Political Monitor 07/05/2020

7 May 2020

COVID-19

Ofcom announce 12 month implementation period for EECC

Ofcom have provided an update on the introduction of new rules from the European Electronic Communications Code (EECC). It has been outlined that fairness for customers is a priority for Ofcom and that they are committed to publish a statement on the end-users rights by September 2020, subject to the Government confirming their approach to EECC transposition before then, as currently both Government and Ofcom “continue to work towards transposition of the EECC by 21 December 2020”.

However, Ofcom have acknowledged the impact of COVID-19 on the sector and outlined that they intend to allow providers at least 12 months from the date of the publication of their statement to implement the new rules. They have stated that dependent on the situation this time span may be longer and will provide clarity on this when they publish their statement.

DCMS release statement on 5G and coronavirus

DCMS have released a press release clarifying that there is no evidence that links 5G and coronavirus. The Department emphasised that these links have been rejected by scientific experts in the World Health Organisation and Full Fact.

To further prove the point the Department said that viruses cannot travel on radio waves or mobile networks and said that coronavirus was also spreading through many countries that do not have 5G mobile networks.

Joint Committee on Human Rights publishes report on Contact tracing app

Following hearings with the Information Commissioner, Elizabeth Denham and CEO of NHSX, Matthew Gould, the Committee on Human Rights have published a report, stated they are “not reassured” that the current plans for the app “sufficiently protect the right to privacy”. Concerns around the extension of state powers of surveillance without due parliamentary scrutiny were raised, along with the call for primary legislation to accompany the data gathering aspects of the app. The committee further called for:

 

Online Harms

Home Affairs Committee seeks evidence on Online Harms during lockdown

The Home Affairs Committee have launched an inquiry into the Online Harms proposals set out by Government and the impact of Covid-19 on the prevalence, scale and nature of online harms. The inquiry will consider what can be done to mitigate these concerns as well as address issues arising from the pandemic and previous to the outbreak.

Minister of State for Digital and Culture, Caroline Dinenage will give evidence alongside Home Office Minister Baroness Williams next week.

submissions are now open and the deadline for written evidence is 21st May.

BBFC warn of children being exposed to harmful content on a daily basis

Research by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has shown that children  are regularly being exposed to harmful or upsetting content while in lockdown. The research, carried out by YouGov, shows that in lockdown, 47% of children and teenagers have seen content they’d rather avoid, leaving them feeling uncomfortable (29%), scared (23%) and confused (19%). Worryingly, 13% of children surveyed said they see harmful content on a daily basis while in lockdown.

The findings from BBFC’s research also showed that than 53% of parents say they haven’t spoken to their children about their increased time online during lockdown. The BBFC is therefore urging parents to talk to their children about what content they might be watching online during lockdown

DCMS Committee chair criticises evidence given by Social Media giants

DCMS Committee Chair Julian Knight MP has demanded further information from Twitter, Facebook and Google following evidence given last week in an oral evidence session on disinformation.

Mr Knight described how the answers given “fell short of the standards we expect in terms of clarity and openness”. The social media companies were all criticised for an “unwillingness” to answer direct questions from MPs around their actions to curtail disinformation on Covid-19 on their platforms.

Data protection

Information Commissioner sets out priorities in face of Covid-19

Elizabeth Denham, the Information Commissioner, has set out her new priorities for UK data protection during coronavirus and beyond. The priorities include points such as shaping proportionate surveillance, which includes contact-tracing, testing and other surveillance issues that coronavirus is presenting, and enabling a good practice in AI.

Ms Denham has said that some ICO projects have been paused to allow for this re-focus of priorities, but as an organisation they still maintain their statutory functions.

Cyber Security

Raab condemns cyber actors

Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, used a daily Government press briefing this week to highlight the cyber attacks from hostile actors seeking to profit from the Covid-19 pandemic.

This followed a joint advisory by the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the US’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security agency (CISA) exposing malicious cyber campaigns targeting international healthcare and medical research organisations involved in the coronavirus response, and giving advice on how to stay safe online. This includes advice to staff in healthcare and medical research organisations to change and strengthen their passwords.

Welsh Government announce £248,000 cyber grant scheme for local authorities

To help to maintain high standards of cyber security during the pandemic, the  Welsh Government has brought forward its cyber funding plans granting each local authority in Wales an initial £9,000 for their cyber needs. further funds will then be made available from a reserve fund.

The funding will seek to “provide additional resilience within local authority IT systems in response to the increase in cybercrime during the COVID-19 crisis.”