Digital minister: ‘I’m one up from a Luddite – but I am grasping this enthusiastically’
PublicTechnology met with the recently appointed Heather Wheeler, who reveals that overcoming difficulties with tech has been ‘an absolute joy’ – although she still appears to have some challenges with unfortunate remarks
Great expectations: Government unveils new digital and data strategy
A new three-year plan sets out ambitious objectives for departments’ use of tech, including a...
Technology vs ideology: what will define the future of government work?
A recent PublicTechology webinar discussion saw an expert panel examine the major...
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Was 2020 a watershed for public sector use of algorithms?
This year saw public protests about the use of predictive analytics in decision-making. As the technology becomes more widely used in many public services, PublicTechnology asks experts about the implications for government, the law – and the citizens affected
Analysis: how has coronavirus impacted local government IT spending?
PublicTechnology analysis of government data shows that the volume and value of IT and digital services contracts in the local government sector has been hit this year
How automation and data-sharing enabled DWP to transform the state pension service
After a digital and data revamp, more than half of claims are entirely self-service, product owner Vicky Coatesworth tells PublicTechnology
‘This year has really made the case for what we’re trying to do’
At the end of a challenging year, local government chiefs discuss the impact on digital and data
Cyber resilience and the public sector
The public sector must focus not only on attacks, but on how it responds and recovers from them, Zerto and Cyber Security Scotland told attendees at the recent Local Government ICT Summit
Interview: UK national statistician on how data has helped the PM – and the public – in coronavirus response
To mark World Statistics Day, Professor Sir Ian Diamond talks to PublicTechnology about how the work of statisticians has been crucial in supporting government’s pandemic response, as well as his thoughts on the media and politicians’ use of numbers, and how the ONS is preparing for the census
How can councils create a digital workplace?
At the recent Local Government ICT Summit, PublicTechnology talked to Gloucestershire County Council and SAP Concur about how authorities can support new ways of working
What sensitive data did the Home Office lose in Belgrade?
Department’s annual report shows, for the first time in many years, documents or data lost from a secure government building had to be reported to the ICO. PublicTechnology finds out more.
‘Unless you get the ethics of data right, you'll fail on the effectiveness as well’
The head of the Royal Statistical Society Stian Westlake talks algorithms, politicians and the current ‘favourable wind’ gathering in government behind his profession
The coronavirus ‘infodemic’: truth and conspiracy online
The spread of online misinformation during the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated a public health crisis. PublicTechnology digs into a recent parliamentary inquiry to find out more about the response from social media companies and government
Ministerial caricatures, presidential letters, and overseas stamps – FCDO lifts lid on 300 years of documents
The newly created department has published a full inventory of the nearly 10,000 paper documents that form its archive
Lifesaving data – how NHS Digital has worked with researchers to support coronavirus response
Research director Tom Denwood explains how the national digital services agency has helped use information to better understand issues including effective treatments for Covid-19 and the impact on patients suffering from other conditions
What does the Huawei ban mean for the Emergency Services Network?
The Home Office tells PublicTechnology work is on track and security risks are ‘minimal’. But onlookers remain concerned about the implications of the presence of Huawei technology in the new network for police, fire and ambulance services.
Inside DWP’s digital coronavirus response – APIs, reuse and micro-services
In the face of huge demand for its services, the DWP was able to call on a library of reusable tools, the department’s integration lead Jacqui Leggetter tells PublicTechnology
‘We are a British company with only British datacentres – and a commitment to pay our taxes’
UKCloud has joined the major cloud players in signing a public-sector wide agreement. The firm’s CEO Simon Hansford tells PublicTechnology why it’s important for government to have choice.
Coronavirus has been a boon for cybercriminals
Fake online shops, malware, phishing emails and ransomware attacks on hospitals have been among the scams perpetrated by bad actors during the pandemic
How secure is government and should we have a right to know?
In a lengthy attempt to find out about the security of government’s software systems, PublicTechnology finds a very uneven approach to transparency and what constitutes sensitive information
How big is the UK’s cyber skills gap?
A major government-commissioned study found that about half of UK organisations are lacking basic security skills. PublicTechnology talks to the researchers behind it to find out where the skills gaps are and how they can filled
The fog of cyberwar
For governments and armed forces around the world, the digital domain has become a potential battlefield. But this new realm of warfare brings with it many ethical and legal complications. PublicTechnology talks to digital ethics expert Dr Mariarosaria Taddeo to find out more.
Cyber national security: how the UK has prepared itself for major attacks
We are approaching the fourth anniversary of the foundation of the NCSC and the threats it was created to respond to loom larger than ever. PublicTechnology examines the growth of the UK’s cyber-defence capability
Using data to better understand the hidden crime of domestic abuse
Criminal justice data shows about 60,000 convictions per year, while public surveys reveal 2.4 million adults experience domestic abuse. The ONS tells PublicTechnology how it has brought together information from a range of sources to help policy makers and support services