Author Archives: elizabeth

  1. Meta Faces Lawsuit for Continued Use of Personal Data

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    Meta, Facebook’s parent company, is facing another lawsuit over its data protection and privacy policy. 

    A technology and human rights activist, Tanya O’Carroll, has filed a lawsuit against Facebook, saying that her right to object to being surveilled is being ‘disregarded’ by Facebook, and is unlawful under GDPR. 

    The lawsuit, filed at London’s High Court, demands that Facebook stop collecting personalised data from users for targeted advertising and marketing purposes. 

    O’Carroll says that her attempts to opt out of having her personal information monitored and shared for advertising were dismissed by Facebook. 

    Facebook’s terms and conditions require users to accept that their data will be used for advertising – O’Carroll hopes her lawsuit will show that this is unlawful under current data privacy and protection laws. 

    Under GDPR, individuals are able to opt in to data collection by companies, and equally, have the “right to object” to data collection. 

    The court case could force Facebook’s terms of service to change, as they currently do not allow users to opt out of personalised advertisements and data usage as part of their contract of use.

    Surveillance Ads

    The main issue that O’Carroll’s lawsuit addresses is the practices Facebook employs to track and collect user data to better target them. 

    This targeting is not just to find you that perfect washing machine you’ve been after – Facebook uses sensitive information and categories to target certain demographics with advertisements, and even leave people out of seeing potentially pertinent ads. 

    According to Foxglove, Facebook has tracked sensitive information including user’s age, gender, race, religion, political leanings, marital status, and if they have children. 

    In the UK, women have been excluded from seeing ads for engineering jobs on Facebook; in the US, non-white users were left out of housing ads.

    The Case

    O’Carroll says that, even though she selected options to stop Facebook from using her data, the company has continued to do so.

    Facebook announced that it would stop and delete targeting ad options on topics people consider ‘sensitive’ and the changes would be complete in March 2022. 

    After this deadline, however, O’Carroll found that many sensitive topics were still assigned to her profile. The document of the lawsuit shows that Meta has 708 ‘Ad Topics’ assigned to O’Carroll as of 14 October 2022. 

    Topics include: ‘child’, ‘childbirth’, ‘childcare’, ‘wedding’, ‘first-time buyer’ (of homes), ‘activism’, ‘homosexuality’, and ‘Weed, California’. 

    From this, Facebook could target personalised ads having to do with weddings, child care products, home-owner loan programmes, or advertisements targeting the LGBTQ+ community. 

    Sensitive Ad Interests remained assigned to O’Carroll even after Meta claimed they had scrubbed these from people’s profiles. 

    These sensitive topics include: ‘Love’, ‘pleasure’, ‘female’, ‘parent’, ‘ancestry’, ‘self-esteem’, ‘well being’, ‘ethical consumerism’, ‘gender studies’, and ‘politics’. 

    The lawsuit states that Facebook has continued to use this personal data to select and deliver ‘Direct Marketing Material.’ 

    O’Carroll originally attempted to disable ad settings to stop the application of “demographic and behavioural” categories to her Facebook in February 2021. However, the company continued to use this data, and O’Carroll tried the process again later in June 2021. 

    AWO, O’Carroll’s legal representative, sent a letter to Meta in June 2021, objecting to the company’s processing of her data for marketing purposes, directly citing GDPR’s guarantee for the right to object to data processing for marketing. 

    Meta responded with their own letter in September 2021, stating that “Personalstation, including personalised advertising, is an essential, contracted-for component of the Facebook service…Users cannot turn off personalisation because this is the essence of the service for which they have contracted.” 

    Essentially, Facebook has made the mining of personal data for targeted advertising an integral part of their business model – the social media giant therefore cannot be used by people to simply connect with their friends and family without accepting that their personal data will be used for direct targeted marketing. 

    O’Carroll’s case argues that Facebook must allow the ‘right to object’ or it is breaking UK data privacy laws. 

    Facebook’s response also brings to question the validity of their ‘Ad Settings’ and ‘Privacy Settings’ section – after all, O’Carroll initially selected settings that Facebook made available. The case argues that it would therefore not be unreasonable for consumers to assume that their selections would be followed by the company. 

    Implications

    Currently, the UK is planning a break away from GDPR. How similar the UK’s new data policies will be to current legislation is still unclear. 

    The information page for the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill 2022-23, which has yet to be formally approved, does state that it would “allow for the sharing of customer data, through smart data schemes, to provide services such as personalised market comparisons and account management.”

    Where the line lies on customer data and if consumers have the opportunity, as they do now, to opt in or out of these proposed data sharing schemes, remains to be seen. 

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    This court case could have major implications going forward – can companies make data collection and personalised ad targeting a valid part of their business model? Or does the public have the right to use unrelated services – like the Facebook social media platform to connect with other users – without having to give up their personal data to the whims of advertisers?

    Further, will different advertisers have different abilities to use Facebook’s targeted ad algorithm? 

    Previously, Facebook has come under fire for political ads targeting different users based on their personal data, including their race. The Trump campaign reportedly used targeted Facebook ads to stop black voters from participating in the 2020 presidential election. 

    The nature of Facebook’s business model has largely kept it immune from such attacks and concerns, as the company continues to flourish despite data privacy violations, leaks, and accusations of being a monopoly. 

    Antitrust legislation has targeted Meta – the EU will reportedly charge the company for antitrust violations, and Turkey has done the same.

    In September, the Federal Trade Commission of the US filed a lawsuit against the company for its monopolistic tendencies. 

    The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has called for regulation of Meta, labelling the company, along with Google, as a monopoly. In 2020, it went so far as to label Facebook as a “must-have” mechanism for consumers to stay connected.

    This current lawsuit will formally challenge how Meta’s monopoly has essentially placed it above the law in terms of data privacy and protection. 

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  2. Smart-reader AI Tech Helps to Tackle Cost of Living Crisis

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    Edinburgh-based company UrbanTide has launched their new artificial intelligence (AI) software which can help with the continuing cost of living crisis. 

    The platform, uZero, combines anonymised smart meter system data with multiple cross-sector datasets and uses AI to produce detailed fuel poverty risk maps, helping to identify homes with poor energy efficiency. 

    The project is part of the UK Research Institute’s Modernising Energy Data Applications (MEDApps) programme and has been supported by the Data Communications Company (DCC), Greater South East Net Zero Hub, University College London and Connected Places Catapult.

    Energy companies and local authorities are obligated under the government’s ECO4 scheme to provide greater support and deeper retrofit for the least energy efficient homes. 

    The information collected by uZero can be used by local authorities, housing associations, energy suppliers and social care providers to find solutions and target homes that are most at risk as the cost of living crisis continues. 

    The charity National Energy Action estimates that the number of UK households in fuel poverty has grown from 4.5 million to 6.7 million in 2022, equaling one in four UK households. 

    “For many households, soaring energy costs will mean they feel the impacts of fuel poverty for the first time, and that’s going to put a lot of pressure on those responsible for delivering support,” Simon Tricker, co-founder of UrbanTide said. 

    The firm has worked with local governments and agencies to understand how best they can help households during the crisis. The platform will make it easier for households most at risk to be identified, allowing them to access funded programmes for energy prices. 

    The economic impacts of this technology can greatly benefit households as we approach the winter months, but it can also help tackle carbon emissions. 

    “This software should not only help to reduce fuel poverty but also have a positive impact on CO2 emissions,” Maxine Narburgh, Regional Head of Greater South East Net Zero Hub, said, “Retrofitting homes with poor energy efficiency ratings will help the UK to meet its Net Zero targets.”

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    The tech is also a promising use of data to inform AI and promote energy efficient living, as it combined data from several sectors to formulate the fuel poverty risk maps.

    Matt James, head of Strategic Innovation at the DCC, said “At the DCC we believe this project is a great example of how improving data access can help accelerate the nation’s efforts to reduce the impact of fuel poverty and ultimately reach Net Zero.”

    The company’s hope their collaboration will help households as they continue to struggle in the unprecedented cost of living crisis.

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  3. How can Tech Companies Achieve Net Zero?

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    Achieving net zero is a global goal, and Tech Nation has provided direct recommendations to the tech sector to reach this benchmark. 

    The tech industry currently accounts for 4% of global emissions, but this figure is expected to rise. Decarbonisation therefore has to be a goal to tackle the climate crisis. 

    In 2021, 70% of companies committed to net zero emission by 2050. 

    Advice on reaching this goal, however, is often confusing and conflicting, especially for the tech sector – on average, 80-100% of tech company’s emissions are within the supply chain and outside their direct control.

    Unclear guidance for removing carbon is also an issue – the IPCC has estimated that 10 billion tonnes per year of removals is required to reach net zero by 2050. Only 40 million tonnes were captured globally in 2021, staggeringly short of the necessary threshold. 

    COP26 set the aim to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees celsius, but COP27 admitted that it was likely too late to stay below this temperature. 

    In the UK, only 11% of companies measure their carbon emissions, and 7% have a net zero strategy. 

    Small businesses struggle even more due to a combined lack of knowledge, skills, and funding to take on a net zero strategy. 

    Tech Nation highlighted the general misconception among CEOs that tech companies’ carbon emissions are not significant – 74% of tech CEOs said their carbon emissions were insignificant in order to defend their lack of a net zero strategy. 

    This could be changing, however, as research found that 26% of employees want to discuss their company’s climate change plan, and 75% of C-suite executives are pressured by board members and customers to implement sustainability initiatives. 

    Decarbonisation 

    Ambitious net zero goals are essentially impossible to achieve without carbon removal. Producing no carbon emissions will likely take decades to achieve, so carbon removal is therefore essential to achieve net zero emissions to make up for the carbon still going out into the atmosphere. 

    Achieving this would require companies to account for their carbon emissions, but only 35% of UK-based companies with net zero targets have collected this baseline data which would be essential in offsetting their carbon footprint. 

    Tech Emissions

    According to Tech Nation, most carbon emissions from tech companies fall into ‘scope 3’ are indirect emissions from purchased goods and services rather than directly from owned assets or company cars. 

    While these emissions are ‘indirect,’ tackling them may be less complex. 

    Making climate-driven decisions on services like food, offices, and travel can make all the difference. 

    Call to Action

            1. Make and Commit to A Plan

    Tech Nation calls for companies to formulate an action plan to reach net zero. 

    To do this, companies should: measure their emissions to understand their baseline, set science-based targets, as well as interim short term targets to keep on track. 

            2. Sustainable Offices

    Though hybrid working is still popular, using a low emission office space is vital to net zero strategies for companies. 

    Sustainable offices should use all renewable energy, maintain their AC/heating systems, be as energy efficient as possible and continually measure their emissions. 

    Other requirements include having a comprehensive waste management system, and using sustainable construction materials. 

            3. Green Pensions 

    On average, pensions finance 23 tonnes of CO2 emissions every year. To fight climate change, companies should ensure their pension funds target net zero emissions across their portfolio, invest in climate solutions, and – importantly – divest from companies that are not reducing their emissions. 

    Companies can speak directly to their pension provider and change their default fund to be covered by a net zero target. 

            4. Switch to Plant Based Food

    Meat consumption contributes to some of the worst environmental practices and carbon emissions – switching to more plant-based food sources would dramatically reduce carbon emissions. 

    This could be a small step in some offices, like switching to plant based milks, and or can be a larger transition to offering exclusively vegan food at cafeterias and catered events.

            5. Business Travel 

    Tech Nation recommends a ‘train-first’ policy for companies to tackle their carbon emissions when they travel. 

    Promoting virtual meetings, optimising unavoidable travel, and only sending ‘essential’ team members on longer flights are some of the specific actions companies can take. 

            6. Engaging Suppliers

    80-100% of tech companies’ emissions come from their suppliers. In order to achieve net zero, companies will have to collaborate with their suppliers in order to set sustainability standards. 

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            7. Digital Emissions

    Digital emissions account for over 4% of global emissions, more than the global aviation industry. 

    Decluttering digital spaces can make a major impact on carbon emissions – actions companies can take include cleaning out unused cloud storage devices and websites, and selecting a cloud storage provider that is committed to renewable energy.

            8. Hardware emissions

    Companies can aim to reduce their hardware carbon emissions by extending the use-life of their devices and buying refurbished models. 

            9. Carbon Removals

    Investment in carbon removals is essential – 10 billion tonnes of CO2 needs to be removed from the atmosphere if the world is to reach net zero by 2050. 

    A rounded approach to carbon removals is required as no one method will achieve this mass removal requirement. Companies can invest in both natural and technological solutions to remove carbon from the atmosphere. 

    Investing in high-quality, long term carbon removals, rather than avoidance offsets, is therefore essential. 

    Using trusted sustainability services and increasing the amount of removals invested in is also recommended to reach net zero. 

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  4. New Installations Give Broadband Boost to Highlands

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    Highland Broadband is set to roll out a new service initially focusing on 5,000 premises in Alness, Easter Ross before the end of the year. 

    A trading name of Lothian Broadband Networks Limited, the provider plans to invest £75 million to connect over 70,000 premises in rural communities and small towns to digitally transform connectivity in Scotland over the next four years. 

    CEO Gaving Rodgers says the company is ‘hugely excited’ to be providing broadband to the Highlands. 

    After the first phase of installation in Alness, the fibre network will expand to Evanton and Invergordon, then extending north to include Ardross as well as the smaller villages on the way. 

    The technology being installed, Adtran powered XGS-PON FTTP, has the capability to support up to 10GB symmetrical connectivity, currently the fastest and most reliable network being built in the UK.

    Highland Broadband are also using local contractors to carry out the works, to help support local business and invest in the local supply chain.

    The rural divide in the digital infrastructure of Scotland has been a concern as the nation attempts to prove itself as a tech centre on the global stage. 

    The Scottish government itself has been trying to catch up in the Highlands, rolling out 4G masts to areas that are most lacking in infrastructure. 

    Project Gigabit was also launched across the UK to address the gaps of connectivity plaguing different parts of the country. 

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    In January the Scottish National Investment Bank committed £20 million of cornerstone funding to LBNL to help tackle digital inequality in rural communities and small towns in Scotland.

    Rogers expressed his thanks to the Scottish Government and the Bank for their investment, saying: “It allows us to continue our commitment to building quality digital infrastructure and ultrafast, reliable and affordable full-fibre broadband across Scotland with this phase now taking us to rural villages and towns in the Highlands.”

    The UK Government has a target of at least 85% of the population having access to gigabit (1,000 Mbps) broadband by 2025 under its National Infrastructure Strategy.

    Jamie Stone, MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, commented on the importance of the infrastructure: “Improving broadband connectivity in the Highlands at pace is absolutely key to our success as a region, and I look forward to the day that every household and business in my constituency can access superfast speeds. This is an excellent start.”

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  5. Digital Skills Gap Leads to Developer Burnout

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    Digital transformation is booming, but the digital skills gap has made it difficult for tech companies to keep up. Existing developers facing burnout as they are forced to pick up the slack.

    Even though tech roles in the UK are nearly 80% higher than non-IT jobs, businesses still struggle to attract and retain talent due to a general gap in digital skills. 

    Two million vacancies for tech jobs were advertised between May 2021 and 2022, and 72% of tech teams have a skills shortage. 

    In Scotland, one in ten job vacancies are currently in the tech sector, making it all the more difficult to achieve the nation’s digital transformation goals. 

    The difficulty has remained despite salaries increasing between 2021 and 2022: front end developer and DevOps engineer salaries both increased by 22% on average. 

    However, despite this significant annual uplift in salaries, organisations are still struggling to recruit developers quickly enough as the digital skills shortage continues to bite. 

    The difficulty in attracting fresh talent to their teams is piling on the pressure for existing developers, as their workload increases faster than the workforce can grow.

    With “acting your wage” and “quiet quitting” on the rise in the tech industry, increased developer burnout can put digital transformation at increased risk. 

    With Alphabet, Google’s parent company, calling on their workers to be more entrepreneurial or risk losing their job, and Musk calling on his Twitter employees to work even harder amid mass layoffs, developers may have simply had enough.

    A higher wage might not be enough to continue attracting talent to these jobs in what could be regarded as a worker PR crisis among the largest tech companies in the world.

    “Organisations need to do more than increase salaries if they are to reduce developer burnout, otherwise, they risk derailing their digital transformation journeys,” said Greg Adams, Regional Vice President, UK & Ireland, Dynatrace.

    Dynatrace recommends that companies continue to automate as much of a developer’s work as possible to allow them to focus on tasks that matter. 

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    “Augmenting developers’ skills with automation reduces the need for them to manually conduct routine, highly repetitive tasks in the delivery pipeline,” Adams explained. 

    “This enables developer teams to focus on developing new features and services and ultimately speed up the delivery of innovation.”

    Automation may be one solution to the digital skills gap crisis affecting the existing tech workforce, but this would also require skilled professionals to develop and maintain whatever automotive technology is introduced. 

    As terms like “work life balance” permeate the tech industry, even this solution may not be enough to continually drive developers to take on the extra tasks necessary to maintain innovation amid the skills gap crisis. 

    If higher wages are not working, then an increased reliance on technology which requires skilled tech workers may also not be enough to retain a skilled workforce. 

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  6. UK Gov Launches AI Programme Aiming for Net Zero

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    The UK Government has launched a £1.5 million AI programme aiming to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions as part of the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio. 

    The AI for Decarbonisation Programme comprises separate streams of grant funding to be launched in two initial stages as part of the £1 billion Net Zero programme. 

    Stream 1, worth up to £500,000, will be made available to co-fund a virtual centre of excellence on AI innovation and decarbonisation through to March 2025. 

    Stream 2, which is worth up to £1 million, will fund innovation projects which continue the development of AI technologists to support decarbonisation. 

    Further funding is intended for 2023 to support priority areas in AI innovation identified by the virtual centre of excellence vital to achieve net zero. 

    The program’s objective is to stimulate further innovation in the UK’s AI sector, specifically to use this technology to drive growth and achieve net zero ambitions. 

    Science Minister George Freeman said: “The UK is one of the world’s most advanced AI economies, and AI technology is already having a transformative impact on our economy and society. But there is tremendous potential to do more.”

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    Building on the National AI Strategy published last year, the new initiative encourages collaboration across technology, energy, and industrial sectors to meet the UK’s decarbonisation targets. 

    “Putting this rapidly-evolving technology into action will enable us to save energy costs for businesses and households, create high-value, skilled jobs, and kickstart millions of pounds of private investment while supporting our net zero targets,” Green continued.

    To meet net-zero goals, projects encouraged apply included uses of AI which could enable a faster transition to renewable energy, decarbonise industry by improving energy productivity and fuel switching, and decrease emissions in the agriculture sector. 

    The programme opens for applications on 22 November 2022, and closes on 19 January 2022. Applications can be made through the AI for Decarbonisation funding page.

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  7. How Will the Scottish Space Sustainability Roadmap Tackle Climate Change?

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    Scotland’s Space Sustainability Roadmap has just been launched on the international stage as a means to garner new partnerships to fight climate change. 

    The roadmap offers short, medium, and long term packages to help negate the space industry’s carbon footprint and advance climate change science in space. 

    Focusing on key areas such as the environmental impacts of satellites, green propellants, spaceports’ sustainability, and the importance of using satellite data for environmental monitoring, the project presents a clear roadmap towards net zero goals. 

    The initiative is believed to be the first sustainability strategy of its kind, and was originally kicked started by funding from Scottish Enterprise. 

    Space Scotland’s Environmental Task Force, set up in 2019 as a voluntary grouping of over 20 UK-based space companies, universities and government agencies, called for the space sustainability Roadmap’s creation at the start of this year and went on to provide guidance around the resulting eleven work packages. 

    The work packages are organised thematically into areas of: Leadership, In-Orbit, and Environment and Net Zero. 

    The Leadership packages focus on the promotion of space sustainability through public commitments and planning in the domestic and international sphere. 

    Focusing on space operations themselves, In-Orbit packages will encourage responsible and sustainable practices, such as space debris mitigation. 

    Environment and Net Zero packages will aim to reduce emissions and mitigate overall environmental impacts of the space sector. 

    By 2025, the project hopes to cut space sector emissions by 50%; by 2045, the project aims to achieve net zero emissions. 

    “Having collaborated locally and internationally to produce the Roadmap, the aim now is to share what we’ve learned and champion the need for similar strategic initiatives, with more than 80 countries around the world developing space programmes and that number expected to grow,” Director of Space Scotland, Daniel Smith, stated. 

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    Shortly after the space sustainability Roadmap was published, Scottish Enterprise announced it would contribute to the next phase of the initiative, by launching the Applying Space Data to the Net Zero Economy innovation challenge, which is closely aligned with a key theme from the document; environment and net zero.

    Sharon Pryde, Space Specialist at Scottish Enterprise said: “The Roadmap, instigated by Space Scotland’s Task Force and delivered by AstroAgency and Optimat, has helped to formalise the Scottish space industry’s desire to use space to combat climate change and support multiple sectors in their drive towards net zero.”

    Renowned space environmentalist from the University of Texas at Austin, Professor Moriba Jah added:  “Scotland has a long history of subscribing to the belief that all things are interconnected and embracing an intergenerational contract of stewardship. 

    “Humanity is in an existential crisis and the only way through it is by having a successful conversation with the environment. Alba is leading the way”.

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  8. Digital Transformation Delays Cost Legal Firms £1 Million per Project

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    While the appetite for digital transformation among legal firms is increasing, several roadblocks stand in the way of progress.

    In a survey of IT leaders from UK legal firms by Toca, almost 92% of respondents say they are expected to deliver digital projects twice as fast as they were five years ago, with 65% saying they are expected to deliver twice as fast compared to two years ago.

    The importance of digital transformation is clear, as a failure to deliver innovation at speed has a negative impact on several aspects of the legal business, from employee productivity to user experience and business revenue. 

    Despite the clear ambitions for digital transformation, IT teams are consistently hampered by regulatory challenges, developer skill shortages, and budget constraints. 

    Project delays are therefore common and costly – the average digital transformation project overrun lasts three months, costing £17,460 a day. This totals to a staggering excess of £1.1 million per project. 

    88% of IT leaders surveyed found that it was “imperative” to connect systems, built apps, and make automotive processes more efficient. 

    Legal firms are struggling with digital transformation

    Mat Rule, Founder and CEO of Toca said: “With competitive pressures mounting, legal firms are recognising that digital transformation is essential to long-term survival.”

    The agreed vitality of this makes it no easy feat, however, as 72% of IT leaders struggle to keep up with the pressures of innovation and 68% say the waiting lists for digital projects continue to expand.

    Toca identified the five main drivers for digital innovation in the legal sector as: business growth, meeting new industry regulation, improving digital journeys for clients, driving business agility and keeping up with competition. 

    But the struggles appear all too real – legal firms are only able to address 29% of problems they’d like to, and 88% are not able to automate processes due to time, cost, or complexity. 

    “Those that fail to be agile will soon find themselves falling behind,” Rule said. 

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    Speed can be detrimental in itself, however, as IT leaders have recognised rushing digital transformation projects can lead to technical debt as applications need be to continually reworked. 

    In fact, 88% of IT decision makers agree that the need for speed within digital projects has resulted in growing technical debt at their organisation, with 80% agreeing that this debt holds them back from taking on new projects. 

    Therefore, 94% of IT decision makers have confirmed that reducing technical debt while speeding up innovation is a priority. This, of course, may be hampered by a the general tech skills shortage felt across the country. 

    Another issue specific to the legal sector is needing to integrate IT systems with specialist legacy systems. 

    Rewriting and re-platforming legacy apps is slowing down transformation and innovation, according to 88% of respondents.

    Most (88%) of IT decision makers would rather leverage their legacy systems to speed up digital projects, rather than completely rewrite and deplatform them. 

    The mix of specific legal IT systems and ever-changing data protection and access legislation adds to the complexity of digital transformation. 

     “This is why it’s so important that firms have the capabilities to build and manage their own applications – as they are the ones that know their business best,” Rule said. 

  9. Trickle Partners with CGI to Tackle Healthcare Sector

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    Edinburgh–based employee engagement and wellbeing tool, Trickle, has announced a partnership with CGI, the IT and business consulting services giant. 

    CGI plans to work closely with Trickle, hoping the partnership will gain them insight into their team, and attract and retain new employees.

    The Trickle app allows employees to make suggestions, raise concerns, and reach out for support to their employers in real-time, all while tracking company progress.

    Initially, the two companies will collaborate to support UK healthcare organisations that want to improve their workplace through better employee engagement. Later, the companies will extend their relationship into other areas, including business development and the wider public sector.

    With eyes to the future, Trickle plans to continue partnering up with leading industry players in the UK to help organisations optimise their employees’ experience.

    Trickle has already established relationships with the healthcare sector, with their client based including the Scottish government and regional health boards including NHS Lothian, NHS Grampian, NHS Highland, NHS Tayside, NHS Borders and the Scottish Ambulance Service.

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    Lindsay McGranaghan, Scotland Business Unit Leader and Senior Vice President Consulting Services at CGI said: “We have seen the strain those in healthcare particularly have been under over the last two years. Platforms such as Trickle ensure employees can provide regular feedback from the ground up to create positive change.”

    Paul Reid, CEO of Trickle, reiterated, saying: “Platforms like ours have become vital in helping employers better understand employee needs. They also allow for a better appreciation of employee wellbeing which has undoubtedly been tested in recent times.

     “Working with CGI is a great step for Trickle, and will further enhance our reach and credibility in the UK healthcare sector initially, and then beyond.”

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  10. Government Announces Mass Funds for R&D Amid EU Shortfall

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    Funding was announced after the government was ‘disappointed’ by the EU’s refusal to finalise the UK’s access to EU programmes including Horizon Europe, Euratom, and Fusion for Energy as agreed under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement in 2020.

    The UK still prefers to be associated with Horizon Europe, but the European Commission’s implementation of the UK has been delayed. 

    The funds aim to provide targeted support for staff retention and local talent strategies at eligible organisations and universities, as well as ensuring UK labs remain world class. 

    In what seems like a direct response to the UK’s exclusion fro the EU’s Fusion for Energy programme, the government has stated that the funds will be a catalyst for growth in the UK’s fusion industry.

    The UK is still open to association with the EU, but according to Business Secretary Grant Shapps: “The UK cannot wait indefinitely for the EU to meet its commitments which is why this funding is so important to boost research and innovation across the breadth of our country.”

    The funding package will include £30 million going to a Talent and Research Stabilisation Fund to provide support to eligible universities and organisations who have a track record in attracting direct, talent-based funding from the EU. This hopes to help them retain talent and address vulnerabilities at a local level. 

    A further £100 million of the fund will go to the Quality-Related funding for English universities with additional funding for the Devolved Administrations. This will deliver a one-off boost to enable universities to strengthen research capabilities vital to the UK’s research reputation.

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    A one-off boost of £200 million for UK research infrastructures will enable investment in essential research equipment and sustain their research base. Funding will also be made available to the UK’s Public Sector Research Establishments. 

    £42.1 million will be dedicated to the Fusion Industry Programme to galvanise the UK fusion sector through a challenge fund, engaging and supporting UK businesses in important technical advancements in fusion. 

    Joint European Torus (JET) Operations will receive £84 million. JET is the world’s largest and most powerful fusion experimentation, and continued operations will help support other UK fusion programmes. 

    Overall, the funds hope to provide stability to the UK R&D while it’s affiliation with EU associations is delayed. 

    “This immediate investment will help our excellent research sector to shore up their talent pools, invest confidently in infrastructure and protect the UK’s reputation as a science superpower,” Shapps said.

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  11. Only 50% of UK Marketers Use a Consent and Preference Management System

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    A report by Data and Marketing Association and OneTrust PreferenceChoice has investigated businesses practices surrounding their consent and preference management systems. 

    Titled Data Management for Marketers: Breaking Down Consent and Preferences, the report surveyed 224 UK respondents that work in marketing. 

    The importance of consent and preference management systems is more crucial than ever, according to 73% of respondents, up from 60% in 2020. 

    Similarly, awareness of these systems has risen from 60% in 2020 to 78% in 2021. 

    Despite this, only about half (51%) of marketing organisations have a specific consent and preference management system in place. 

    The report reviewed the difference these systems can make overall. 

    Businesses with these management systems had an increase in database size (64% of businesses), engagement rate (55%), and sales revenue (54%), conversion rates (47%) and opt-in rates/sign ups (47%). 

    Further, 40% of businesses have found a decrease in complaints while having these systems in place. 

    “People now, more than ever, demand greater control of their data, unlocking an opportunity for organisations to use these moments to address privacy compliance obligations and build trust through transparency, choice, and control,” Ashlea Cartee, Product Marketing Manager at OnceTrust Consent and Preferences said. 

    The economic benefits of a consent and preference management system are also significant: marketers estimate that every £1 invested on these systems leads to a return of about £38. 

    Higher customer lifetime values and lower customer acquisition costs were also reported among companies with consent and preference management systems compared to those without. 

    “Many organisations are clearly not maximising the value of their most important resource, which must change if they want their marketers to stay competitive, innovative and responsible,” said Tim Bond, Director of Insight at the DMA.

     

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    With potential privacy and data protection laws changing in the UK, investing in these systems may prove even more important for companies across the country. 

    When asked about the level of complexity their organisation’s systems were for data and marketing, around one in four respondents said these were advanced across key areas. More than one in ten, however, reported only feeling they were basic, had no sophistication, or that their company did not do these key functions at all. 

    “Our research highlights the increasing awareness, perceived importance and value of having the right data, consent and preference management processes and systems in place. It is an imperative for businesses that want to guarantee and gain the maximum value for and from their customer data,” Bond concluded.

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  12. Technical Solutions with Patients at the Heart: CogniHealth Takes on FND

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    Significant waiting lists, staff shortages, and shorter appointment times are all fallouts of the pandemic and years of NHS cuts, and patients often feel the hit. 

    For people with Functional Neurological Disorder, a condition for neurological symptoms caused by problems with the functioning of the nervous system, the problems in the overall healthcare system are exacerbated by the very nature of the condition. 

    Wait times for neurologists vary across Scotland and the UK, and can range from six months to two years and functional disorders are the second most common reason a person is referred to neurology. 

    Furthermore, the patient-clinician communication gap can widen due to the complexity of the issue. Traditionally a ‘software’ rather than a ‘hardware’ problem, doctors can dismiss patients’ symptoms as they do not show up on scans despite severely impacting their lives. 

    “The communication gap is probably at its greatest in FND and other functional disorders,” Professor Jon Stone, consultant Neurologist at NHS Lothian and Honorary Professor at the University of Edinburgh said. 

    Prof. Stone created Neurosymptoms FND Guide in 2009, a website dedicated to helping patients with FND understand their symptoms. Realising he needed an update, he partnered with CogniHealth, a company which creates digital solutions for patients and carers with neurological disorders. 

    The company previously developed an app for carers looking after someone with dementia, and is using their expertise for other medical conditions. 

    “What we got when we were developing CogniHealth was “oh I wish we had this for ‘X’ condition,” Pooja Jain, founder and CEO of CogniHealth said. 

    CongiHealth worked closely with Prof. Stone to update the FND Guide website and develop a Formulation Tool that patients can use to explain and track their symptoms.

    The project received funding from the Scottish Government, NHS Lothian Charities, and the RS McDonald Seedcorn Fund.

    “These funders, they were public bodies, driving this sort of new digital era in health and social care as well” Jain said. 

    The inspiration for the user-friendly tool came from Prof Stone’s experience with patients – “he saw patients coming in with either their notes – three or four pages – or just kind of having an idea of what they’ve been going through, but there was not a structured way for them to better understand,” Jain said. 

    The formulation tool allows patients to go through their symptoms, their potential causes and triggers, any underlying conditions, and how their diagnosis has affected their quality of life in an easy-to-use and structured manner. 

    “It just means that the conversation during the clinic is much more fruitful and in the right direction and both the patient and the doctor are on the same page,” Jain said. 

    The Formulation Tool takes minutes to use and creates a report that patients can take with them to the clinic. It outlines their symptoms, and provides users with different treatment options – patients can add as little or as much detail as they want. 

    “It’s the first time a tool like this has come into the market that guides the patient through what they are experiencing in a simple manner,” Jain said. 

    “It helps structure different parts of their condition in a way that can help them and the healthcare professional better understand what is happening now but also over time.”

    Additionally, the tool enables users to formally consider their diagnosis and symptoms, helps to eliminate any treatment options they are not interested in, and paves the way for patient advocacy at the start of the appointment.

    “For example, if they don’t think it’s the right diagnosis in their heart, or they don’t think that one of the treatments like medications is right for them, then having that kind of document in this tool and taking it to the clinician means that the clinician already knows their mindset,” Jain said. 

    “I think it’s a great way for everyone to better understand where the patient is and to personalise their plan better,” she continued. 

    Designed with patients at the forefront of the process, the tool isn’t just useful for clinicians, Jain says, but for the patient’s own journey with FND.

    “I think the education that they get through answering the questions is the first kind of treatment in itself,” Jain explained, “because the more you understand your condition and what’s happening the better mindset and the better position you are in to take on the next steps in treatment.”

    The creation of the tool was deeply collaborative – Jain sat in on appointments with Prof. Stone to get to the route of the appointment. Her experience working as a carer and her degrees in neuroscience has allowed her to understand researchers she collaborates with while keeping patient needs at the heart of the solution. 

    Without this collaboration, Jain says that patient needs can get unaddressed, and technology misses the mark. 

    “Sometimes we don’t truly understand the challenges of the person,” she said, “The basic logic kind of breaks down, even though the intention behind such innovation can be right, it sometimes goes back to not involving people and testing it.”

    Personalisation was therefore key to this formulation tool, and CogniHealth’s process is research heavy. 

    “Keeping the patient at the heart of what we do and the fact that it’s evidence based and research lead would be the two most important things for me in how we approach any project we do,” Jain said. 

    While the formulation tool is currently a beta version, Jain sees potential for the technology. 

    The tool could be used for wider applications – “things that are complex, things that are difficult to diagnose, where the waiting times are longer, it gives an empowerment for patients to have more control over what they’re going through,” Jain said.

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    The Neurosymptoms website has been translated into seven languages, and in the first two days of its launch, 2000 people used the Formulation tool. 

    The tool can be used with any healthcare systems, with or without clinicians, to help patients throughout their diagnosis. 

    Jain recognised the impacts the current healthcare crisis is having on patients, and hopes the Formulation tool, and tech like it will help patients.

    “Anything you can do to help them during those waiting periods, to help them when they go into the clinicians room, and also take away to see overtime what they’re doing,” is a major benefit to overall patient care. 

    CogniHealth is already working on improving the Formulation Tool, using data for research into FND and using feedback to better understand how to make the technology more effective for patient care. 

    Though at the early stages, Cognihealth is working on a project to bring technical solutions to help mental health issues among young children. They are also working on FND Tics, devising an educational platform and formulation tool for a common symptom associated with FND. 

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  13. GoFibre Expands Full Fibre Connectivity to Aberdeenshire

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    Ground has broken to bring improve connectivity to Abderdeenshire via a full fibre network.

    The project, launched by Scottish independent broadband provider GoFibre, will connect about 4,500 local residents and businesses to a full fibre network. The company has already connected residents in Stonehaven. 

    Full fibre is only currently available to around 37% of the UK, despite being considered the best type of connectivity compared to copper. Recent reports have found that the lack of broadband infrastructure is especially dire in rural areas of Scotland. 

    Sam Calvert, Chief Revenue Officer, GoFibre said: “Sub-standard digital connectivity across Scotland’s towns and villages, including Aberdeenshire, has long been an issue facing local communities who have been largely left behind when infrastructure upgrades have been put in place. 

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    GoFibre hopes the new connectivity network will help tackle the digital divide across Scotland. Once in place, speeds of up to 10 Gbps will be available, allowing local residents to work from home, operate multiple devices simultaneously with no lag, and complete large downloads in seconds. 

    Calvert continued: “With our construction efforts now underway, we’ll be doing everything we can to play our part in the solution, helping to tackle the digital divide and equip residents and businesses in Portlethen and Newtonhill with the tools they need to drive success and innovation, both now and in the future.”

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  14. ScotRail Pledges Support to New Digital Education Charter for Young Scots

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    ScotRail has signed up for a New Digital Technology Education Charter to help raise the profile of computing science amongst young people. 

    The charter aims to connect industry and academia to inspire the next generation into technology and computing science. 

    The partnership hopes to raise awareness of diverse career opportunities available to young people in the Scottish tech sector. 

    “ScotRail is a great example of a company that is not always immediately associated with the tech sector but has a wealth of opportunities,” Toni Scullion of Digital Technology Education Charter said. 

    ScotRail is one of over 100 companies and organisations to pledge their commitment to the charter, including Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, and Scottish Power. 

    The charter was inspired by Scullion, a computing science teacher, who hopes the charter, with its many partners, will inspire young people to fill the skills gap in the Scottish tech sector. 

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    The railway brings a vast range of digital skills-based functions to the charter, including application development, data analysis, and cybersecurity. 

    As part of its involvement, ScotRail plans to engage with school children on the opportunities available to them within the digital sector. 

    Alan Manclark, head of IT at ScotRail, said: “We hope it will raise the profile of computing science and encourage more children to follow the information technology career path.” 

    “It’s these pupils who will become the next generation of ScotRail’s tech-minded workforce,” he continued.

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  15. Cost of Living Crisis Decimating SME Confidence

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    Recent research has shown that over two-thirds of UK SMEs are feeling less confident about the future of their business than they did 12 months ago. 

    UMi, the national business support company, commissioned the survey of over 1000 business participants. 

    The research also found that 40% of SME business owners are having to explore increasing consumer costs to combat inflation. An additional 36% say they are looking to reduce their energy consumption amid a dramatic rise in costs. 

    Wider business costs continue to soar despite the short term relief on energy bills. A quarter of small businesses are sourcing alternative suppliers, and one-fifth of them plan to scale back plans for growth. 

    Energy and utilities were identified as the primary worry among Britain’s SMEs, with 32% listing these costs as their main concern. 

    22% of businesses said that staff costs were their biggest worry, and 12% said fuel costs were the most important consideration in the coming months. 

    As the cost of living crisis continues to spiral and small businesses scramble to maintain a customer base that is tightening their belts, strategies have changed. 

    UMi Chief Executive Nicki Clark OBE said: “As a provider of business advice, we’ve been on the front line in supporting SMEs across the UK over the past six months as they navigate unprecedented trading conditions and this survey shows just how hard our SMEs are finding things in the face of economic uncertainty.”

    Businesses are struggling to adapt

    Lewis Bowen, Entrepreneur and Director of Babco UK said that “recent months have presented us with a set of new challenges that have meant we have had to change our operating model to protect the business and livelihoods of our small but dedicated team.”

    “Changes in customer buying habits, the uncertain costs of supplies and increasing manufacturing costs have all had an impact,” he added. 

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    Heidi May, founder of independent fashion manufacturer, Aesthetic Laundry said: “In August we started to notice changes in buying behaviour, both in terms of a number of orders and in the size of the orders placed.”

    Despite attempts to mitigate costs and increase sales, May said that “last month we had to make one of the most difficult decisions any small business can make and we reduced our workforce from nine to five.”

    “This was necessary to protect the business but we hope, like covid, we will weather the storm and be able to grow once again,” she added.

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  16. Data Skills Gap: Inspiration is Key to Gaining Scottish Tech Workers

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    The skills gap in the Scottish tech sector is a well-known issue. While the tech industry is growing 1.5 times faster than any other industry in Scotland, 1 in 10 job openings here are in tech. 

    However, nearly one-quarter (23%) of businesses say that the existing workforce lacks basic data skills, and 37% say the workforce lacks advanced digital skills. 

    Nearly half of all businesses say that staff shortages are impairing their ability to implement new technologies, dramatically holding back their advancement. 

    DIGIT Expo’s panel, Closing the Gap: Skilling Scotland’s Tech Sector, hoped to address these concerning statistics and alleviate ongoing worries about the tech labour force in Scotland. 

    Tackling the Skills Gap in Scottish Tech

    Phil Ford, Head of Digital Technologies and Financial Services at SDS, explained that “the labour market is very tight, there’s a record number of job postings.”

    The post Brexit ramifications on migration and an overall loss of EU workers coupled with an ageing population add to the “structural challenges” Scotland faces in attracting and maintaining a tech workforce. 

    The panel touched on major misconceptions of what the tech industry looked like – “a bunch of coders in hoodies at three in the morning drinking red bull,” as Peter Proud, Founder and CEO of Forrit put it, but coding is only a small part of what the tech industry is.

    “We as an industry have done a very poor job of articulating what are the skills, what the jobs are, what the roles are and how flexible you can be in the industry,” Proud continued.

    Further, more industries are entering the tech world, Ford pointed out, so health services, finance, and law firms alike are all looking for tech savvy workers. The promotion of tech jobs has therefore never been more important. 

    Addressing this in schools, Toni Scullion, a computing science teacher and founder of DressCode, said that teachers are “the army on the ground that can champion tech roles,” and noted the lack of awareness among parents and guardians. 

    “But computing science isn’t taught in every secondary school in Scotland. It’s got the lowest uptake of every STEM subject, and I mean by a mile,” she added. 

    The problems are quite clear: but how do we solve them?

    Promoting Tech Jobs: Key Themes

    Language is important, according to Ford, who said the promotion of tech needed to be “more inclusive” not just for people of different backgrounds, but more promotional of what tech allows you to do. Focusing on the outcomes, rather than the job itself, to allow young people to be inspired by technology. 

    Apprenticeships were also the main answer, not just for young people, but for those later in life who wanted to retrain for the digital age. 

    Ceri Shaw, Chief Delivery Officer at CodeClan, commented that “you can join the tech force later in life and bring a lot of valuable skills” from other walks of life. 

    Further, retraining will improve staff retention, according to Shaw: “If your staff can see a way forward, to grow their skills and shape their knowledge within the company, then they stay.” 

    Apprenticeships are being offered for retraining as well as for young people wanting to enter the world of tech. 

    Commenting on the number of apprenticeship and training opportunities available, Ford said: “The pathways are there, but there’s still a bit of work to promote them.”

    Scullion also noted that most schools push straight for university rather than encouraging alternative life paths, including apprenticeships. 

    Read more from DIGIT Expo

    Proud cited his own story, coming from a council estate in Dunfermline, and how apprenticeships changed his life and changed the lives of others. 

    “One of the things we need to push and shout about is apprenticeships as a first choice, not a second choice,” he said. 

    Proud reflected on what people who joined the ranks from a poor background tended to care about most, noting that owning a home was so valuable to young people: “That’s what we can do,” Proud stressed. 

    The success stories of people like Proud were important in themselves, said Scullion: “That’s what 12-year-olds can relate to. It’s those stories we need to use, and we’ve got them in Scotland – we absolutely need to capitalise on them.”

    Inspiration and aspiration were keys to getting young people involved in the tech sector. The panel noted all the tech sector had to offer: “The tech industry gives you freedom to work the hours you want to work, earn the money you want to earn, and have the career you want to have,” Proud concluded. 

    Getting back to basics – inspiring children with stories, retraining loyal staff, and promoting the flexibility of the tech industry – was the main solution to address the workforce shortage. 

    “This is a long term game,” Proud said. “If we can start to inspire kids to have aspirations for themselves, to embrace education to then take hold of opportunity, then we would benefit as well.”

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  17. Consumer Data Privacy Concerns at an All Time High

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    OpenText has conducted a survey analysing consumer views on data privacy. This is juxtaposed to their 2020 survey, and consumer concern over data privacy is on the rise. 

    Almost half of British consumers surveyed say they would no longer use or buy from a company they were previously loyal to if it failed to protect or leak their personal data.

    Furthermore, just over three quarters (77%) of Brits worry more about their personal data now that organisations operate distributed work models. 

    While this is a large percentage of Brits committing to this ideal, it may not prove true. Major corporations have dealt with significant data breaches, including Google, Meta, and LinkedIn, and users still flock in the millions to use their services. 

    For these companies, a lack of alternatives may protect them from losing customers amid data privacy concerns, but for organisations with contendable competitors, data security practices would be a must to secure their customer base. 

    60% of Brits say they would be willing to pay more to use or buy from an organisation that expressed their commitment to personal data protection. Today, this high figure may be impacted by the cost of living crisis as consumers will have to shift their economic priorities. 

    The study notes that the pandemic has dramatically changed the way people think about their data – 29% of UK consumers are concerned that their data will be kept by the NHS even after track and trace has been left behind. 

