Gambling Act review expected to spur reform – OUT-LAW.com

Posted December 21st, 2020 in consumer protection, gambling, internet, news, regulations by sally

‘The UK government must be careful not to drive British consumers to unregulated gambling markets by imposing overly strict constraints on regulated providers of online gambling services, experts in gambling licensing and regulation have said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 18th December 2020

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Online harms bill: firms may face multibillion-pound fines for illegal content – The Guardian

Posted December 15th, 2020 in bills, child abuse, consumer protection, fines, internet, news, suicide, terrorism by tracey

‘Social media companies will need to remove and limit the spread of harmful content or face fines of billions of pounds, the UK government has announced, as it finally reveals the details of its proposed internet regulation. The online harms bill, first proposed by Theresa May’s government in April 2019, sets out strict new guidelines governing removal of illegal content such as child sexual abuse, terrorist material and media that promotes suicide, which sites must obey or face being blocked in the UK.’

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The Guardian, 15th December 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Encrypted messaging putting children at risk of abuse, says watchdog – The Guardian

‘The children’s commissioner for England has warned that end-to-end encryption is putting children at risk of abuse, as a survey finds that most eight-year-olds are using messaging apps supposedly restricted to those aged 13 or older.’

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The Guardian, 8th December 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Keira Bell lawyer warns on internet coverage of transgender issues – The Guardian

Posted December 8th, 2020 in health, internet, news, transgender persons by sally

‘The promotion of transgender issues on social media should be subject to safeguarding measures, according to the lawyer for a woman who brought last week’s landmark case against England’s only NHS gender identity development service (GIDS).’

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The Guardian, 6th December 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Beyond regulation: controlling app-based private hire operators – 11 KBW

Posted December 7th, 2020 in chambers articles, internet, licensing, news, regulations, standards, taxis by sally

‘In former times, if you wanted to build a business empire, you needed bricks, mortar and time. It took twenty years for Marks and Spencer to move from their first covered market in Leeds to their first shop. No more. You can run the world’s largest holiday lettings company without owning a hotel, or the largest book retailer in the world without a bookshop, and you can revolutionise the global taxi industry without owning a car. And it all happens at a dizzying pace. The question arises whether these commercial leviathans can be regulated and if so how.’

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11 KBW, November 2020

Source: www.11kbw.com

New UK tech regulator to limit power of Google and Facebook – The Guardian

‘A new tech regulator will work to limit the power of Google, Facebook and other tech platforms, the government has announced, in an effort to ensure a level playing field for smaller competitors and a fair market for consumers.’

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The Guardian, 27th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Antiquated process’: data regulator on obtaining Cambridge Analytica warrant – The Guardian

Posted November 25th, 2020 in auditors, data protection, fines, internet, news, privacy, select committees, warrants by sally

‘The information commissioner has criticised the “antiquated process” that led to Facebook getting hold of Cambridge Analytica’s servers before the UK regulator itself, and renewed calls for an international approach to data privacy to tackle the emerging threat of data havens.’

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The Guardian, 24th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Rebekah Vardy wins in first stage of Coleen Rooney libel action – The Guardian

Posted November 23rd, 2020 in defamation, internet, news by sally

‘Coleen Rooney’s Instagram post about the suspected source of leaks of private information in the so-called “Wagatha Christie” row “clearly identified” Rebekah Vardy as having “secretly informed the Sun newspaper of Ms Rooney’s private posts and stories”, a judge ruled on Friday.’

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The Guardian, 20th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Facebook’s Instagram ‘failed self-harm responsibilities’ – BBC News

‘Children’s charity the NSPCC has said a drop in Facebook’s removal of harmful content was a “significant failure in corporate responsibility”.’

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BBC News, 19th November 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

How Your Boss Could Be Spying On You At Home – And What Your Rights Are – Each Other

‘There are reports of bosses in some parts of the world downloading programs which screenshot their staffs’ computers at regular intervals to monitor their productivity.’

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Each Other, 19th November 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

Rebekah Vardy and Coleen Rooney ‘Wagatha Christie’ libel case set for first High Court hearing – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 19th, 2020 in defamation, internet, media, news by sally

‘Rebekah Vardy has strongly denied Coleen Rooney’s accusations about leaks to a tabloid newspaper, and has sued for damages for libel.’

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Daily Telegraph, 19th November 2020

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Comparethemarket fined £17.9m by competition watchdog – The Guardian

Posted November 19th, 2020 in compensation, contracts, fines, insurance, internet, news by sally

‘The competition watchdog has imposed a £17.9m fine on price comparison site Comparethemarket.com after it found that clauses in its contracts with home insurers broke competition law.’

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The Guardian, 19th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Lord Chancellor rails against lawyers who “vaunt political views” online – Legal Futures

‘The Lord Chancellor yesterday told lawyers who “vaunt their political views” on social media to raise their profile and attract work that they are giving the profession a bad name.’

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Legal Futures, 19th November 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Vigilante justice: is evidence obtained by ‘paedophile hunter’ groups admissible in criminal proceedings? – 2 Hare Court

‘On 15 July 2020 the Supreme Court handed down its findings in Sutherland (Appellant) v Her Majesty’s Advocate (Respondent) (Scotland) [2020] UKSC 32.’

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2 Hare Court, 2nd November 2020

Source: www.2harecourt.com

UK to ban all online junk food advertising to tackle obesity – The Guardian

Posted November 11th, 2020 in advertising, children, consultations, food, government departments, health, internet, news by sally

‘Downing Street has unveiled plans to implement a total ban on online junk food advertising – the toughest digital marketing restrictions in the world – in an attempt to tackle the growing obesity crisis.’

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The Guardian, 10th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

TikTok star Emily Canham falls foul of UK ads watchdog – BBC News

Posted November 4th, 2020 in advertising, internet, news, ombudsmen by tracey

‘A social media influencer has become the first person to be reprimanded by the UK’s advertising watchdog over a TikTok post.’

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BBC News, 4th November 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Neo-Nazi teenager spared jail for encouraging terror attacks – The Independent

‘A neo-Nazi teenager who encouraged terror attacks and downloaded indecent images of young children has been spared jail.’

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The Independent, 2nd November 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Man who controlled ex-partner’s digital existence jailed – BBC News

‘A man who used his ex-partner’s social media accounts to send explicit clips of her to her boss and family has been jailed for three years and four months.’

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BBC News, 29th October 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The Perils of Zoom: the Court allows an appeal against a judge’s refusal to recuse herself after she was inadvertently overheard making negative comments about a party during a Zoom hearing – 1 GC: Family Law

Posted October 27th, 2020 in appeals, internet, judges, news, recusal, remote hearings by sally

‘The Court of Appeal allowed an appeal against a judge’s refusal to recuse herself after she was overheard making pejorative comments about a party during a break in a Zoom hearing, and brings the perils of a remote hearing into sharp focus. Tahmina Rahman, barrister at 1 GC Family Law, examines the issues.’

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1 GC: Family Law, 21st October 2020

Source: 1gc.com

Two found guilty of murdering Irish dancer with ‘devil’s breath’ drug – The Guardian

Posted October 26th, 2020 in internet, murder, news, poisoning, theft by sally

‘A man and a woman have been convicted of the first known murder in Britain using a poison known as “devil’s breath”.’

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The Guardian, 23rd October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com