Dr Fernando Barrio considers the problems which will be posed for the law by the development of autonomous robots and, by way of an example, looks more closely at how they may be treated under the law on sexual offences….
A number of recent libel and privacy decisions have highlighted the dangers of an unregulated Internet. Ashley Hurst highlights some of those dangers and suggests an approach which would reduce them….
Read More… from Libel and Privacy on the Internet: Too Late for Regulation?
A decision in the European Court of Human Rights may have profound implications for data protection systems within State control….
A new decision of the Information Tribunal supports the supremacy of the data protection principles, includes clear criticism of the failure of the police to grapple properly with the data protection principles and dismisses arguments that the ACPO code on retention of data constitutes a valid code for the PNC….
Read More… from Criminal Records and Data Protection Principles: Police v Information Commissioner
The Thomas/Walport report on data sharing has now been published….
The House of Lords published its judgment in Common Services Agency v Scottish Information Commissioner on 9 July. Read Grant Campbell’s report and use the link to the judgment….
The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee has published its follow-up report on Personal Internet Security and has called for more to be done to protect the public from e-crime. Among other reforms, the Committee seeks legislation to establish the principle that banks be held responsible for losses incurred by electronic fraud….
Reuters reports that a French court has ordered eBay to pay 38.6 million euros (£30.6 million) to luxury goods group LVMH for allowing the sale of counterfeit goods on its online auction site….
The Court of Appeal has upheld the appeal of ‘Mr Modchips’ and thereby cast doubt on the efficacy of the ETMs protecting the Sony Playstation, Microsoft’s X-box and Nintendo’s Gamecube. Laurence Eastham explains by way of extracts from the excellent judgment of Lord Justice Jacob….
I would have liked to include coverage in this issue of the new legislation affecting computer lawyers embodied in the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008. But, to be honest, I couldn’t be bothered. There is s 77 (power to alter penalty for unlawfully obtaining etc. personal data), s 78 (new defence for purposes…