    In addition, awareness of data privacy laws in general has increased since March 2020, with 52% of Brits saying they have a ‘vague’ idea of data privacy legislation, a stark increase from 36% at the beginning of the first lockdown.

    Read more from DIGIT Expo

    However, Brits who consider themselves ‘very’ aware of data privacy laws have actually decreased since the start of the pandemic, from 48% to 39% in 2022. 

    This is perhaps sparked by changes in privacy laws around the UK, the introduction of GDPR and the proposed changes in the current legislation. An increased education on specific data privacy laws is therefore required. 

    79% of consumers have taken the steps to protect themselves, knowing how to secure data on apps, email and social media accounts. However, they may not be doing enough – only 40% of consumers regularly check their privacy setting for best practice. 

    With increased concern and awareness, businesses need to level up to gain and retain consumer trust. 

    Andy Teichholz, Global Industry Strategist, Compliance and Legal at OpenText said “In today’s post-pandemic world, organisations must unlock their information advantage, to protect their customers’ information and, in doing so, allay their concerns and retain their trust.”

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  18. Six Cybersecurity Trends for 2023

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    Cyber crime is on the rise, as several new studies show cyberattacks are a national and international threat to countries, businesses, and private citizens. 

    From ransomware and social media hacks to full on crypto-warfare, the need for robust cybersecurity has never been more dire. Businesses are looking for guidance on how to brace themselves for the increasing risks of the digital era. 

    SCC Cyber’s  data shows a 300% increase in searches for ‘how can ransomware be prevented’ over the last three months. Meanwhile, concerns over ‘IoT hacking’ have risen by 125% since August, and searches for ‘cyber security legislation’ have increased by 133% year on year. 

    Paul Allen, practice director at the IT managed solutions company SCC Cyber, identified the top six trends in cybersecurity to keep an eye on for 2023. 

    1 – People

    The number one trend SCC cyber identified as being crucial in 2023 are people. This is amid the drastic gap in the cybersecurity workforce demand and supply. 

    Even though the cybersecurity workforce is at an all time high, about 3.4 million more workers are needed to meet the global demand for this growing industry. 

    Skilled staff need to be won, retained, and listened to, Allen advises, as skilled cyber workers can pick and choose the companies they work for. 

    While AI and Machine Learning (ML) are huge in cybersecurity, they are also the tools of attackers – skilled people can therefore make all the difference in shoring up cyber defences. 

    Investing and developing a team of strongly skilled people will enable internal growth and development, the advice report states. 

    2 – Ransomware / Extortion 

    Ransomware and extortion were major threats in 2022 – and it appears the latter is on the rise. 

    Extortion is essentially ransomware without encryption, making it easier for attackers to extort money for people’s personal information with less time and effort. 

    Ransomware has been identified as the ‘most acute threat’ facing the UK’s cybersecurity, in a report by the NCSC. 

    Allen calls for a ‘structured and consistent approach’ to mitigate these cyberattacks. A ‘maturity plan’ is essential to ensure cybersecurity amid this growing threat. 

    Staff training, as well as auditing email security, backups, and internal governance to ensure the confidentiality of data is integral to this planning. 

    3 – Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

    While Allen notes that AI and ML can be game changing in a sector with a staff supply shortage, they need to be applied and used responsibly. 

    Skilled people and a defined governance is essential to use AI and ML responsibly, and these technologies will greatly aid more mature companies. 

    The application of AI and ML should be about reducing business risk, not just using expensive technology with no credible benefits. 

    4 – AI and ML as Pressure Reducers 

    While the rest of the advice warns of the potential impact AI reliance will have on inexperienced teams, AI and MI provide major benefits. 

    AI and ML technology is well known for reducing overall workload by analysing massive amounts of data in a shortened time span, enabling threats to be identified efficiently and effectively. 

    As businesses mature, AI and ML technology will help them expand their capabilities even if they cannot expand their team. 

    5 – Expansion of IoT

    Though IoT technology is growing in popularity, its security standards need to catch up. Vulnerabilities of IoT tech is well documented, and is falling behind even as the technology becomes more widespread. 

    Ineffective software development and poor design standards can leave networks vulnerable to attack. Also, a lack of physical hardening and insecure storage and transmission of data make many IoT devices easy targets for cybercriminals. 

    Microsoft’s new report outlining cybersecurity risks globally showed IoT devices as a major risk for hackers, as they provide openings to networks with little security. 

    The affordability of many IoT devices means that they are often left unmanaged and untracked, leaving room for hackers to take advantage. 

    Malware can easily target mass-produced IoT devices, especially those without built in security functions. 

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    Security tooling specific to IoT devices can enable risk assessment, and then wider monitoring solutions can be taken to reduce overall risk. 

    6 – Legislation (both in the UK and EU)

    Government action for cybersecurity is a growing trend, coming in the form of legislation and initiatives via government bodies. 

    Last year, the UK government introduced the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill, designed to codify rules and regulations for technology manufactures to better ensure security measures are taken in IoT technologies. 

    Government agencies in the UK are also taking action: the NCSC has launched a new ‘scanning’ system to audit devices and networks to identify vulnerabilities and track security measures. 

    Businesses need to both consider if they are staying in line with changing legislation, and be aware of helpful initiatives to keep theri devices and networks secure.

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  19. Employee Engagement App Trickle Gets New COO Appointment

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    Trickle, the Edinburgh-based employee engagement and wellbeing company, has appointed Amanda Kerley as Chief Operating Officer.

    Kerley has been with Trickle since 2020, most recently as Customer Wellbeing Lead, and experience lies within the retail, property and legal sectors.  She will oversee the execution of Trickle’s strategies to help meet the company’s future growth plans.

    Launched in 2019 and headquartered in Edinburgh, Trickle’s client base includes the Scottish Government, over half of the country’s regional health boards and the Scottish Ambulance Service.

    The Trickle app gives employees the opportunity to make suggestions, raise concerns and reach out for support to their employers in real-time.

    The platform claims to support employee wellness and is sector agnostic, working with public, private and third sector organisations of any size.

    Trickle’s platform features an analytics dashboard which helps organisations understand the needs of their employees and identify emerging issues in real-time, so leaders know where to focus their attention when making improvements.

    Trickle’s CEO, Paul Reid said: “Amanda has proved a brilliant addition to the business since her arrival.”

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    “Her appointment will put Trickle in a strong position as we continue to drive growth across the public and private sectors,” Reid said.

    Commenting on her new appointment, Kerley said: “Trickle continues to go from strength to strength, as more organisations recognise the importance of employee experience and wellbeing when it comes to recruiting and retaining talent.

    “I am excited to join Paul in the leadership team to support the company through its next stage of growth, as we venture into new markets by highlighting Trickle’s benefits across all sectors.”

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  20. UK Environment Tech Faces Challenges Amid Progress

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    The Climate Report 2022, created by Tech Nation, has been published ahead of COP27, highlighting the advances made by tech companies fighting climate change. 

    Key UK Metrics 

    The UK was found to be only second to the US in terms of the number of climate tech firms and startups, with over 5,200 climate tech companies. 

    Of the $111 billion USD raised by startups globally in 2021, four billion was raised by companies in the UK. 

    Climate tech investment rose overall, due to two main factors: a ballooning investor appetite due to proven demand and market readiness, and an increase in public awareness, moving climate tech into the mainstream.

    The UK currently has nine climate tech unicorns, including Octopus Energy, Britishvolt, Newcleo, Depop, ITM Power, Ceres, OVO Energy, Smart Metering Systems (SMS plc), and Vertical Aerospace. 

    These account for just 7% of the total UK tech unicorns currently out there, but this number is likely to grow, according to the data. 

    The report also looked at how effective each country’s action was. The UK is investing $17-19  per tonne of CO2 it emits. This is markedly behind Estonia’s investment of $79 per tonne and Swedens’ investment of $453 per tonne. The UK is, however, ahead of France, the US, and Germany. 

    UK Climate Tech Startups Struggle 

    Over 70% of startups and scale-ups identify partnerships and sales as major challenges in scaling and growth initiatives. 

    For climate tech companies, these challenges heighten as there’s an inherent need to seek out environmentally-focused consumers who understand the benefits of sustainable work. 

    Climate tech companies cited several different scaling up challenges, including expansion into Europe, hiring talented employees, setting up a business strategy, and raising Series A investment. 

    Securing this level of funding is particularly more challenging for environment techs, within the traditional business environment, due to their higher risk, deep tech nature, and their focus on environmental impact over profit. 

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    The nature of climate technology offers unique challenges to startups as well. This includes supply chain contractions, as they often rely on unusual materials to introduce innovative, sustainable technologies. Market interference is even more impactful, as losing access to materials can completely halt a business’s production. 

    Decreasing funds for early-stage startups is impacting the growth of the climate tech sector globally. The UK in particular is struggling as its climate tech ecosystem is not as mature as its US and European counterparts. 

    The report warns that the UK risks losing out on future major tech stars if they do not invest enough capital early on, especially in the climate tech sector. This would also make their climate ambitions even more difficult to meet. 

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  21. Connectivity Consultancy FarrPoint Expands With Five New Hires

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    Edinburgh-based technology consultancy FarrPoint has expanded its team with five new hires to support the organisation’s continued growth.

    The new appointments include Alex Innes, who joins the company’s Board. With over a decade’s experience in finance, corporate law, risk management and governance, Alex joins the FarrPoint Board to provide additional support as the consultancy aims to continue its expansion in new markets and geographies.

    Former BT Openreach Programme Director, James Carsley has been hired as Senior Consultant. Carsley brings over ten years’ experience in senior connectivity project management to his new role and will focus on FarrPoint’s major connectivity intervention projects.

    Other new hires include GIS Analyst Will Carter, a data consultant who has previously worked on major projects in the transport, utilities, and central government sectors for Esri.

    Anna Fearon brings her campaign management expertise to join as the new Marketing Executive, and Marianna Birzniece joins FarrPoint’s accounts team as the new Finance Manager.

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    Andrew Muir, CEO, FarrPoint, said: “FarrPoint is committed to demonstrating the social and economic benefits of connectivity by providing our clients with trusted advice. To do that, we need good people, so it has been a privilege to welcome Alex, James, Will, Anna and Marianna to the business.”

    FarrPoint acts as an adviser for Project Gigabit for both the Scottish and Welsh governments, and has just signed a new three-year contract with the Highlands and Islands Enterprise. Their new contracts lead to this recent expansion.

    “This wave of recruitment brings a strong and varied set of skills to FarrPoint, allowing us to continue to deliver top quality projects for our clients.”

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  22. What is the Current Data Telling Us About Cyberattacks?

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    The sophistication of cyberattacks, accelerated by the ‘hybrid war’ in Ukraine, has ushered in a new age of conflict that nations and businesses will have to face. 

    Microsoft’s Digital Defence Report 2022  was just released, reflecting a startling trend in the increased commonality and destructiveness of cyberattacks. 

    We typically think that nation-state cyberattacks merely target other nation-states, which is problematic enough. 

    The report, however, highlights how the sophistication of cybercriminals and the increasing reliance on digital technology has expanded the influence of cyberattacks, and transformed strategies across the digital landscape. 

