Category: computer crime

Rise in child abuse online threatens to overwhelm UK police, officers warn – The Guardian

Posted February 9th, 2021 in child abuse, computer crime, encryption, indecent photographs of children, internet, news by tracey

‘The vast, and growing, volume of child abuse material being created and shared online is threatening to overwhelm police efforts to tackle it, senior officers have told the Guardian. And the situation is likely to worsen, National Crime Agency (NCA) child abuse lead Rob Jones warned, if social media sites such as Facebook press ahead with further encryption of messaging services.’

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The Guardian, 9th February 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Assange cannot be extradited, but free speech arguments dismissed — an extended look – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted January 22nd, 2021 in computer crime, disclosure, extradition, freedom of expression, human rights, media, mental health, news, suicide, whistleblowers by sally

‘In The Government of the United States v Julian Assange (2021), the District Judge sitting at Westminster Magistrates’ Court discharged the American extradition request against the founder of WikiLeaks because there is a substantial risk that he would commit suicide. Given Julian Assange’s political notoriety as an avowed whistle-blower, however, the judgment is significant for its dismissal of the defence’s free speech arguments. This article analyses why these human rights submissions were unsuccessful.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 21st January 2021

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Cryptoassets – Obtaining English Freezing and Proprietary Injunctions in Relation to Cyberfraud – Littleton Chambers

Posted November 10th, 2020 in computer crime, conflict of laws, fraud, freezing injunctions, injunctions, news, theft by sally

‘The theft and misappropriation of cryptoassets, typically Bitcoin, Ethereum and other virtual cryptocurrencies, by fraudsters is becoming increasingly common, and thus the subject-matter of civil fraud litigation. This article considers how parties can obtain the “nuclear weapon” of the worldwide proprietary or freezing order against cryptoassets.’

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Littleton Chambers, 13th October 2020

Source: littletonchambers.com

Voyeurist hacked into webcams and used hidden devices to watch families at Butlin’s – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 15th, 2020 in computer crime, news, sentencing, suspended sentences, video recordings, voyeurism by tracey

‘A voyeurist hacked into webcams to record people in their homes and used hidden devices to watch families at Butlin’s, a court heard.’

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Daily Telegraph, 14th October 2020

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Westergate primary school snooping-accused teacher cleared – BBC News

Posted September 30th, 2020 in computer crime, electronic mail, employment, holidays, news, privacy, teachers by sally

‘A teacher who spoke out about alleged “overgrading” of pupils’ work has been cleared of snooping on her colleagues’ emails.’

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BBC News, 29th September 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Deepfake’ warning over online courts – Legal Futures

Posted July 30th, 2020 in computer crime, computer programs, evidence, facial mapping, news, remote hearings, reports by sally

‘Video manipulation software, including ‘deepfake’ technology, poses problems for remote courts in verifying evidence and that litigants or witnesses are who they say they are, a report has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 29th July 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Financial Misconduct, the FCA and Coronavirus – Red Lion Chambers

Posted May 29th, 2020 in computer crime, coronavirus, financial regulation, fraud, news by sally

‘In view of the potential new financial risks posed by the Corona Virus pandemic, Cameron Brown QC and Sam Smart (Pupil Barrister) from Red Lion Chambers review the work of the FCA in tackling financial crime and the new challenges it may face.’

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Red Lion Chambers, 26th May 2020

Source: www.redlionchambers.co.uk

“The Devil Finds Work for Idle Hands” COVID-19’s Unwanted Cyber Side Effect – The 36 Group

Posted April 23rd, 2020 in chambers articles, computer crime, coronavirus, internet, news by sally

‘Cyber-crime is, at the best of times an evolving topic, in these exceptional times it is extremely fluid, as the ingenuity of the cybercriminal finds fertile ground upon which to prosper. We have in the recent past (literally) applauded the many positive actions that have emanated from this time extraordinary hardship and loss. Sadly, the recipe of “The devil finds work for idle hands” combined with the concept that the exceptional provides opportunity, cybercriminal ingenuity and a general state of latent fear, provides a meal of unrivalled opportunity for those with malevolent intent. The phrase “stay safe” is now of common occurrence. We need to be saying “stay safe” and “stay cyber safe” in these extraordinarily turbulent times.’

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The 36 Group, 22nd April 2020

Source: 36group.co.uk

Trading standards wins landmark prosecution of ticket touts – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 21st, 2020 in computer crime, consumer protection, fraud, news by sally

‘Yorkshire trading standards officers have helped to secure the first successful prosecution against a company fraudulently reselling event tickets on a large scale.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 20th February 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

BT account scammers jailed for £358k fraud – BBC News

Posted February 20th, 2020 in computer crime, conspiracy, electronic mail, fraud, news, sentencing by sally

‘Scammers who infiltrated BT customer accounts as part of a “sophisticated” £358,000 fraud have been jailed.’

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BBC News, 19th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Flight Risk: Cybersecurity in Aviation – The 36 Group

Posted February 4th, 2020 in airports, computer crime, data protection, encryption, news by sally

‘Cybersecurity is considered one of the top global risks to the world in the next decade. The problem is particularly acute for airports as they play an essential role in the economy and infrastructure of every country. Any incident involving airports would have widespread consequences to the industry, economy and society. The aviation industry finds itself at the heart of a number of regulations on data protection, network and information systems and security and safety.’

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The 36 Group, 3rd February 2020

Source: 36group.co.uk

UK court allows Saudi dissident to sue kingdom over alleged hacking – The Guardian

Posted January 24th, 2020 in compensation, computer crime, electronic mail, human rights, interception, news, privacy, Saudi Arabia, telecommunications by tracey

‘The high court has given a green light to a lawsuit against Saudi Arabia that has been brought by a prominent dissident living in London who has claimed he was the victim of a sophisticated hacking campaign by the kingdom.’

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The Guardian, 23rd January 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Cybercrime laws need urgent reform to protect UK, says report – The Guardian

Posted January 22nd, 2020 in computer crime, internet, news, public interest, statute law revision by sally

‘Britain’s cyber-defences are being endangered by the outdated Computer Misuse Act, which prevents investigators from dealing effectively with online threats while over-punishing immature defendants, according to a legal report.’

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The Guardian, 22nd January 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Community order for hacker who stole over 10,000 files from Royal Stoke Hospital – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted January 17th, 2020 in community service, computer crime, data protection, hospitals, news, sentencing by tracey

‘A former Royal Stoke Hospital employee, who used malicious software to crack the passwords of his co-workers and access over 10,000 confidential hospital files, has been given a 12-month community order.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 16th January 2020

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Law firms’ “shocking” vulnerability to cyber criminals – Legal Futures

Posted November 13th, 2019 in computer crime, internet, law firms, news, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

‘The vast majority of major law firms still have significant unaddressed cyber-risk, despite repeated urging by regulators, insurers and others to shore up their defences, according to new research.’

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Legal Futures, 12th November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Police officers illicitly access police computers including checks on a partner’s criminal record – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 8th, 2019 in computer crime, criminal records, data protection, freedom of information, news, police by tracey

‘Hundreds of police officers and staff have illicitly accessed police databases for their own ends including checking the criminal records of partners. Freedom of Information requests show 237 officers and staff have been disciplined for accessing the highly-sensitive police national computer or other IT systems in the past two years.’

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Daily Telegraph, 7th November 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Case Preview: WM Morrisons Supermarkets plc v Various Claimants – UKSC Blog

Posted November 6th, 2019 in computer crime, data protection, news, Supreme Court, vicarious liability by sally

‘On 6 and 7 November 2019, the Supreme Court will hear Morrison’s appeal from the ruling of the Court of Appeal, in a data breach claim brought by 5,500 employees. The claim raises important questions of employee liability for the actions of rogue employees. It is one of a series of large cases which are working their way through the Courts (including claims against Google and British Airways), which each illustrate the increasing risks businesses face from group claims/class actions, arising from data protection breaches.’

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UKSC Blog, 5th November 2019

Source: ukscblog.com

Commonwealth head warns of dangers of denying justice to all – The Guardian

Posted November 5th, 2019 in budgets, climate change, computer crime, corruption, international law, legal aid, legal representation, news, rule of law by sally

‘Denying access to justice risks creating fresh conflicts at a time when the international rule of law is under threat, the Commonwealth secretary general has warned ahead of a meeting of the organisation’s law enforcement officers.’

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The Guardian, 5th November 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Emiliano Sala: Two jailed for accessing CCTV footage of footballer’s post-mortem – The Independent

Posted September 24th, 2019 in closed circuit television, computer crime, guilty pleas, inquests, news, perverting the course of justice, sentencing by tracey

‘Two people who illegally accessed CCTV footage of Emiliano Sala’s post-mortem examination have been jailed.’

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The Independent, 23rd September 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Julian Assange to stay in prison over absconding fears – BBC News

Posted September 13th, 2019 in bail, computer crime, disclosure, extradition, internet, news, prisons, rape, sexual offences, whistleblowers by tracey

‘Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange is to remain in prison when his jail term ends because of his “history of absconding”, a judge has ruled’

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BBC News, 13th September 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk