Motorway middle lane ‘hoggers’ and careless drivers to face on-the-spot £100 police fines – The Independent

“Drivers who hog the middle lane of the motorway or tailgate other drivers could face on-the-spot fines of £100 and three points on their licences under new measures announced by the government.”

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The Independent, 5th June 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Surveillance: RIPA and the Communications Data Bill – Panopticon

“The Communications Data Bill, shelved amid political heavy weather, is back on the agenda in the wake of last week’s Woolwich murder. Today for example, Conservative MP and former policing minister Nick Herbert wrote an article in The Times in support of the Bill and responding to those who have called it a ‘snooper’s charter’.”

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Panopticon, 29th May 2013

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

Theresa May lines up new measures to combat terrorism – The Guardian

“Theresa May, the home secretary, has proposed a raft of measures to combat the radicalisation of Muslims, including new controls on the internet and the banning of groups preaching hate.”

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The Guardian, 26th May 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Charity unable to claim rates relief – Wi-Fi transmitters were “minimal” use, says High Court – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 16th, 2013 in charities, news, rates, telecommunications by sally

“A registered charity that provides free Wi-Fi services and broadcasts public safety messages using transmitters installed in otherwise empty commercial properties cannot claim business rates relief, the High Court has said.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 15th May 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Consent should be needed for anonymised data sharing to be lawful, say campaigners – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 15th, 2013 in consent, data protection, EC law, internet, news, privacy, telecommunications by sally

“Businesses should have to ask for individuals’ consent before sharing anonymised personal data with third parties, digital rights campaigners have said.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 15th May 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Fines for motorists caught texting to double – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 9th, 2013 in dangerous driving, fines, news, telecommunications by tracey

“Fines for motorists caught texting behind the wheel are to double after the
Government announced a crackdown on dangerous driving.”

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Daily Telegraph, 9th May 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Home Office faces legal action unless it reveals details of ‘Snooper’s charter’ – Daily Telegraph

“The Home Office is facing legal action unless it reveals key details of its so-called Snooper’s Charter.”

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Daily Telegraph, 20th April 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Phone hacking: NoW publisher pays damages to Neil Hamilton – The Guardian

Posted April 19th, 2013 in damages, interception, media, news, telecommunications by tracey

“Reality TV star Jady Goody’s estate, former Conservative MP Neil Hamilton and his wife Christine and a former aide to Tony Blair are among eight of the latest claimants to settle their cases against News of the World for phone hacking.”

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The Guardian, 19th April 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ofcom takes action on ‘notoriously murky’ charges for calling 0800 numbers – The Independent

Posted April 16th, 2013 in costs, news, telecommunications by sally

“Mobile phone users will no longer be charged to dial supposedly freephone 0800 numbers under plans published today by the telecoms regulator.”

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The Independent, 15th April 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Smartphone games with costly in-app add-ons prompt OFT scrutiny – The Guardian

Posted April 12th, 2013 in children, consumer protection, internet, news, telecommunications by sally

“Free iPad and smartphone games which can result in children running up hefty bills for their parents through expensive in-game features are to come under scrutiny from the Office of Fair Trading.”

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The Guardian, 12th April 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Cold-call company ordered to pay £1,000 to man called 90 times in two months – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 11th, 2013 in claims management, compensation, insurance, news, telecommunications by sally

“A cold-call company has been ordered to pay a father £1,000 after it rang him more than 90 times in just two months asking if he wanted to reclaim mis-sold payment protection insurance (PPI).”

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Daily Telegraph, 10th April 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Met Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe calls for tougher action on drivers who use their mobile phone at the wheel – The Independent

“Britain’s most senior police officer has backed higher penalties for drivers who use their mobile phone at the wheel.”

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The Independent, 29th March 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Cold-calling prosecutions planned – Law Society’s Gazette

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is ready to prosecute up to a dozen more companies who carry out cold-calling and send spam text messages.

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Law Society’s Gazette, 22nd March 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Cold-calling firm fined £90,000 in first penalty of its kind – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 20th, 2013 in fines, harassment, news, telecommunications by tracey

“A marketing firm has become the first to be fined £90,000 after plaguing members
of the public with thousands of unwanted calls.”

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Daily Telegraph, 20th March 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Labour MP given ‘substantial damages’ after Sun accessed text messages – The Guardian

Posted March 18th, 2013 in damages, inquiries, interception, media, news, privacy, telecommunications, victims by sally

“The Labour MP Siobhain McDonagh has accepted ‘very substantial damages’ from News International, with the Sun admitting that it accessed text messages from her mobile phone after it was stolen, the high court has heard.”

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The Guardian, 18th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

MPs seek ‘fundamental review’ of RIPA after raising concerns with oversight of undercover police work – OUT-LAW.com

“The Government should commit to a ‘fundamental review’ of UK legislation that governs surveillance practices and the interception of communications, a Parliamentary committee has said.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 5th March 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Telcos to get early interim access to land but Law Commission plans slightly favour landowners, experts say – OUT-LAW.com

“Telecoms operators will be able to access land for equipment installation even
when full agreement with landlords has not been reached under Law Commission
proposals published today to revise the laws governing the installation and
maintenance of telecoms equipment.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 28th February 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Cracking the Electronic Communications Code – Law Commission

Posted February 28th, 2013 in electronic mail, internet, Law Commission, news, reports, telecommunications by sally

“In a report published today the Law Commission is recommending reforms that will bring the Electronic Communications Code up to date with modern technology while continuing to balance the rights of landowners and the public demand for modern communications services.”

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Law Commission, 28th February 2013

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk

After Leveson: the 66-year press regulation journey that ends as it began – The Guardian

Posted February 22nd, 2013 in freedom of expression, inquiries, interception, media, news, privacy, telecommunications by sally

“In this extract from After Leveson, a book edited by John Mair, John Jewell, of the Cardiff school of journalism, takes us on the long journey that led publishers, editors, journalists and phone hacking victims to the royal courts of justice for the Leveson inquiry. His story begins 66 years ago…”

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The Guardian, 21st February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Hacking: No charges for ex-NoW deputy editor – BBC News

Posted February 22nd, 2013 in evidence, inquiries, interception, media, news, prosecutions, telecommunications by sally

“The former deputy editor at the now-defunct News of the World newspaper will not face any charges regarding phone hacking, the CPS has announced.”

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BBC News, 22nd February 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk