The labyrinth of the Online Safety Bill could fall over on complexity before its begun January 26, 2022 The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee came out this week to criticise the government’s Draft Online Safety Bill, stating it is “neither clear nor robust enough to tackle certain types of illegal and harmful content”. Chair Julian Knight MP even labelled it a “missed opportunity”. As it currently stands, the bill’s duty [...]
Former Channel 5 chief Dawn Airey named Channel 4’s interim Chair as privatisation battle looms January 25, 2022 Ofcom has today announced the appointment of Dawn Airey as Channel 4’s interim Chair, replacing current Chair, Charles Gurassa, who departs on 27 January 2022.
MPs: Online harm bill a “missed opportunity” to rein in tech giants January 24, 2022 Martyn Landi / Press Association The Government’s draft Online Safety Bill would fail to prevent the sharing of the most “insidious” images of child abuse and violence against women and girls, a new report from MPs has warned. The House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Committee said the draft legislation is currently [...]
Flight or fight: 5G confusion rocks both sides of the Atlantic January 21, 2022 The frenzy around 5G seems to have eased in the last day, as many US carriers – including American Airlines – said they registered a “minor operational impact”.
New laws proposed to strengthen UK’s fight against cyber crime January 19, 2022 New laws are needed to drive up security standards in outsourced IT services used by almost all UK businesses, the government has said this afternoon.
Nadine Dorries plays hard ball tactics with the big freeze of the BBC licence January 18, 2022 When Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries tweeted over the weekend that the next announcement about the BBC licence fee would be the last, social media erupted and a ticking time bomb was set off.
CMA boss Coscelli to step down from watchdog this year January 6, 2022 The boss of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is set to step down from the helm of the watchdog in July. Andrea Coscelli, who has held the position for some six years, confirmed today that he would be stepping away from the role. The departing chief executive has been with the watchdog since its [...]
Baroness Lane Fox on digitalisation, accessibility and equality January 6, 2022 This article first appeared in ICAS’ CA magazine. Digitalisation is supercharging business practice, but it must not happen at the expense of accessibility and equality, Baroness Lane Fox tells Laurence Eastham Baroness Martha Lane Fox is one of the UK’s leading voices in technology and digital transformation. It’s a reputation that has been well earned, not [...]
Absolute Radio and Jazz FM broadcasters secured for another decade as government renews licences January 5, 2022 Radio lovers will be able to enjoy the best of the UK’s national commercial broadcasters’ content through free-to-air digital radio for the next decade as the government gives Ofcom the power to renew two national commercial radio multiplex licences - Digital One and Sound Digital.
As Meta appeals the CMA’s slap down over the Giphy acquisition, we must steer clear of watchdog intervention December 26, 2021 It seems to have become accepted wisdom that big tech firms are too dominant and need to be broken up and regulated. This a narrative spun by a belief that bias from Silicon Valley creates unbalanced debate; it is also, generally speaking, the view of the elite – amongst many academics and the leadership of [...]