UK Archives | Page 20 of 45 | Digital Watch Observatory

LegalOn raises 50 million to expand AI legal tools

LegalOn Technologies has secured 50 million dollars in Series E funding to expand its AI-powered contract review platform.

The Japanese startup, backed by SoftBank and Goldman Sachs, aims to streamline legal work by reducing the time spent reviewing and managing documents.

Its core product, Review, identifies contract risks and suggests edits using expert-built legal playbooks. The company says it improves accuracy while cutting review time by up to 85 percent across 7,000 client organisations in Japan, the US and the UK.

LegalOn plans to develop AI agents to handle tasks before and after the review process, including contract tracking and workflow integration. A new tool, Matter Management, enables teams to efficiently assign contract responsibilities, collaborate, and link documents.

While legal AI adoption grows, CEO Daniel Lewis insists the technology will support rather than replace lawyers. He believes professionals who embrace AI will gain the most leverage, as human oversight remains vital to legal judgement.

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Network failure hits EE, BT and affects other UK providers

Thousands of EE and BT customers across the UK encountered widespread network failures on 24 July, primarily affecting voice services.

The outage, lasting over 24 hours, disrupted mobile and landline calls. Over 2,600 EE users reported issues with Downdetector at peak volume around 2:15 p.m. BST. Despite repair efforts, residual outages were still being logged the following day.

Although Vodafone and Three initially confirmed their networks were stable, users who recently switched carriers or ported numbers from EE experienced failures when making or receiving calls. However, this suggests cross-network routing issues burdened by EE’s technical fault.

Emergency services were briefly impacted; some users could not reach 999, though voice functionality has resumed. BT and EE apologised and said they were working urgently to restore reliable service.

Given statutory obligations around service resilience, Ofcom has opened inquiries into scale and causes. Affected MVNO operators using EE infrastructure, like 1pMobile, reported customer disruptions.

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VPN interest surges in the UK as users bypass porn site age checks

Online searches for VPNs skyrocketed in the UK following the introduction of new age verification rules on adult websites such as PornHub, YouPorn and RedTube.

Under the Online Safety Act, these platforms must confirm that visitors are over 18 using facial recognition, photo ID or credit card details.

Data from Google Trends showed that searches for ‘VPN’ jumped by over 700 percent on Friday morning, suggesting many attempt to sidestep the restrictions by masking their location. VPN services allow users to spoof their device’s location to another country instead of complying with local regulations.

Critics argue that the measures are both ineffective and risky. Aylo, the company behind PornHub, called the checks ‘haphazard and dangerous’, warning they put users’ privacy at risk.

Legal experts also doubt the system’s impact, saying it fails to block access to dark web content or unregulated forums.

Aylo proposed that age verification should occur on users’ devices instead of websites storing sensitive information. The company stated it is open to working with governments, civil groups and tech firms to develop a safer, device-based system that protects privacy while enforcing age limits.

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UK to retaliate against cyber attacks, minister warns

Britain’s security minister has warned that hackers targeting UK institutions will face consequences, including potential retaliatory cyber operations.

Speaking to POLITICO at the British Library — still recovering from a 2023 ransomware attack by Rysida — Security Minister Dan Jarvis said the UK is prepared to use offensive cyber capabilities to respond to threats.

‘If you are a cybercriminal and think you can attack a UK-based institution without repercussions, think again,’ Jarvis stated. He emphasised the importance of sending a clear signal that hostile activity will not go unanswered.

The warning follows a recent government decision to ban ransom payments by public sector bodies. Jarvis said deterrence must be matched by vigorous enforcement.

The UK has acknowledged its offensive cyber capabilities for over a decade, but recent strategic shifts have expanded its role. A £1 billion investment in a new Cyber and Electromagnetic Command will support coordinated action alongside the National Cyber Force.

While Jarvis declined to specify technical capabilities, he cited the National Crime Agency’s role in disrupting the LockBit ransomware group as an example of the UK’s growing offensive posture.

AI is accelerating both cyber threats and defensive measures. Jarvis said the UK must harness AI for national advantage, describing an ‘arms race’ amid rapid technological advancement.

Most cyber threats originate from Russia or its affiliated groups, though Iran, China, and North Korea remain active. The UK is also increasingly concerned about ‘hack-for-hire’ actors operating from friendly nations, including India.

Despite these concerns, Jarvis stressed the UK’s strong security ties with India and ongoing cooperation to curb cyber fraud. ‘We will continue to invest in that relationship for the long term,’ he said.

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EE expands 5G standalone network to reach over half the UK population

EE’s 5G standalone network is set to reach more than 34 million people across the UK by the end of August. The expansion will cover over half of the country’s population, including major cities, holiday destinations and key sporting and entertainment venues.

The telecom provider has already launched the upgraded network in many towns and cities, with a further 38 locations joining by the end of next month. These include places such as Aberdeen, Canterbury, Grimsby, Ipswich, Salisbury, Wrexham and Yeovil, among others.

5G standalone networks offer faster, more secure and low-latency mobile experiences without relying on older 4G infrastructure.

According to BT Group’s chief networks officer, the rollout is designed to improve performance whether someone is on a packed train platform, livestreaming at a concert, or calling loved ones from a holiday destination.

EE’s move is part of a broader strategy to improve everyday connectivity across the UK, aiming to deliver a more seamless experience for millions rather than limiting high-speed coverage to major urban centres alone.

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Surge in UK corporate data leaks fuels fraud fears

Cybersecurity experts in London have warned of a sharp increase in corporate data breaches, with leaked files now frequently containing sensitive financial and personal records.

A new report by Lab 1 reveals that 93 percent of such breaches involve documents like invoices, IBANs, and bank statements, fuelling widespread fraud and reputational damage in the UK.

The study examined 141 million leaked files and shows how hackers increasingly target unstructured data such as HR records, emails, and internal code.

Often ignored in standard breach reviews, these files contain rich details that can be used for identity theft or follow-up cyberattacks.

Hackers are now behaving more like data scientists, according to Lab 1’s CEO, mining leaks for valuable information to exploit. The average breach now affects over 400 organisations indirectly, including business partners and vendors, significantly widening the fallout.

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UK MoD avoids further penalty after data breach

The UK’s data protection regulator has defended its decision not to pursue further action against the Ministry of Defence (MoD) over a serious data breach that exposed personal information of Afghans who assisted British forces.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said the incident caused considerable harm but concluded additional investigation would not deliver greater benefit. The office stressed that organisations must handle data with greater care to avoid such damaging consequences.

The breach occurred when a hidden dataset in a spreadsheet was mistakenly shared under the pressures of a UK military operation. While the sender believed only limited data was being released, the spreadsheet contained much more information, some of which was later leaked online.

The ICO has already fined the MoD £350,000 in 2023 over a previous incident related to the Afghan relocation programme. The regulator confirmed that in both cases, the department had taken significant remedial action and committed extensive public resources to mitigate future risk.

Although the ICO acknowledged the incident’s severe impact, including threats to individual lives, it decided not to divert further resources given existing accountability, classified restrictions, and national security concerns.

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Historic UK KNP transport firm collapses after ransomware attack

A 158‑year‑old UK transport firm, KNP Logistics, has collapsed after falling victim to a crippling ransomware attack. Hackers exploited a single weak password to infiltrate its systems and encrypted critical data, rendering the company inoperable.

Cybercriminals linked to the Akira gang locked out staff and demanded what experts believe could have been around £5 million, an amount KNP could not afford. The company ceased all operations, leaving approximately 700 employees without work.

The incident highlights how even historic companies with insurance and standard safeguards can be undone by basic cybersecurity failings. National Cyber Security Centre chief Richard Horne urged businesses to bolster defences, warning that attackers exploit the simplest vulnerabilities.

This case follows a string of high‑profile UK data breaches at firms like M&S, Harrods and Co‑op, signalling a growing wave of ransomware threats across industries. National Crime Agency data shows these attacks have nearly doubled recently.

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M&S Sparks scheme returns after cyber attack

Marks & Spencer has fully reinstated its Sparks loyalty programme following a damaging cyberattack that disrupted operations earlier this year. The retailer confirmed that online services are back and customers can access offers, discounts, and rewards again.

In April, a cyber breach forced M&S to suspend parts of its IT system and halt Sparks communications. Customers had raised concerns about missing benefits, prompting the company to promise a full recovery of its loyalty platform.

M&S has introduced new Sparks perks to thank users for their patience, including enhanced birthday rewards and complimentary coffees. Staff will also receive a temporary discount boost to 30 percent on selected items this weekend.

Marketing director Sharry Cramond praised staff efforts and customer support during the disruption, calling the recovery a team effort. Meanwhile, according to the UK National Crime Agency, four individuals suspected of involvement in cyber attacks against M&S and other retailers have been released on bail.

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Police scan faces amid safety concerns at carnival

The Metropolitan Police will deploy live facial recognition (LFR) around this year’s Notting Hill Carnival, the first official use at Europe’s largest street festival, which draws roughly 2 million people during the August bank holiday.

Mobile LFR cameras will scan crowds within a three-mile radius to identify wanted individuals, including knife offenders, rapists, and robbers. The operation is supported by an additional £1 million in security funding and approximately 7,000 officers on duty each day.

Past trials in 2016 and 2017 flagged 102 innocent people, prompting civil liberties backlash and trial abandonment.

The Met acknowledges past issues but asserts that accuracy has improved; the National Physical Laboratory saw no statistically significant racial or gender bias. Still, false positives continue to occur, and privacy advocates remain wary.

The deployment reflects the UK’s wider adoption of biometric surveillance technologies. While officials argue LFR enhances public safety and helps preempt mass casualty events, critics warn it may deepen mistrust among minority communities unless transparency, oversight, and accuracy are further guaranteed. This move reignites debate on balancing crowd security and civil liberties in modern policing.

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