Privacy Campaigners Challenge Government Over Test and Trace
Privacy campaign groups Big Brother Watch and The Open Rights Group have voiced their concerns that there is a lack of clarity from the government about how the data of users of the new NHS contact tracing app will be protected. Concerns The privacy campaign groups are concerned that both the Track and Trace system […]
Uber Reclaims London Licence
A year after Transport for London (TfL) stopped ride-hailing service Uber’s London operating licence over safety concerns, an appeal has led to the company being granted a further 18-month licence. What Happened? Back in November 2019, TfL said that it had identified a pattern of failures by Uber, including breaches that had risked the safety […]
Whole Village’s Broadband Stopped By an Old TV
An anonymous person living in the village of Aberhosan, Powys, was found to have caused broadband outages for the whole village for the last 18 months every time they switched on their old television. Investigation An exhaustive investigation by frustrated Openreach engineers found that the disruption to broadband for the whole village, which mysteriously began […]
Tech Giants Requested To Cease Kids Ads
In an open letter to Google, Facebook, Apple, Amazon and Microsoft, MPs, academics, and campaigners have asked the big tech companies to stop targeting children with personalised advertising. Global Action Plan The letter has been published online by Global Action Plan (GAP) which is a charity that campaigns on primarily environmental issues but also believes […]
Tips & Tools To Keep Kids Safe Online
The online environment can be a dangerous as well as a fun place for young people so here are some tips and tools to help keep kids safe online. The Risks Children face many risks online including seeing/watching things they shouldn’t, arriving on websites that contain content not suitable for them, making contact with/being contacted […]
Zero-Emission, Hydrogen-Powered Commercial Aircraft by 2035 Says Airbus
Airbus has announced that a zero-emission, hydrogen-fuelled commercial aircraft could be a reality by 2035. Targets The dramatic drop in air pollution levels during the global pandemic lockdown reminded many people of the pressing need to meet global greenhouse gas reduction targets and how commercial aircraft have been significant contributors to pollution worldwide. It is […]
Just What Is The IoT?
With a vast and growing number of business, industry, consumer and civic IoT devices and systems now being used, we look at their advantages, the threats to the IoT and how we move forward in a way that maximises the benefits and security. The Internet of Things (IoT) IoT devices are those devices that are […]
Influencers Paid To Promote NHS Test and Trace
In a bid to raise awareness of responsible behaviour concerning COVID-19 among the younger age groups, the UK government is reported to be paying freelance social media influencers and reality TV stars to promote test and trace. Test and Trace Test and trace in the UK is branded as NHS but is actually outsourced to […]
Amazon Review Fraud
An FT investigation appears to have uncovered an estimated 20,000 Amazon reviews where the reviewers were suspected of being paid to give a five-star rating. Reviews The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the UK estimates that £23 billion a year of UK consumer spending is potentially influenced by online reviews. This makes them especially […]
Voice-Control Your Printer
Amazon has announced its new ‘Printing With Alexa’ service that allows owners of Echo devices to operate their printer using voice commands. Print What? Printing With Alexa allows the simple “Alexa, print….” followed by what the user requires to produce a printed document. Amazon says that the kinds of things that can be printed this […]