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 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….
Those close to public sector ICT procurement may be aware of a recent change in status of the security provisions in the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) Model Services Agreement and Guidance. An OGC Procurement Policy Note confirmed that, as of 1 July 2008, these provisions became mandatory for all UK government ICT contracts. Callum Sinclair considers the implications for contracting authorities….
Guy Burgess examines the risks of receiving contractual notices sent by e-mail under English common law and, for comparison, in New Zealand, which has implemented legislation based on the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce (1996)….
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….
When is it safe to use a competitor’s brand name in your adverts? Jeremy Harris reports on a recent European decision which gives further guidance and offers tips to prospective comparative advertisers….
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…