    Any vulnerability in the digital world can be exploited to allow nation-state attackers to target the digital infrastructure and security of a nation. 

    The UK was found to be one of the most targeted countries for cyberattacks by nation-state actors. 

    This comes after the NCSC’s Annual Review, showing that 34 million cyber attack alerts were issued by the centre in the past year. 

    The report also comes after experts warn of the spread of misinformation on social media before the midterm elections in the US, particularly after acquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk and the subsequent firing of thousands of IT workers at the social media giant. 

    Of the major concerns the report raises, cyber-influence operations were shown to be growing in their importance and scale as the globe continually battles misinformation and propaganda on social media sites. 

    The Cybercrime Landscape

    Cybercrime has become more sophisticated – while password hacking and ransomware are still the most common methods, the ecosystem of cybercrimes has become self-sustaining. 

    Cybercrime-as-a-service has become industrialised, with marketplaces verifying their products and criminals using analytics to maximise their reach. 

    This has made it easier for cybercriminals to enter the market as well as advance their skills and scope – attacks are increasingly ‘audacious,’ targeting governments, businesses and critical infrastructure. 

    Internet of things devices are also targeted – unpatched routers allow hackers to infiltrate networks for attacks. 

    Cybercriminals enter at any vulnerability, using lateral movements to access their targeted networks. 

    Microsoft says the most effective defence would include multi-factor authentication, frequent security patches, and Zero Trust principles. 

    Nation-State Threats 

    Nation-states’ use of cyberattacks are on the rise, with more sophisticated attacks evading detection and advancing their political influence. 

    Russia’s use of cyber warfare in Ukraine is already notorious, as they used wiper malware to target Ukrainian services, and launched missiles on physical data centres. 

    Globally, there has been increased targeting of critical infrastructure, especially IT and financial services and transportation and communication systems. 

    Nations have identified and exploited unpatched vulnerabilities, using the IT supply chain as a ‘gateway’ to targets. 

    Advancements in cloud infrastructure, automation and remote access technologies have enabled nation state actors to increase their range of activity and targets. 

    The war in Ukraine has seen a change in overall data protection strategies. 

    “Before the invasion of Ukraine, governments thought that data needed to stay inside a country in order to be secure,” Crisitn Flynn Goodwin, Associate General Counsel, Customer Security and Trust at Microsoft said in the report. 

    “After the invasion, migrating data to the cloud and moving outside territorial borders is no a part of resilience planning and good governance.”

    Devices and Infrastructure 

    One of the major vulnerabilities nations face is in their digital infrastructure. 

    The pandemic sparked an overall increase in the use of digital devices and has called for major investments into digital infrastructure around the globe. 

    IT hardware and software security has increased, but Internet of Things and Operational Technology devices have not kept pace with security threats. 

    Attackers are increasingly using these vulnerable devices to infiltrate corporate networks, moving laterally once they find an opening. 

    The report found that 32% of the firmware analysed contained at least 10 known vulnerabilities. 

    Attacks on remote management devices have increased five fold in the past year. 

    The European Commission has proposed the Cyber Resilience Act to mitigate the security risk of connected devices. 

    The UK has drafted a bill which would require connected devices to stop using default passwords. 

    These simple acts are part of the basic security ‘hygiene’ the report says can mitigate most cybersecurity attacks. 

    Microsoft therefore called for a ‘consistent global framework’ to address these sophisticated attacks. 

    Cyber Influence Operations

    The use of cyber infiltration to promote propaganda and spread misinformation is also on the rise, and is of a global concern. 

    Skilled Advanced Persistent Manipulator actors use everything at their disposal, including social media, to increase the reach and influence of their propaganda. 

    ‘Synthetic media’ is becoming commonplace as more tools enable the creation and spread of artificial media. 

    Social media was used by Russia to spread propaganda surrounding their invasion of Ukraine, and the report found the they and other sanctions used social media to increase their international influence. 

    Cyber resilience 

    Interestingly, despite consistently referencing the increased sophistication of cyberattacks, the report said basic cyber hygiene could prevent most attacks. 

    Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) activity was found to be of unprecedented complexity and scale in the past year, meaning that resiliency is more important than ever. 

    Steps Being Taken 

    The NCSC is launching a new scanning system to analyse vulnerabilities to cyber attacks in UK systems. 

    Specifically, the NCSC will investigate any vulnerabilities in internet-enabled systems throughout the UK, allowing the organisation to assess their level of exposure and track mitigation attempts. 

    This audit should prove vital in ensuring a holistic approach to increasing security, as all fronts need to be prepared for cyber threats and attacks.

  23. Public Trust ‘Key’ to Building an Ethical Digital Scotland

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    The Scottish Government has published its new plan to create an ‘ethical digital nation.’

    Titled Building Trust in the Digital Era: Achieving Scotland’s Aspirations as an Ethical Digital Nation, the report details the importance of maintaining ethics in the face of a digitising world. 

    The report identified key themes Scotland needs to address in order to launch the country into the digital era in an ethical and sustainable way. 

    Digital Inclusion

    Digital inclusion was a main factor in keeping Scotland’s digital future ethical. 

    While digitisation and digital transformation can help make the world more accessible and fair, it can often go just the opposite as well. 

    “For one thing, access to digital, and the skills to use it, are unevenly distributed and may potentially exacerbate inequalities, particularly as services have moved to ‘digital first,’” the report said. 

    Checking decision making algorithms in the public and private sectors is essential – the report encouraged external audits to ensure transparency. 

    Having a ‘human in the loop’ when implementing automated decision making was a major factor that the report encouraged would allow for “better situation judgement” on major decisions. 

    Infrastructure was also a major factor in digital inclusivity. Unequal access to broadband and phone services could hold entire regions of Scotland back. 

    Further, disabilities, a lack of education, and language barriers could make the shift to ‘digital by default’ exacerbate current inequalities. 

    The cost of living crisis is already depleting the population’s disposable income, which is also a major factor in the technology they can access. 

    Public Trust

    Ensuring public trust in the use of data and digital technology was a major theme throughout the report, and needs to be “at the forefront of all decision making.”

    Top-down legislation and regulation is vital in order to protect people’s privacy while allowing data to be collected and used for good. 

    The report states that a ‘National Digital Guardian’ needs to be established to address the gaps in the governing of digital innovations, as it is often unclear what institutions are formally in charge of regulation. 

    Multiple strategies for involving citizens should be pursued, rule of law and standards must be adhered to through transparency, and honest conversations about difficult trade offs must be had.

    Continued investment in cybersecurity capacity is essential and given the workforce shortage, automated tech will have to play a role, so it is also vital to produce ethical tech in this regard. 

    Another key area of public trust is the proportional use of monitoring and surveillance technology across the public and private sectors. A need to establish ‘ethical limits’ to these technologies was noted in the report. 

    A ‘Green’ Digital Scotland 

    “Scotland is leading the way in green tech,” according to the report. 

    Recommendations to keep Scotland on this path included investing in e-waste recycling facilities, and mandating that digital products allow for repair and recycling. 

    Of course, working with businesses to reduce carbon emissions was also a top priority listed in the report. 

    The Future of Work

    The report called for more data on how the government can track the overall effects of digital transformation. 

    While the tech sector is growing, these jobs can be classified as ‘elite’ and may not contribute to the benefit of the majority of the public. 

    An increased use of automation may appear as a threat to certain jobs, and an increase in surveillance and monitoring may impact worker’s autonomy.

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    Achieving a balance by involving the public in decision making is the goal set out in the report.

    Algorithms and Data

    While ethics was the main theme of the entire report, the use of algorithms and data to inform decision making is a major point of moral contention across the world. 

    Algorithms require human oversight and “appropriate, potentially participator governance” to ensure they are applied fairly and equitably. 

    Alrognirthims should also be explained and transparent – “there should always be a way to determine how a decision was made.”

    External audits and human sense checks were the practical recommendations made to achieve ethical goals. 

    Data protection laws, which are likely to change, must also be adhered to as data is collected and used to, hopefully, help decision making processes fair and equitable.

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  24. New Data Lab Course Seeks to Address Gap in Digital Skills

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    More reliant on data than ever, Scottish businesses can now access a course aimed at upskilling leaders to use data more effectively. 

    The Data Leaders Programme, piloted by The Data Lab, hopes to address the glaring gap in digital skills seen across UK businesses. 

    A recent study found that though 80% of UK businesses use digital data, about a third of employees do not feel capable of using or interpreting data. 

    Business leaders’ digital skills are also lacking, as the same study found half of them to not feel equipped with handling or analysing data. 

    The programme aims to build a community of business leaders in Scotland fully equipped with the skills and knowledge to harness data to drive Scotland’s economic success.

    Heather Thomson, Head of Skills at The Data Lab said: “Launching the Data Leaders course comes at a time when those running organisations of all sizes and sectors are focused on upskilling to support growth.”

    The digital skills gap is likely hindering this growth, and is costing the UK over £12 billion.

    Additionally, another study found that over 50% of employees have had no data training from their employers, and that this could severely impact job progression and business growth. 

    The Data Lab hopes this programme – which was piloted in 2021 – will address these issues, allowing business to use data to gain valuable insights and harness growth opportunities. 

    Jamie Boyd, Growth Programme Manager of Social Bite said: “The course was essential for me to expand my knowledge and vocabulary, gain the confidence to assess projects, and develop a strong data strategy for Social Bite to facilitate future growth.”

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    The Data Lab capitalised on a rise in demand for digital skills, and hopes to welcome more entrepreneurs who are interested in developing their leadership skills to implement a data strategy. 

    Non-technically inclined business leaders need not be intimated as, in Boyd’s words, “the programme showed me that analysing data doesn’t need to be done by a data scientist – it can be incorporated successfully into any role.”

    The course’s official launch coincides with the Data Summit also run by data lab, and will be open to leaders in all sectors. Applications are open until the 30th of November and the course runs in February of this coming year. 

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  25. Radical Change Required for Scotland’s Data Gap

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    Data needs to be a national asset, rather than a burden, Audit Scotland says in a new blog post. 

    The claim follows a roundtable hosted by the organisation with representatives from the public sector and academia. 

    The roundtable deemed Scotland’s current data landscape as ‘a bit of a mess.’

    Data is a vital tool in solving any issue, the blog contends, and we’ve just seen its importance in the pandemic. 

    Population and hospital data was essential for the vaccine roll out and to keep track of the spread of Covid-19, as well as keeping track of hospitalisations and staff shortages across the NHS. 

    Still, data was missing from the overall Covid-19 response, as it was impossible to analyse how effectively funding was dispensed to businesses due to a lack of follow-up statistics. 

    Gemma Diamond, the Audit Director, Performance Audit and Best Value, who wrote the blog post, lamented on data being reported, but not used to tackle Scotland’s problems. 

    Public sector bodies often struggle to secure the evidence and data they need to study the effectiveness of spending strategies and other policies. 

    Barriers often include a lack of digital skills, non-centralised data systems and standards, as well as the perceived difficulty and expense of collecting data. 

    Data needs to be seen as a “key to better policy decisions” in Scotland, Diamond wrote.

    Audit Scotland called for bold decisions to address the gap, listing their recommendations for national and local governments. 

    Weeding out duplication of data was of primary importance, this means resources can be used to focus on preventative measures and data required to tackle Scotland’s biggest problems. 

