Liberty launches legal challenge to ‘state spying’ in snooper’s charter – The Guardian

Posted January 10th, 2017 in interception, internet, investigatory powers, news, privacy, telecommunications by sally

‘Human rights campaign group Liberty has launched a crowdfunded legal challenge to the “sweeping state spying powers” in the newly enacted Investigatory Powers Act, which has been dubbed the snooper’s charter.’

Full story

The Guardian, 10th January 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

A technology top ten for 2017 – Technology Law Update

‘What should we expect in the technology space in 2017?

We take a look at current trends and focus on some of the legal opportunities and pitfalls that they present.’

Full story

Technology Law Update, 6th January 2017

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

A ‘Poke’ in the Eye for Claims against Facebook – Panopticon

‘The “internet has not alone changed our lives but it has also changed our vocabulary. A tablet is no longer made of stone, a bit does not help guide a horse and a cookie is more likely to affect your privacy than alleviate the pangs of hunger between meals!” A lengthy Christmas cracker joke? No, the observations – in excellent ‘Dad-joke’ style – of the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal in CG v Facebook Ireland Ltd & McCloskey (MOR10142) (Morgan LCJ, Gillen & Weatherup LJJ) at [54].’

Full story

Panopticon, 6th January 2017

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

Man who admitted downloading baby rape video is spared jail – The Independent

‘Judge says public will be safer if Daniel Taylor attends treatment programme.’

Full story

The Independent, 5th January 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ticket resale websites run risk of fines after CMA launches inquiry – The Guardian

Posted December 20th, 2016 in competition, consumer protection, inquiries, internet, news by sally

‘Ticket resale websites and the touts who use them could be fined after the competition watchdog launched an investigation into how the best seats are harvested and then sold on at huge mark-ups before fans can buy them at face value.’

Full story

The Guardian, 19th December 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Blocking detainees’ access to legal advice websites probably breaches Article 10 ECHR – Free Movement

Posted December 14th, 2016 in detention, human rights, immigration, internet, news by sally

‘Free Movement has reported twice on immigration removal centres (IRCs) blocking access to websites informing detainees of their legal rights. HM Chief Inspector of Prisons criticised Haslar IRC two years ago for having the websites of Bail for Immigration Detainees and Amnesty International blocked.’

Full story

Free Movement, 13th December 2016

Source: www.freemovement.org.uk

Teenager who hacked TalkTalk website given rehabilitation order – The Guardian

Posted December 14th, 2016 in computer crime, confiscation, internet, news, rehabilitation, young offenders by sally

‘A 17-year-old who admitted hacking offences linked to the TalkTalk data breach has been given a 12-month youth rehabilitation order and had his smartphone and computer hard drive confiscated.’

Full story

The Guardian, 13th December 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Hackathon app “will help LGBT people report persecution safely” – Legal Futures

Posted December 13th, 2016 in computer programs, harassment, hate crime, homosexuality, internet, law firms, news, victims by sally

Lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) people around the world will be able to report incidents of persecution to international lawyers stealthily through everyday social media, after a hackathon backed by some of the largest UK law firms devised an app.

Full story

Legal Futures, 13th December 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

CJC group urges government to consider online system for PI small claims – Legal Futures

Posted December 12th, 2016 in Civil Justice Council, courts, internet, news, personal injuries, small claims by sally

‘Personal injury (PI) claims that fall into an enlarged small claims track under government reforms should be dealt with online rather than in court, an expert Civil Justice Council (CJC) group has suggested to the Ministry of Justice.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 9th December 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘Pathetic and puerile’ racist convicted of harassing MP Luciana Berger – The Independent

Posted December 8th, 2016 in freedom of expression, harassment, internet, news, parliament, racism by tracey

‘A racist serial internet troll has been found guilty of harassing MP Luciana Berger in a string of anti-Jewish rants sent after the jailing of a fellow far-right extremist.’

Full story

The Independent, 7th December 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The ‘snooper’s charter’ is a threat to academic freedom – The Guardian

Posted December 2nd, 2016 in intelligence services, internet, investigatory powers, news, universities by sally

‘Increasing online surveillance has serious implications for researchers and study participants. Academics need to be more careful than ever.’

Full story

The Guardian, 1st December 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

UK surveillance laws reformed in new Investigatory Powers Act – OUT-LAW.com

‘UK surveillance laws have been updated with the enactment of the new Investigatory Powers Act.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 30th November 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

Investigatory Powers Bill receives Royal Assent – Home Office

Posted November 30th, 2016 in bills, intelligence services, internet, investigatory powers, press releases, privacy by tracey

‘A landmark bill which sets out and governs the powers available to the police, security and intelligence agencies to gather and access electronic communications has received Royal Assent.’

Full press release

Home Office, 29th November 2016

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Investigatory Powers Bill officially passes into law, giving Britain the ‘most extreme spying powers ever se en’ – The Independent

Posted November 30th, 2016 in bills, intelligence services, internet, investigatory powers, news, privacy by tracey

‘Britain’s intelligence services have officially been given the “most extreme spying powers ever seen”. The Investigatory Powers Act has now been given royal assent, meaning that those surveillance rules will pass into law. The bill was officially unveiled a year ago and passed through the House of Lords earlier this month, but the act of being signed off means that those powers now go into effect.’

Full story

The Independent, 29th November 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Sextortion: Rise in blackmail-related suicides over sexual images shared online – The Independent

Posted November 30th, 2016 in blackmail, internet, news, suicide by tracey

‘Four men killed themselves in the last year after being blackmailed as part of an increasing cyber “sextortion” racket.
International gangs of organised criminals are targeting more and more young men by luring them into potentially compromising positions, the National Crime Agency said.’

Full story

The Independent, 30th November 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Digital Economy Bill passed by MPs, forcing people to ask if they want to watch porn – The Independent

Posted November 29th, 2016 in bills, freedom of expression, internet, news, pornography by sally

‘The law has been criticised both by free speech advocates as well as those who want it to cover more websites.’

Full story

The Independent, 29th November 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ofcom pushes ahead with legal separation of BT from Openreach – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 29th, 2016 in competition, EC law, internet, news, telecommunications by sally

‘Ofcom will order BT to legally separate from its Openreach network after the company failed to address “competition concerns” voluntarily.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 29th November 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Rivals’ keyword marketing activity censured by High Court – OUT-LAW.com

Posted November 25th, 2016 in advertising, internet, news, trade marks by tracey

‘Online marketing activity carried out separately by two rival bathroom retailers respectively infringed trade mark and passing off rights, the High Court in London has ruled.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 24th November 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

Porn sites that refuse to check ages will be forcibly blocked by regulator – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 21st, 2016 in children, internet, news, pornography by sally

‘Pornography websites that refuse to check ages before allowing people to watch explicit videos will be forcibly blocked, it has been announced.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 19th November 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

EU ruling should help clarify legitimacy of online platform bans, says UK competition regulator – OUT-LAW.com

Posted November 18th, 2016 in competition, EC law, electronic commerce, internet, news by sally

‘A case before the EU’s highest court should help clarify whether online platform bans should automatically be considered as breaching competition laws, a UK competition regulator has said.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 17th November 2016

Source: www.out-law.com