Political technology news, features and analysis

12 Nov

Labour cyberattack: Was a nation state behind the incident?

Who is behind the Labour cyberattack that saw the UK’s second biggest party hit by a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack that briefly slowed down campaigning efforts?

12 Nov

Labour DDoS attack “should be a significant concern to all voters”

The news that the UK Labour Party has been hit by a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack, described as a “sophisticated and large-scale cyberattack” by the political party, has been hailed as a concern for the entire country.

11 Nov

Free internet essential to maintaining human rights, research finds

The internet should be made free to access for all as it now plays a vital role in upholding other human rights, according to research published today.

8 Nov

Facebook political advertising is “not democracy”: Margrethe Vestager

Margrethe Vestager, the European Commissioner for Competition, has slammed Facebook political advertising, arguing that the micro-targeted approach lacks oversight and is “not democracy”.

8 Nov

Trump tech chief lays freedom on the line in calls to block Chinese technology

Michael Kratsios, chief technology officer of the US and a key advisor to President Donald Trump, has doubled down on calls for Western governments to block Chinese technology in a vitriol-laden speech in Lisbon, Portugal.

7 Nov

Tony Blair: Technology is vital to defeating populism

Technology is key to combatting the surge in populism in the West that has led to both the election of US President Donald Trump and Brexit, according to former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.

1 Nov

ICO: “Slow down” police deployment of facial recognition

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has warned that police forces need to “slow down” on the deployment of facial recognition technology due to its potential for “widespread invasiveness”.

1 Nov

How the threat of hacking looms over the 2020 election

With the UK bracing for a general election and campaigning ahead of the US 2020 presidential election now in full swing, the threat of election hacking is once more a key topic of conversation.

30 Oct

NSO Group lawsuit exposes uncomfortable truth of 21st-century espionage

WhatsApp has filed a lawsuit against Israeli surveillance firm NSO Group, raising questions around the complicated role the private sector plays in facilitating government surveillance and the dangers posed by its cyberweapons ending up in the wrong hands.

15 Oct

With voter ID plans criticised, what election technology alternatives are there?

Members of the public may soon be required to show a form of ID, such as a driving licence or passport before being able to vote in a UK general or local election.

14 Oct

London financial services jobs “defying political chaos”, but uncertainty remains

With continued uncertainty over when the UK will leave the EU, many businesses have been left with more questions than answers when it comes to Brexit planning.

11 Oct

MPs call for strict commercial drone regulations

Parliament’s Science and Technology Committee has published its report on commercial drones, calling on the government to provide a clear “vision” for the safer use of drones through regulations and criminal penalties for their misuse.

11 Oct

World leaders scramble to reassure public over 5G safety

A host of world leaders have been forced to make statements about the safety of 5G after public fears about the technology’s impact on health and the environment have increased, prompting protests in some countries.

9 Oct

Ecuador is in serious need of proper data protection laws following massive breach

In an era when some of the largest corporations in the world have failed to properly secure the personal data of billions of people, lawmakers have become keen to push legislation aimed at giving consumers greater control over their personal data.

7 Oct

IBM CEO: US needs “consistent consumer privacy regulation”

IBM CEO Ginni Rometty has backed the introduction of GDPR-style regulation across the US.

3 Oct

UK government issues no-deal Brexit preparation checklist for tech firms

no-deal Brexit preparation checklist - Verdict

The United Kingdom’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport has published a checklist for businesses providing technology and digital services to best prepare for a no-deal Brexit.

27 Sep

Huawei’s Guo Ping: “R&D collaboration benefits both Huawei and the UK”

Huawei rotating chairman Guo Ping doesn’t give interviews often, so when a small group of journalists from UK publications, including Verdict, were given the chance to ask him questions at a media roundtable in Shenzhen, China, it was a rare and valuable opportunity to hear the thoughts of one of the Chinese tech giant’s most

24 Sep

US tech giants

EU’s right to be forgotten ruling leaves questions unanswered

The EU’s top court has ruled in favour of tech giant Google in a landmark case about the ‘right to be forgotten’, but privacy and legal experts have warned the issue has not been fully resolved.

19 Sep

UK must invest in automation to “thrive in the fourth industrial revolution”

The UK could struggle to compete with other economies if it does not invest more in robotics and automation.

11 Sep

Amnesty International calls for tougher spyware regulations

Human rights organisation Amnesty International is urging governments around the world to introduce tougher spyware regulations that ensure spyware companies respect human rights.