    Building data skills and creating a data culture across public bodies is also essential. 

    In a recent study by techUK, Scotland ranked 6th in digital skills across the UK, but glaring regional discrepancies were also found. 

    Diamond acknowledged that these radical movements will require investment and resources, and priorities may have to realign. 

    Scotland should be well geared to tackle this data gap, Diamond assured – as a small country, Scotland can capitalise on collaboration, especially with universities and the private sector to advance best practice. 

    Audit Scotland provides guidance for how they can lessen the data gap. Adopting common data standards, making data discoverable, and creating a ‘collaborative culture’ to use the data are some of the aims. 

    Creating a national data commitment was a priority on the national level, as well as prioritising data skills and infrastructure. 

    Parts of Scotland are behind with regards to its digital infrastructure, especially rural regions, potentially widening this gap and making local government action even more vital.  

    Developing a data culture for everyone, not just data experts, investing in data skills, and focusing on data that will address important issues were local level priorities for the public sector. 

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    Some general considerations Diamond noted in the blog were concerns over data harvesting from the public, urging for transparency in how data is collected and used. 

    “People need to trust and understand what is happening with data and how decisions are being made,” Diamond wrote. 

    Public sector leaders are urged to make their current data capabilities clear so collaboration can occur, and larger issues in Scotland can be addressed. 

    “What we do know,” Diamond wrote, “is that when public bodies get data right it can make difficult things easier.” 

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  26. Scots Company Partners With NASA for ISS Tech Launch

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    Alpha Data, based in Edinburgh and Denver, Colorado, has developed software and hardware claimed to be ‘crucial’ for new NASA technology deployed from the International Space Station. 

    The tech is being used on the Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT), launching from the space station in July. 

    Developed with NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), EMIT seeks to add critical knowledge to our understanding of the Earth’s atmosphere and dust cycle, contributing to the advancement of climate science. 

    The instrument consists of an imaging spectrometer which will analyse visible and infrared light to determine the composition of mineral dust clouds to determine their role in the warming and cooling of the atmosphere.

    Alpha Data’s Colorado team designed and manufactured the Focal Plane Interface Electronics – Digital (FBIE-D) which handles interface between the spectrometer, the ISS, and ground teams, as well as managing the data while in space. 

    The Edinburgh team developed the software and firmware used to run and configure the FPIE-D through an adaptive system-on-ship Field Programmable Gate Array (Soc FPGA).

    This will allow the FPIE-D to digitise, store, and transmit the images it takes to teams on the ground and in the space station. 

    EMIT will observe the Earth in advanced detail, tracking the patterns of mineral dust clouds and how they affect the atmosphere’s temperature.

    EMIT’s principle investigator and senior research scientist at the JPL, Robert Green, lamented the earlier days of space research, noting the massive improvement of the new technology. 

    “With this exceptional performance, we are on track to comprehensively map the minerals of Earth’s arid regions – about 25% of the Earth’s land surface – in less than a year and achieve our climate science objectives.”

     NASA hopes the technology and project will illuminate our knowledge on the atmosphere and advance climate science. 

    Kate Calvin, NASA’s Chief Scientist and Senior Climate Advisor, said: “The data we’re getting from EMIT will give us more insight into the heating and cooling of Earth, and the role mineral dust plays in that cycle.”

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    The amount of data already collected by the mission is “promising,” Calvin continued.

    David Dolman, Senior FPGA, Electronics, and Software Design Engineer of Alpha Data who led the Alpha Data EMIT development said: “The EMIT mission will advance our knowledge and understanding of dust’s effects throughout the Earth system and to human populations now and in the future.

    This instrument sets a new standard in high-performance onboard processing and storage of data that is being used on the Space Station.”

  27. What are the Leading Causes for Individual GDPR Fines?

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    A new report by Privacy Affairs tracked individual fines for GDPR violations, unveiling some of the most common reasons for offences. 

    The total number of GDPR fines since the law came into force in 2018 is 1,186, but only large fines against major corporations tend to make the news. 

    Still, private citizens can just as easily end up in court for data privacy violations. Below are the most common ways individuals ended up receiving fines for breaking GDPR. 

    CCTV 

    The report found that the majority of GDPR violations made by private citizens were related to their use of CCTV. 

    CCTV for private homes is legal, as long as public spaces and others’ private property is not recorded. This included public roads and pavements and neighbor’s property. 

    The Spanish Data Protection Authority fined a private citizen 3,000 euros for their CCTV which covered public spaces.

    The individuals was not only fined for the use of the cameras, but for not properly informing the public of the camera’s presence. 

    By covering any public spaces with personal surveillance cameras, a person automatically becomes a ‘data controller’ under GDPR law. 

    In the UK, a private citizen was sued over the camera found in their smart doorbell, which was found to cover public spaces and their neighbor’s property, breaching data laws. 

    The landmark case caused the ICO to issue new guidance on domestic CCTV use. 

    Those using surveillance equipment were advised to only record their own private property, but if this was not possible, to make the public aware of the presence of the CCTVs, limit its use, delete footage, and respond to access requests from those filmed. 

    Social Media Pictures 

    Consent is the main theme of GDPR violations, and nowhere is this more pertinent than in social media. 

    A Spanish individual was fined 6,000 euros for sharing a video on social media of other individuals without their consent. As the faces were not pixelated, the individual would have required consent to post the video. 

    Even posting random people in public earned one photographer a fine, who had to pay 800 euros after posting pictures of strangers at the beach.

    Dashcam Footage 

    A German citizen was fined for posting dashcam footage on youtube. 

    UK law concerning personal dashcams appears to differ from Europe, perhaps because a display of personal dashcam footage on the wider web has not been challenged yet.

    The ICO, as of 2021, states that only company dashcams need to worry about GDPR. 

    Unsolicited Emails 

    Unsolicited emails tend to be considered an issue for businesses, but private individuals can be fined as well. A German citizen was fined 2,500 euros for sending emails that allowed recipients to view other user’s email addresses. 

    Catfishing

    GDPR law treats catfishing as a case of identity theft, allowing individuals to sue those who use their personal data for impersonation purposes. 

    An individual in Ireland was fined for using someone’s personal photos to impersonate them on Tinder and Whatsapp. 

    GDPR: A Personal Issue 

    Since 2018, GDPR fines have amassed to over two billion euros, with the largest fine being 746,000 euros levied against Amazon in Luxembourg. 

    Though the large company violations and fines make the headlines, it is important to remember that GDPR laws affect private individuals as well. 

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    As the UK government works on branching away from GDPR and creating a new data protection framework, it is important to consider how these changes will affect personal data collection. 

    This is especially concerning for freelance artists and photographers who rely on social media platforms for much of their business outreach – new data privacy laws may make their obligations of personal data sharing more complex. 

    Further, the current government’s aim to simplify data protection laws are still hazy, and aligning business concerns with data protection initiatives is often counterintuitive. 

    Private citizens in the UK should therefore stay up to date on these changing laws, both to protect their own data and ensure they comply with the regulations to avoid fines. 

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  28. New Study Tracks Rise of Online Scams and Hacking

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    A report by Veriff focussing on ONS Crime statistics in England and Wales since 2014 seeks to illuminate trends in online scams and hacking.

    The study found that Social media hacks have increased by 274% since 2014.

    In 2021 alone, there were over 400,000 reports of online fraud and cybercrime in the UK. Activity in this space rose by a third between April 2020 and March 2021.

    Trends over the past eight years likely reflect the rise and fall of different online industries. 

    Social media hacking has seen the largest increase, while lottery scams saw the largest decrease since 2014. 

    “Over the years, we can see how the current climate in the UK and around the world has impacted the rise and fall in scams during that same time period,” Caroline Mogford, Chief Marketing Officer at Veriff said. 

    Online shopping scams were the largest of its kind in the pandemic years, as Brits had an increased dependence on these kinds of services

    The most common of these were online auctions, where anonymous scammers pose as sellers of popular items for cheap prices. 

    Passport application fraud also went down, likely due to the pandemic dampening people’s international travel plans. 

    Despite an overall downturn in the past eight years, lottery scams increased between 2019 and 2021 by 55%, perhaps fueled by the cost-of-living crisis driving more people to resort to the lottery.

    Extortion crimes saw a sharp rise in 2017 as more consumers turned to cryptocurrency. Which? found that 20% of online fraud victims payed scammers using cryptocurrency in 2022. 

    “We’ve also seen a rise in hacking scams with more and more people sharing personal information about themselves across social media,”  Mogford said. 

    Fraud cases increased during the pandemic overall by 33%, according to Which?’s analysis. 

    The market for hacked digital information grew between February 2021 and June 2022, according to a report by Privacy Affairs. Products on the dark web are more diverse than ever, with hacked cryptocurrency and web services on the rise. 

    Whizcase also found that prices for hacked social media accounts are lower, and demand has grown. LinkedIn and Gmail accounts were the most expensive hacked products, but still only cost $45 USD each. 

    Despite a rise in cybercrime, the UK Justice committee found that though fraud accounted for 40% of crimes reported, efforts to combat fraud only amassed to 2% of total police funding.

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    Action Fraud, a tool used by police to track fraud and help victims, was also found to be ‘unfit for purpose,’ according to the committee. 

    The Justice Committee urged the government to work with key stakeholders in the tech industry to prevent cybercrime and protect consumers. 

    Veriff’s report hopes to shed light on patterns in targeted mediums to prevent further cybercrimes.

    “Not only will understanding past scams help to prevent them from rising again, but it will also help to predict what scams might occur as a result of what is currently happening across the globe,” Mogford said. 

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  29. UK Police Use of Facial Recognition Found to be ‘Unethical’

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    A new audit system, created by Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy, was used to assess the Police’s compliance with standards of transparency, equality, and fairness surrounding their use of AI facial recognition.  

    Using UK guidelines in the Data Protection and Equality acts, as well as previous court cases, the audit assessed the use of facial recognition in three case studies in England and Wales. 

    “Building a unique audit system enabled us to examine the issues of privacy, equality, accountability, and oversight that should accompany any use of such technologies by the police,” Professor Gina Neff, Executive Director at the Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy said.

    Case Studies in the UK

    The case studies included the Bridges court case in South Wales, where Police used Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) to scan crowds and compare faces to known criminals in real time. The Court of Appeals found the use of FRT unlawful. 

    In another case, the Met’s use of live FRT would likely have been found unlawful if challenged in court as there was a lack of oversight, transparency and formal review in how the technology was used. 

    The Met Police’s use of FRT also did not have any demographic reviews to evaluate if it perpetuated racial profiling. Internal reviews into the technology’s racial and gender bias were also not disclosed to the public. 

    A further case study in the South Wales department was investigated, this time in their use of mobile phone operated facial recognition. While the report noted improvements, a major concern was the retention of images of innocent people who were arrested but not convicted, which are unlawful to keep. 

    Findings 

    All three case studies lead to the same conclusions: a lack of transparency, accountability and oversight plagued the use of facial recognition in the police force. 

    The Police have largely hidden the amount of data that is harvested and have not published their internal audits to find if their own technology is biassed, the report found. 

    A lack of formal legislation regulating the use of AI and facial recognition leaves little room for accountability for when these technologies are used by police. 

    Evani Radiya-Dixit, a visiting fellow at Cambridge’s Minderoo Centre and lead author, noted the “lack of robust redress mechanisms” available to the public to legally challenge the use of facial recognition by police.

