The Online Rip-Off Tip-Off

Tech Insight : The Online Rip-Off Tip-Off

In this insight, we look at the new online form where customers can report online rip-offs that’s been developed as part of the new government campaign “The Online Rip-Off Tip-Off” to help shoppers spot and avoid misleading online practices. The Online Rip-Off Problem According to a recent poll of over 2,000 UK adults by the…

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Microsoft Miffed: Monumental Gaming Merger Muzzled by UK’s CMA

Tech News : Microsoft Miffed: Monumental Gaming Merger Muzzled By UK's CMA

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has blocked Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of US-based video game holding company Activision Blizzard over fears of stifled competition in the cloud gaming market. What Happened? Back in January 2022, Microsoft entered a £68.7 billion deal to buy Activision, one of the most popular video games publishers globally. Continue…

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Why AI Systems Can’t Patent Inventions …Yet

Why AI Systems Can’t Patent Inventions ...Yet

Following a recent Intellectual Property Office (IPO) consultation, it has been decided that AI will not be allowed to patent inventions.  What’s The Issue?  As highlighted by a legal battle dating back to 2018, some people believe that if AI systems invent something, they should be granted the status of being listed as the inventor…

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Fewer Cookie Pop-Ups – But At What Cost?

Fewer Cookie Pop-Ups - But At What Cost?

A government Bill has laid out a new UK data protection regime (which diverges from EU regulations) and which the government says will ease the burden of compliance on businesses.  Data Reform Bill  The government says that the ‘Data Reform Bill’, announced in this year’s Queen’s Speech, and outlined as part of London Tech Week,…

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Scam Calls : A Significant Update

This week, we heard the good news that the big phone networks have agreed to automatically block foreign scam calls, and we heard the bad news that an Ofcom survey has revealed that 45 million people in the UK were targeted by scam text messages or phone calls this summer! The Challenge The challenge has…

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MEPs Seek Ban On Public Biometric Surveillance

Following the recent leak of an EU draft of rules for applying to AI, 40 MEPs have called for a ban on the use of facial recognition and other types of biometric surveillance in public places. Draft Rules The leaked draft rules by EU lawmakers to regulate the use of AI prompted the MEPs to…

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UK’s First Till-less ‘Walk Out’ Shop

Amazon has opened its first ‘no-till, just walk out’ grocery store in London where customers are automatically billed on exiting the store. Frictionless The new Amazon Fresh store offers a “frictionless” experience to shoppers as they are given what feels like an incredible level of trust and hopefully save time in the shop thanks to the use…

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Condemnation For Facebook After Blocking News

Facebook faced condemnation and challenges in other countries after blocking ‘news’ content from its platform in Australia and although a last-minute turnaround will mean the return of news to its Australian site, this may not be without damage to the social media giant’s reputation. New Law In Australia, the new law, which is currently a…

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Scotland Shames The Rest of UK for Free Electronic Car Charging

Zap-Map figures show that Scotland has the largest number of free electronic vehicle (EV) charging points in the UK. More Than A Quarter of the UK’s Free Chargers The latest figures from EV charging infrastructure trackers Zap-Maps show that of the 21,000 charging devices listed on Zap-Map, 4,900 are free to use.  This means that…

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Google Going in Oz

Australia’s intention to introduce a new law to make tech companies like Google and Facebook pay publishers for news content has prompted Google to threaten to withdraw its search engine from Australia. What Law? The proposed law is currently a Bill for an Act to amend the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 in relation to digital platforms,…

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