super-regulator to oversee the different bodies charged with safeguarding the internet and replace the “clearly failing” system of self-regulation by big technology companies.’

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The Guardian, 9th March 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Hallett tells senior lawyers to step up on discrimination – Legal Futures

‘Top women judges have called on senior lawyers to take responsibility for ensuring there is no discrimination in their organisations rather than leaving it to diversity specialists.’

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Legal Futures, 11th March 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Tommy Robinson to face fresh contempt of court proceedings – The Guardian

‘The former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson is facing a fresh hearing over allegations that he committed contempt of court by allegedly filming people involved in a criminal trial and broadcasting footage on social media.’

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The Guardian, 7th March 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Cost Of Sickness: Mental Health Conditions Cost People Over £1000 A Year – Rights Info

Posted March 6th, 2019 in energy, internet, mental health, news, utilities by sally

‘A person suffering from mental health issues could be paying as much as £1,100 to £1,550 a year more than someone without a condition on necessities such as phone, internet and electricity bills, according to new research by Citizens Advice.’

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Rights Info, 4th March 2019

Source: rightsinfo.org

Is social media harming our criminal justice system? – Attorney General’s Office

‘Publication of the government’s response to its Call for Evidence on the impact of social media on the administration of justice.’

Full press release

Attorney General’s Office, 5th March 2019

Source: www.gov.uk/ago

Tommy Robinson supporter and convicted rapist jailed for threatening Sajid Javid on Facebook – The Independent

‘A Tommy Robinson supporter and convicted rapist has been jailed for 28 days for posting threatening and abusive comments about home secretary Sajid Javid.’

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The Independent, 5th March 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ofcom stiffens rules for broadband providers – OUT-LAW.com

Posted March 4th, 2019 in codes of practice, consumer protection, internet, news by sally

‘Broadband providers in the UK must promise customers a minimum guaranteed speed for their service at the point of sale under a new code of practice developed by telecoms regulator Ofcom that takes effect today.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 1st March 2019

Source: www.out-law.com

Mental capacity for handling the internet: Court of Protection – UK Human Rights Blog

‘A (Capacity: Social Media and Internet Use: Best Interests) [2019] EWCOP 2. In this case Cobb J was asked to make declarations under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 regarding a learning disabled man’s capacity to use the internet and social media.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 27th February 2019

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

BT advert banned for unsubstantiated broadband speed claims – The Independent

Posted February 27th, 2019 in advertising, internet, news, telecommunications by tracey

‘BT has been ordered not to run an ad which claimed that its broadband package featured the “UK’s most powerful WiFi”.’

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The Independent, 27th February 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

James Bulger: Father of murdered toddler in legal bid to reveal more details about killer’s new life – The Independent

‘The father and uncle of murdered toddler James Bulger have begun a legal battle for information about one of the killers, Jon Venables, to be made public.’

Full Story

The Independent, 26th February 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk