New code of conduct on data protection for cloud service providers being scrutinised by EU privacy watchdogs – OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 1st, 2015 in data protection, EC law, internet, news, regulations by sally

‘EU privacy watchdogs are assessing a proposed new code of conduct on data protection for cloud service providers that the European Commission hopes will help to boost the uptake of cloud services by EU businesses.’
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OUT-LAW.com, 30th June 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

Judge’s Instagram ruling a ‘practical solution’ to problems of online anonymity, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

‘A judge’s decision to allow a man experiencing alleged harassment over the internet to serve legal claims to the person accused of the activity via Instagram “appears to be a practical solution” to the issue of online anonymity, an expert has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 26th June 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

Regulator opens investigations into transparency of paid online endorsements – OUT-LAW.com

‘The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating whether a number of businesses have broken consumer protection laws by failing to disclose that they have paid others to endorse their company online.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 19th June 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

Bar Council joins forces with northern barristers to launch “go-to website” for direct access – Legal Futures

‘The Bar Council has joined forces with the two Preston-based barristers behind the Direct Access Portal (DAP) to relaunch it as the “go-to website” for consumers looking for a barrister.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd June 2015

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Shoppers ‘duped’ by millions of fake online reviews – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 19th, 2015 in advertising, consumer protection, inquiries, internet, news by sally

‘Shoppers who use the internet to research hotels, books, electronics and other purchases are being misled by millions of “fake” reviews orchestrated by companies to trick potential customers, the consumer watchdog warns today as it begins an inquiry.’

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Daily Telegraph, 19th June 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Online platforms face growing risk of defamation claims, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 17th, 2015 in defamation, internet, media, news by sally

‘The rise in the number of defamation claims before the High Court and Court of Appeal in London last year could reflect the growing risk online platforms face from such claims, an expert has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 16th June 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

Independent reviewer recommends redraft of UK surveillance laws – OUT-LAW.com

‘Existing UK surveillance laws should be scrapped and replaced by a “comprehensive and comprehensible new law…drafted from scratch”, the barrister appointed to review UK terrorism legislation has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 16th June 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

Britain Can Lead the World In Online Privacy – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted June 16th, 2015 in data protection, internet, investigatory powers, news, privacy, reports, terrorism by sally

‘British legal history has long inspired the common law world. The Magna Carta, an 800-year-old agreement between a King and his barons, remains an icon of liberty, seen around the world as the foundation stone of the rule of law. In contrast, British law on online surveillance and privacy has been arcane and obscure – a field that is for reluctant experts if it is for anyone at all.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 13th June 2015

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Why one failed asylum seeker trended – while many others do not – BBC News

Posted June 15th, 2015 in asylum, deportation, detention, immigration, internet, news by sally

‘The term “failed asylum seeker” doesn’t usually elicit huge sympathy in the UK – so why did thousands rally behind one man deported this week?’

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BBC News, 13th June 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Woman jailed for ‘Twitter terrorism’ – The Guardian

Posted June 12th, 2015 in guilty pleas, internet, news, sentencing, terrorism by sally

‘A young woman who admitted being a “Twitter terrorist” on a massive scale has been jailed for three and a half years.’

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The Guardian, 11th June 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

What to look out for in Britain’s new surveillance bill – The Guardian

‘The government intends wholesale reform, but will it perpetuate a dark history of invasion of privacy or follow the US example, and end invasive surveillance?’

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The Guardian, 5th June 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Are ‘paedophile hunters’ hindering police? – BBC News

‘Groups posing as under-age girls online to expose suspected paedophiles – commonly referred to as ‘paedophile hunters’ – say they gain quicker results than police. But is their work undermining official investigations?’

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BBC News, 4th June 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The government’s data law – an attack on encryption? – BBC News

‘Overdue modernisation of the way the authorities monitor criminals and terrorists – or a Snooper’s Charter eroding our basic liberties? The proposal outlined in the Queen’s Speech to “modernise the law on communications data” will divide opinion. But prepare for another long battle over the way that law is framed and the balance it strikes between privacy and public safety.’

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BBC News, 27th May 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Child sex abuse live streams loophole to be closed – BBC News

‘The UK’s government aims to tackle the spread of child sexual abuse imagery online by closing a legal loophole.’

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BBC News, 27th May 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Queen’s Speech: New online data terror powers proposed – BBC News

‘Planned new laws to give police and spies stronger powers to “target the online communications” of terrorist suspects are in the Queen’s Speech.’

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BBC News, 27th May 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Is crowdfunded litigation the future of justice? – The Guardian

Posted May 26th, 2015 in costs, dispute resolution, internet, news, public interest, third parties by sally

‘With legal aid in crisis, CrowdJustice selects public interest cases and invites the public to fund them. But it faces many obstacles to enacting real change.’

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The Guardian, 25th May 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Internet troll conviction rates soar in a decade, figures reveal – The Independent

Posted May 26th, 2015 in crime, electronic mail, internet, malicious communications, news, statistics by sally

‘Convictions for crimes under a law used to prosecute internet trolls have increased nearly eight-fold in a decade, official figures reveal. Last year, 1,209 people were found guilty of offences under Section 127 of the Communications Act 2003 compared with 143 in 2004.’

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The Independent, 24th May 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Mosley v Google: RIP – Panopticon

Posted May 19th, 2015 in data protection, EC law, human rights, internet, news, privacy by sally

‘So Max Mosley has done a deal with Google in respect of his claim that Google had breached his rights under the DPA 1998 by refusing to block certain images and videos accessible via the Google search engine (see this FT article which suggests that the settlement also applies to claims brought by Mr Mosley in Germany and France). The settlement of the claim, which follows on from Google’s failed strike out application (discussed further below), leaves unanswered a number of really important questions concerning the application of data protection rights in the online world. Not least, the settlement leaves open the question of the extent to which the so-called ‘right to be forgotten’ can operate so as to force internet search engines, not only to de-index individual URLs on request, but also to block access to the offending data globally (i.e. as ISEs already do, for example, where images of child pornography are identified).’

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Panopticon, 18th May 2015

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

Codes of practice for the acquisition, disclosure and retention of communications data – Home Office

‘Guidance on the procedures that should be followed when the communications data is accessed or disclosed under RIPA, or retained under DRIPA or the ATCSA.’

Full press release

Home Office, 15th May 2015

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Using photographs from social media—rights of privacy – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted May 13th, 2015 in complaints, consent, internet, media, news, photography, privacy by sally

‘The Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) recently upheld a complaint against a newspaper after it published an image taken from social media without consent.’

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 13th May 2015

Source: wwww.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk