Tiktok falls under ban just as brands ramp up ad spend Tech Tiktok’s UK ad business has been growing 40 per cent year on year, with brands increasing spending ahead of what the firm expected to be its biggest trading period on record. But that momentum now faces a test after Keir Starmer confirmed plans to plan under-16s from accessing the platform. The social media giant, which [...]
VPN demand rockets as UK prepares for under-16 social media ban Tech Searches for VPNs jumped 165 per cent overnight after the government confirmed plans to ban under-16s from social media, fuelling demand for digital workarounds. The rush came within hours of Keir Starmer unveiling one of the world’s toughest online safety regimes, which will block social media platforms from offering services to under-16s and introduce wider [...]
Liz Kendall ramps up push to funnel pension cash into UK startups Tech The government is stepping up efforts to channel more institutional money into British tech firms as ministers look to stop promising startups heading overseas for funding. Tech secretary Liz Kendall announced that Labour would pursue reforms to unlock pension fund investment into UK growth firms, adding Britain needs to become an “indispensable partner” in the [...]
Starmer prepares child social media curbs as pressure mounts on addictive apps May 27, 2026 The government is preparing to tighten restrictions on children’s social media use after a consultation that drew more than 81,000 responses, with ministers expected to target the design of major platforms rather than impose a blanket ban for under-16s. New measures under consideration include restrictions on autoplay videos, infinite scrolling, push notifications, overnight access and [...]
Taxpayers on the hook over ‘dangerously outdated’ government IT systems May 20, 2026 One in four government computer systems are running on outdated technology, a new report has found, with taxpayers having to pay more for failures across Whitehall. The findings, published by Westminster think tank Re:State and supported by Ark Data Centres, reveal that nearly a quarter of the 319 central government systems assessed as of January [...]
Barclays names Fractile and Isomorphic Labs among UK’s top AI startups May 18, 2026 Barclays has named AI chip startup Fractile and Google DeepMind spinout Isomorphic Labs among Britain’s top AI companies as investors race to back the next generation of UK tech champions. The banking giant’s Eagle Labs division unveiled its new AI 100 ranking this week, spotlighting the country’s fastest-growing AI businesses amid a record year for [...]
Britain’s data centres are eating the grid – and we underestimated the damage May 14, 2026 UK data centre emissions forecasts have been revised upward 100-fold. London’s server farms already consume more power than all its households combined. So why did it take this long to do the maths? Data centres are consuming six per cent of all UK electricity, while government emissions forecasts have been revised upward by a factor [...]
Fractile lands $220m as ministers hail ‘vote of confidence’ in UK AI May 13, 2026 British AI chip startup Fractile has raised $220m (£165m) in fresh funding with the government pointing to the deal as evidence the UK can produce globally competitive AI infrastructure companies. The London-founded company, which is developing next-generation chips designed to speed up AI inference – the by which AI models generate responses – said the [...]
UK ministers tell UK businesses to ‘step up’ cyber defences May 12, 2026 Ministers have announced a new push to force firms to strengthen their cyber defences against AI-powered attacks, as Britain’s cyber industry has swelled to £14.7bn. According to new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) figures, Britain’s cyber sector saw a 11 per cent rise in the past twelve months, while the number of companies [...]
UK cannot ‘outsource AI future’, says Netcompany boss April 29, 2026 The boss of Danish tech firm Netcompany has warned that Europe must build its own AI platforms, or risk handing control of its data to the US or China. André Rogaczewski, chief executive of Netcompany, told City AM that AI sovereignty is now a strategic issue for businesses and governments. “Technology is a battlefield”, he [...]