    The House of Lords Committee on Justice and Home Affairs noted the lack of formal legislation regulating the use of facial recognition, leaving little room for accountability for the misuse of these technologies. 

    Similarly, the Ryder Review commission by The Ada Lovelace Institute found that the current legal framework was not ‘fit for purpose’ to regulate the use of the biometrics. 

    The report also found a lack of independent oversight over the use of FRT and noted lack of human input in the use of the recognition technology. 

    A Global Issue

    The concern for Police’s use of AI facial recognition is global – the same technology used by the Metropolitan police was found to have misidentified Black men in the United States, leading to wrongful arrests. 

    The EU and UN High Commissioners for Human rights have called for the prohibition of FRT in public spaces. 

    In Scotland, the Parliament’s Justice Sub-Committee on Policing said that facial recognition technology was ‘not ‘fit for use’.

    Overall Concerns 

    Racial bias was a major concern flagged by the report: FRT disproportionately misidentified marginalised groups including women, people of colour and people with disabilities. FRT could therefore exacerbate the already existing bias in policing found in the UK. 

    The UK Police has been under fire from human rights protesters for infringements on privacy and the freedom of expression. 

    The report warned of the potential fall out of the increased use of FRT in police investigations, with the fear of potential consequences. 

    After the passing of the new Police, Crime, and Sentencing Courts Act 2022, which gave police more power in restricting protestors, the use of live FRT could make the public more fearful of public political engagement. 

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    Another concern raised by the report is the collaboration of Police with ethically dubious private technology firms. The Met Police’s Live Facial Recognition technology is sources from NEC Corporation, the same company used by US federal agents to target immigrant groups. 

    “To protect human rights and improve accountability in how technology is used, we must ask what values we want to embed in technology,” said the report’s lead author Radiya-Dixit.

    Due to the gaps in regulation and a failure to meet their ethical standards, the report led the researchers to join the growing call to ban the police’s use of facial recognition in public spaces.

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  30. New 5G Innovation Hub Launched to Promote Digital Transformation

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    The Scotland 5G Centre has officially opened a new S5GConnect Innovation Hub in Kilmarnock, partnering with Vodafone and HALO. 

    This follows another hub that was recently launched in Aberdeen, and will be the 5th opened by the Scotland 5G Centre. Other hubs can be found in Forth Valley, Dundee, and Dumfries. 

    Local businesses can take advantage of the hub’s 5G Mobile Private Network, which promises to improve productivity, decrease downtimes, enhance digital security, and improve customer experience, all while reducing costs and carbon footprints.

    Sharon Neely, Business Engagement Manager of S5GConnect HALO Kilmarnock said: “The Innovation hub provides knowledge, expertise and space for businesses to prototype, design and trial goods and services over a private 5G network.”

    At the official launch, local businesses heard how the Centre is working with the private and public sectors to enhance businesses through applying 5G.  

    A series of demonstrations by partnered associations showcased 5G’s potential in Scotland. 

    The University of Glasgow, a founding partner of the Centre, highlighted how organisations can maximise energy efficiency by monitoring room capacity and desk occupancy using AI techniques. 

    Vodafone promoted their Mixed Reality technology as a training aid for complex tasks, and as a remote tool to support on-site engineers. 

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    A security company with offices in Glasgow, Digital Barriers, showcased their combined 5G and AI technology in an object identifying and facial recognition demo. 

    The hub’s launch is another step in The S5GConnect Programme’s goal of delivering the Scottish Government’s 5G strategy across the nation. 

    “We look forward to supporting local companies and local public sector bodies, to help them to unlock the benefits of 5G enabled technology and how it allows them to achieve a step change in their business,” Neely added. 

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  31. Trading in Old Tech Could Earn Brits an Extra £7,000

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    A new study shows that Brits could earn serious money by trading in old tech products. 

    The research, conducted by OKdo, found that Brits are hoarding  up to £1.68 billion in old tech products, with an average household having 60 unused tech items. 

    As part of the study, OKdo surveyed 2000 UK residents in October of 2021, and found that two-thirds have at least one old charger in their home. 

    Around half of respondents were found to have at least one old laptop rummaging in their cupboards while 51% revealed they had an old smartphone they no longer used. 

    Making it Worth Your While

    There is a combined economic and environmental benefit to recycling old and unused tech items.

    Brits could get anywhere from between £100 to £7,750 for all their old tech, according to Mazuma estimates. 

    Smartphones, for example, range from £5 to £470 per item, with iPhones topping at £860.

    Windows-enabled laptops go from anywhere between £5 to £165, and Macs can earn around £360. 

    In addition, old games consoles could fetch £135, while an iPad could cost up to £610. 

    Prices typically range with how recent a product is, as well as how much functionality it still holds.

    Around one-third of Brits admit that the tech they have is not in working condition, with 10% knowing their tech is fully non-functional. 

    Environmental Impact

    A reason for ‘tech hoarding’ may simply be a lack of awareness, research shows. One-third (33%) of Brits say they don’t know how to dispose of, or recycle, their tech – and this is causing a major loss of resources.

    The World Economic forum values the world’s estimated  e-waste at £46 billion. Continually extracting new materials for tech is also detrimental to the environment, the study says, adding further value to old, recyclable items. 

    E-waste itself is harmful if not dealt with correctly, as toxic substances can infiltrate soil and water resources. 

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    23.9 kilos of e-waste is generated per person in the UK, according to the Environmental Audit Committee, making this a major concern for the health of the UK’s natural environment. 

    To combat this issue, charities like the British Heart Foundation and Weeecharity offer services to resell or even refurbish old technology. 

    “Our research has shown there’s still much to be done about raising awareness on the environmental impact of e-waste across the nation,” Richard Curtain, SVP of Technology at OKdo concluded. 

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  32. FCA Mobilises on Big Tech’s Entry into Financial Services

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    The FCA has announced its intentions to hold discussions on the entry of Big Tech companies into retail financial services. 

    Apple, Google, and Amazon’s forays into this sector have prompted curiosity and concern for competition in the UK marketplace. 

    These discussions aim to assess Big Tech’s “potential to disrupt established markets, drive innovation and reduce costs for consumers,” said Sheldon Mills, Executive Director of Consumers and Competition. 

    What are the FCA’s primary concerns?

    As an introduction, the FCA published its analysis focusing on the potential impacts of Big Tech’s foray into the financial markets via four key sectors: payments, deposit taking, consumer credit, and insurance. 

    While the FCA recognised the benefits of Big Tech, such as competitive prices and increased efficiency, they also warn of their potential for market domination. 

    Big Tech’s ‘potential exploitation of market power’ was a key concern raised by the FCA, as well as their ability to regulate search results and advertisements.

    These anti-competitive strategies have already faced scrutiny in the UK. 

    Google was placed under investigation earlier this year for forcing apps that use its platform to use the company’s own payment system for in-app purchases. 

    Apple was under similar review for potential infringement of competition law for its conditions of access to its App Store for developers. 

    The CMA also concluded that Apple and Google have a ‘stranglehold’ over the mobile ecosystem, including app stores, web browsers, and operating systems. 

    How has this been addressed elsewhere?

    This has been partially addressed in the US as they have introduced several antitrust bills aimed at the major tech conglomerates.

    None of these have yet to pass either legislative branch, but the Federal Trade Commission is already monitoring competition in the tech-sector via their Technology Enforcement Division established in 2019. 

    Closer to home, the European Commission passed the Digital Markets Act, targeting ‘gatekeeper’ platforms with anti-competitive behaviour – with full implementation coming in May, 2023.

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    Australia, South Korea, and Japan are all taking initiative to ensure fair market competition remains while Big Tech companies continue to branch into new sectors. 

    As Big Tech companies continue to expand into different markets, the call for discussion is well timed to address similar concerns over monopolisation in the UK.

    Mills added: “We want to make sure that these benefits are fully realised,while, at the same time, ensuring good consumer and market outcomes.”

    The FCA is taking input from stakeholders until the 15th of January 2023. They are also holding a webinar to spark discussions on the topic on the 28th of November. 

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  33. UK Falling Behind in Data Intelligence, Costing Potential Billions

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    A new study by Peak shows the UK could be losing out on £190 billion in the global tech market.

    The Decision Intelligence Maturity Report report followed 3,000 workers globally, tracking the adoption of AI technology by businesses with more than 100 workers in the UK, US, and India. 

    Trailing behind India and the US in AI maturity, the UK is missing out on a key element in tech market growth. 

    The UK was behind in AI adoption – only 20% of UK businesses included in the study had adopted AI, trailing 25% in India and 28% in the US.

    The study suggested a correlation between data literacy and AI maturity, with higher data literacy among Indian and US staff. Only 64% of UK workers say they had performed data analysis at least once, compared to 98% in India and 81% in the US. 

    Demand for data scientists increased by 231% in the last five years, according to LinkedIn, and hiring for data science roles increased by 46% between 2019 and 2021.

    Despite this, 50% of workers in the study overall reported no training in data science. 

    This is unsurprising as about 13% of the Scottish jobs are currently in tech, and the need for data analysts in Scotland has increased by over 500% since 2019. 

    AI is not the only tech sector hurting: cybersecurity is facing a dramatic work force gap in the UK.

    It’s estimated that the global data science platform market size is expected to grow from $37.9 billion (USD) in 2019 to $230.80 billion by 2026. Demand for AI platforms continues to grow, as does demand for an intelligent workforce. 

    In contrast to this growth and demand, only 48% of UK businesses say they are data-driven compared to 81% of Indian workers and 69% in the US. 

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    David Leitch, co-founder and CIO of Peak, warned: “The UK is still Europe’s leading startup hub, but it’s a crown that could easily slip.”

    “A clear lack of data literacy in the UK is threatening growth in the tech sector, our research has identified data science as a particular area of concern, but there are other industries, categories and specialities that similarly need government investment and support if the UK is to realise its potential as a leading tech hub.”

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  34. Scots Self-service Beer Firm Raises Substantial Equity Funding

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    EBar, an Aberdeen-based hospitality tech startup, has scored an equity raise of £844k – taking the company’s total to over £2 million since its inception.

    Founded in 2016, the company aims to provide an automated, streamlined hospitality experience for customers. 

    In the last six months, the company has seen over £1 million in sales, with its self-service beer kiosks – which can pour two pints in under 30 seconds – being used at 40 different sport and entertainment venues.   

    Funding was provided by ROD Consortium, Jenson Funding, Partners, Seedrs, Equity Gap and Gabriel Investment Syndicate. 

    EBar aims to use the new funding to double its self-service drink-dispensing tech fleet. 

    The company is also planning to branch out to the South of England by establishing a second facility.

    Founders Sam Pettipher and Nick Beeson also hope the funding will enable them to continue their research and  develop new offerings for customers.

    Increasing the sales of low carbon footprint draught beverages is also a major aim of the company. 

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    Nick Beeson, co-founder and Commercial Director of EBar said: “There has been tremendous demand for our EBar ® dispense kiosks since we started operating at commercial scale. We have seen that our high service speed allows event operators to capture revenues that are otherwise lost due to long bar queues.

    “We’re growing fast so that we can support more customers who are struggling with staff shortages and increased costs, and who want to delight their customers.”

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