It is illegal to screenshot and share Snapchat snaps without permission, Government minister says – The Independent

Posted March 29th, 2016 in consent, copyright, intellectual property, internet, news by sally

‘It is illegal to screenshot Snapchat picture messages and pass them to others on without consent, the Government’s culture minister has said.’

Full story

The Independent, 27th March 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Four paedophiles convicted after sting operations by vigilantes – The Guardian

Posted March 29th, 2016 in child abuse, internet, news, police, prosecutions, sexual grooming, sexual offences by sally

‘Four paedophiles have been convicted following sting operations by vigilantes who claim they trapped them on a Facebook page explicitly dedicated to young girls dating older men.’

Full story

The Guardian, 28th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe online fraud refund claim provokes anger – BBC News

Posted March 24th, 2016 in banking, consumer protection, fraud, internet, news, police, victims by tracey

‘A police chief’s suggestion that banks should consider no longer refunding some online fraud victims has been branded as “astonishingly misjudged” by a consumer group.’

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BBC News, 24th March 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Baroness Shields opens the 2016 International Crime and Policing Conference – Home Office

‘Minister for Internet Safety and Security, Baroness Joanna Shields, opened day 1 of the second International Crime and Policing Conference.’

Full press release

Home Office, 22nd March 2016

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

YouTube prankster Danh Van Le jailed for nine months for bomb hoax – The Independent

Posted March 22nd, 2016 in bomb hoaxing, internet, news, sentencing by sally

‘The co-founder of a YouTube “prankster” channel has been arrested for scaring the public with bomb hoaxes and staging mock burglaries.’

Full story

The Independent, 21st March 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Universities ‘should update sex crime guidelines’ – BBC News

Posted March 18th, 2016 in harassment, internet, news, sexual offences, universities by tracey

‘Universities should overhaul guidelines on dealing with allegations of sexual assaults and harassment, according to a taskforce set up by the government. Current guidelines were written in 1994 and should be updated to reflect legal changes and the effect of social media, the Universities UK taskforce said.’

Full story

BBC News, 18th March 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Investigatory Powers Bill: May defends surveillance powers – BBC News

‘Home Secretary Theresa May has defended controversial new surveillance powers as MPs debated them for the first time.’

Full story

BBC News, 15th March 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police powerless to use new grooming law, child safety experts warn – The Guardian

Posted March 15th, 2016 in child abuse, internet, news, police, sexual grooming by sally

‘Government blunders have left police powerless to use a new law to catch paedophiles, top child safety experts have warned.’

Full story

The Guardian, 15th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lawyers line up arguments against Online Court – Legal Futures

Posted March 15th, 2016 in barristers, courts, internet, Law Society, legal profession, news, reports, solicitors by sally

‘Responses to Lord Justice Briggs’ recommendation to create an Online Court (OC) have pitted sceptical solicitors and barristers against others who have given the scheme a more generous reception.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 15th March 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

We need to get this investigatory powers bill right – it’s not fit for purpose now – The Guardian

Posted March 15th, 2016 in bills, intelligence services, internet, investigatory powers, news, privacy by sally

‘The second reading of the bill today is an opportunity for Labour to challenge the government on substance and process – and fight for a law fit for the 21st century.’

Full story

The Guardian, 15th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Advertising Standards Authority moves to ban junk food adverts from online children’s programmes – The Independent

‘Advertisements for junk food on online children’s programmes are set to be banned under new guidelines, it has been reported.’

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The Independent, 13th March 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Parents of murdered schoolboy receive pay-out from blundering police force – Daily Telegraph

‘Surrey Police issue unreserved apology and pay substantial damages after admitting failings in the case of Breck Bednar, the 14-year-old schoolboy who was groomed online and then murdered by sadistic killer Lewis Daynes.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 13th March 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Recorded child sex abuse cases increase by more than 30% – The Guardian

Posted March 9th, 2016 in child abuse, internet, news, sexual offences, statistics by tracey

‘Cases of recorded child sexual abuse increased by more than 30% last year, figures suggest. Police chiefs fear the rise is being driven by predators searching online for victims.’

Full story

The Guardian, 9th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Supreme Court learns lessons of IT implementation as it heads towards going paperless – Litigation Futures

Posted March 8th, 2016 in courts, internet, judges, news, speeches, Supreme Court by sally

‘Lord Kerr, the Supreme Court justice, is leading an initiative to improve the use of technology at the court and cut down on paper, it has emerged.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 7th March 2016

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

The justice system of the future: online continuous hearings and a single point of entry – Legal Futures

Posted March 8th, 2016 in courts, internet, judges, news, speeches, tribunals by sally

‘The first trial of online dispute resolution (ODR) in the UK’s courts and tribunals will introduce a concept known as the “online continuous hearing”, it has emerged, with the Senior President of Tribunals urging a change in perception of litigation from an adversarial dispute to “a problem to be solved”.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 8th March 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Cases taking 19 months to get to appeal court owing to backlogs – The Guardian

Posted March 8th, 2016 in appeals, courts, delay, internet, judges, news, reports by sally

‘Cases are taking up to 19 months to reach trial in the court of appeal because of increasing courtroom backlogs, according to the judge in charge of introducing online justice.’

Full story

The Guardian, 7th March

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Online abuse: ‘existing laws too fragmented and don’t serve victims’ – The Guardian

‘The chief constable leading the fight against digital crime is calling for new legislation to tackle an “unimagined scale of online abuse” that he says is threatening to overwhelm the police service. Stephen Kavanagh, who heads Essex police, argues it is necessary to consolidate and simplify offences committed online to improve the chance of justice for tens of thousands of victims.’

Full story

The Guardian, 4th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Investigatory Powers Bill published – Home Office

‘The Government introduced the Investigatory Powers Bill to Parliament today (Tuesday 1 March). The Bill sets out the powers available to the police, security and intelligence services to gather and access communications and communications data in the digital age, subject to strict safeguards and world-leading oversight arrangements.’

Full press release

Home Office, 1st March 2016

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

New guidelines published on the prosecution of those who abuse victims online – Crown Prosecution Service

‘The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is updating its guidelines on social media to incorporate new and emerging crimes that are being committed online and to provide clear advice to help the prosecution of cyber-enabled crime.’

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 3rd March 2016

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Twitter to train prosecutors in fight against online abuse – The Guardian

‘Twitter is to train prosecutors in England and Wales to better fight online abuse, as the internet is increasingly used as a weapon by perpetrators of domestic abuse, rape and sexual violence against women.’

Full story

The Guardian, 3rd March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk