UK

UK mobile networks and the Government launch a fierce crackdown on scam calls

Britain’s largest mobile networks have joined the Government to tackle scam calls and texts. Through the second Telecommunications Fraud Charter, they aim to make the UK harder for fraudsters to target.

To achieve this, networks will upgrade systems within a year to prevent foreign call centres from spoofing UK numbers. Additionally, advanced call tracing and AI technology will detect and block suspicious calls and texts before they reach users.

Moreover, clear commitments are in place to support fraud victims, reducing the time it takes for help from networks to two weeks. Consequently, victims will receive prompt, specialist assistance to recover quickly and confidently.

Furthermore, improved data sharing with law enforcement will enable them to track down scammers and dismantle their operations. By collaborating across sectors, organised criminal networks can be disrupted and prevented from targeting the public.

Since fraud is the UK’s most reported crime, it causes financial losses and emotional distress. Additionally, scam calls erode public trust in essential services and cost the telecom industry millions of dollars annually.

Therefore, the Telecoms Charter sets measurable goals, ongoing monitoring, and best practice guidance for networks. Through AI tools, staff training, and public messaging, networks aim to stay ahead of evolving scam tactics.

Finally, international collaboration, such as UK-US actions against Southeast Asian fraud centres, complements these efforts.

Overall, this initiative forms part of a wider Fraud Strategy and Government plan to safeguard citizens.

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UK teachers rethink assignments as AI reshapes classroom practice

Nearly eight in ten UK secondary teachers say AI has forced a rethink of how assignments are set, a British Council survey finds. Many now design tasks either to deter AI use or to harness it constructively in lessons. Findings reflect rapid cultural and technological shifts across schools.

Approaches are splitting along two paths. Over a third of designers create AI-resistant tasks, while nearly six in ten purposefully integrate AI tools. Younger staff are most likely to adapt; yet, strong majorities across all age groups report changes to their practices.

Perceived impacts remain mixed. Six in ten worry about their communication skills, with some citing narrower vocabulary and weaker writing and comprehension skills. Similar shares report improvements in listening, pronunciation, and confidence, suggesting benefits for speech-focused learning.

Language norms are evolving with digital culture. Most UK teachers now look up slang and online expressions, from ‘rizz’ to ‘delulu’ to ‘six, seven’. Staff are adapting lesson design while seeking guidance and training that keeps pace with students’ online lives.

Long-term views diverge. Some believe AI could lift outcomes, while others remain unconvinced and prefer guardrails to limit misuse. British Council leaders say support should focus on practical classroom integration, teacher development, and clear standards that strike a balance between innovation and academic integrity.

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Millions turn to AI to manage finances across the UK

AI is playing an increasingly important role in personal finance, with over 28 million UK adults using AI over the past year.

Lloyds Banking Group’s latest Consumer Digital Index reveals that many individuals turn to platforms like ChatGPT for budgeting, savings planning, and financial education, reporting an average annual savings of £399 through AI insights.

Digital confidence strongly supports financial empowerment. Two-thirds of internet users report that online tools enhance their ability to manage money, while those with higher digital skills experience lower stress and greater control over their finances.

Regular engagement with AI and other digital tools enhances both knowledge and confidence in financial decision-making.

Trust remains a significant concern despite growing usage. Around 80% of users worry about inaccurate information or insufficient personalisation, emphasising the need for reliable guidance.

Jas Singh, CEO of Consumer Relationships at Lloyds, highlights that banks must combine AI innovation with trusted expertise to help people make more intelligent choices and build long-term financial resilience.

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Australian influencer family moves to UK over child social media ban

An Australian influencer family known as the Empire Family is relocating to the UK to avoid Australia’s new social media ban for under-16s, which begins in December. The law requires major platforms to take steps preventing underage users from creating or maintaining accounts.

The family, comprising mothers Beck and Bec Lea, their 17-year-old son Prezley and 14-year-old daughter Charlotte, said the move will allow Charlotte to continue creating online content. She has hundreds of thousands of followers across YouTube, TikTok and Instagram, with all accounts managed by her parents.

Beck said they support the government’s intent to protect young people from harm but are concerned about the uncertainty surrounding enforcement methods, such as ID checks or facial recognition. She said the family wanted stability while the system is clarified.

The Australia ban, described as a world first, will apply to Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and YouTube. Non-compliant firms could face fines of up to A$50 million, while observers say the rules raise new privacy and data protection concerns.

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UK traffic to Pornhub plunges after age-verification law

In response to the UK’s new age-verification law, Pornhub reports that visits from UK users have fallen by about 77 %.

The change comes following legislation designed to block under-18s from accessing adult sites via mandatory age checks.

The company states that it began enforcing the verification system early in October, noting that many users are now turned away or fail the checks.

According to Pornhub, this explains the significant decrease in traffic from the UK. The platform emphasised that this is a reflection of compliance rather than an admission of harm.

Critics argue that the law creates risks of overblocking and privacy concerns, as users may turn to less regulated or unsafe alternatives. This case also underscores tensions between content regulation, digital rights and the efficacy of age-gating as a tool.

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UK tightens grip on Apple and Google mobile power

Apple and Google have been designated with strategic market status over UK mobile platforms. The CMA’s decision covers operating systems, app stores, browsers, and browser engines. Tailored conduct rules and special abuse oversight can now be imposed.

Regulators say entrenched power across iOS and Android risks limiting rivals and developers. The move is enabled by the UK’s DMCC framework and mirrors EU ambitions. Implementation will follow consultations on specific remedies for competition and consumer choice.

In Europe, gatekeeper rules already bite as Apple was fined €500 million over anti-steering. Alphabet faces preliminary findings over Play Store and search preferencing under the DMA. Further penalties could follow if non-compliance persists.

Both companies criticised the UK move, warning of harmed innovation and user experience. Google called the decision disappointing and disproportionate, while Apple attacked EU-style rules. The CMA also recently gave Google’s search and ads businesses SMS status.

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Cloudflare calls for UK action on Google’s AI crawlers

Cloudflare’s chief executive Matthew Prince has urged the UK regulator to curb Google’s AI practices. He met with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in London to argue that Google’s bundled crawlers give it excessive power.

Prince said Google uses the same web crawler to gather data for both search and AI products. Blocking the crawler, he added, can also disrupt advertising systems, leaving websites financially exposed.

Cloudflare, which supplies network services to most major AI companies, has proposed separating Google’s AI and search crawlers. Prince believes the change would create fairer access to online content for smaller AI developers.

He also provided data to the UK CMA showing why rivals cannot easily replicate Google’s infrastructure. Media groups have echoed his concerns, warning that Google’s dominance risks deepening inequalities across the AI ecosystem.

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UK government urges awareness as £106m lost to romance fraud in one year

Romance fraud has surged across the United Kingdom, with new figures showing that victims lost a combined £106 million in the past financial year. Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for cybercrime, described the crime as one that causes severe financial, emotional, and social damage.

Among the victims is London banker Varun Yadav, who lost £40,000 to a scammer posing as a romantic partner on a dating app. After months of chatting online, the fraudster persuaded him to invest in a cryptocurrency platform.

When his funds became inaccessible, Yadav realised he had been deceived. ‘You see all the signs, but you are so emotionally attached,’ he said. ‘You are willing to lose the money, but not the connection.’

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said banks should play a stronger role in disrupting romance scams, calling for improved detection systems and better staff training to identify vulnerable customers. It urged firms to adopt what it called ‘compassionate aftercare’ for those affected.

Romance fraud typically involves criminals creating fake online profiles to build emotional connections before manipulating victims into transferring money.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and UK police recommend maintaining privacy on social media, avoiding financial transfers to online contacts, and speaking openly with friends or family before sending money.

The Metropolitan Police recently launched an awareness campaign featuring victim testimonies and guidance on spotting red flags. The initiative also promotes collaboration with dating apps, banks, and social platforms to identify fraud networks.

Detective Superintendent Kerry Wood, head of economic crime for the Met Police, said that romance scams remain ‘one of the most devastating’ forms of fraud. ‘It’s an abuse of trust which undermines people’s confidence and sense of self-worth. Awareness is the most powerful defence against fraud,’ she said.

Although Yadav never recovered his savings, he said sharing his story helped him rebuild his life. He urged others facing similar scams to speak up: ‘Do not isolate yourself. There is hope.’

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Capita hit with £14 million fine after major data breach

The UK outsourcing firm Capita has been fined £14 million after a cyber-attack exposed the personal data of 6.6 million people. Sensitive information, including financial details, home addresses, passport images, and criminal records, was compromised.

Initially, the fine was £45 million, but it was reduced after Capita improved its cybersecurity, supported affected individuals, and engaged with regulators.

A breach that affected 325 of the 600 pension schemes Capita manages, highlighting risks for organisations handling large-scale sensitive data.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) criticised Capita for failing to secure personal information, emphasising that proper security measures could have prevented the incident.

Experts note that holding companies financially accountable reinforces the importance of data protection and sends a message to the market.

Capita’s CEO said the company has strengthened its cyber defences and remains vigilant to prevent future breaches.

The UK government has advised companies like Capita to prepare contingency plans following a rise in nationally significant cyberattacks, a trend also seen at Co-op, M&S, Harrods, and Jaguar Land Rover earlier in the year.

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UK and US freeze assets of Southeast Asian online scam network

The UK and US governments have jointly sanctioned a transnational network operating illegal scam centres across Southeast Asia. These centres use sophisticated methods, including fake romantic relationships, to defraud victims worldwide.

Many of the individuals forced to conduct these scams are trafficked foreign nationals, coerced under threat of torture. Authorities have frozen a £12 million North London mansion, along with a £100 million City office and several London flats.

Network leader Chen Zhi and his associates used corporate proxies and overseas companies to launder proceeds from their scams through London’s property market.

The sanctioned entities include the Prince Group, Jin Bei Group, Golden Fortune Resorts World Ltd., and Byex Exchange. Scam operations trap foreign nationals with fake job adverts, forcing them to commit online fraud, often through fake cryptocurrency schemes.

Proceeds are then laundered through a complex system of front businesses and gambling platforms.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Fraud Minister Lord Hanson said the action protects human rights, UK citizens, and blocks criminals from storing illicit funds. Coordination with the US ensures these sanctions disrupt the network’s international operations and financial access.

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