Government slammed over digital safety, as MPs demand tougher screen time controls May 22, 2025 The UK government has come under fire from education leaders and MPs after issuing what has been branded a “disappointing” and “lacking urgency” response to calls for tighter regulation around children’s screen time and digital safety. The Education Select Committee has condemned ministers for downplaying recommendations from its May 2024 report on screen time, which [...]
Government AI pushed stalled by old tech May 16, 2025 The UK public sector is facing a digital crisis, with pressure mounting to roll out AI-driven services, enhance citizen engagement, and modernise remote working. But the sector is being dragged back by legacy systems, disconnected platforms, and chronic budget constraints. A new report from CX platform provider 8×8 and Cavell Group analysts has revealed that [...]
UK injects £121m into quantum tech April 14, 2025 The UK government has pledged £121m to accelerate the development and commercial use of quantum technologies, with ministers touting the potential to crackdown on financial crime and improve public services. The investment is also projected to create thousands of high skilled jobs across the country. Announced on ‘World Quantum Day’ on the 14th April, the [...]
UK to land Europe’s first rover on Mars March 29, 2025 Airbus UK has secured a £150m contract to engineer the landing platform for Europe’s first Mars rover. The Rosalind Franklin rover, which was built entirely in Stevenage, is scheduled to launch in 2028 and touch down on the red planet in 2030, marking a major milestone in European space exploration. The mission, led by European [...]
New £1bn west London data centre set to back soaring AI demand March 25, 2025 Segro and Pure Data Centres have announced a new £1bn data centre located in London’s Park Royal, set to meet the soaring demand for digital infrastructure in the UK. The centre, backed by secretary Peter Kyle, is set for completion in 2026, with operations expected from 2029. The project will support next-generation AI and cloud [...]
Tech secretary pledges to not pit AI against creatives amid copyright row March 24, 2025 Tech secretary Peter Kyle has promised that the government will not be forced to choose between the UK’s creative industry and its burgeoning AI sector, as it prepares for the integration of new AI copyright regulations. “We have the third largest AI market in the world, and the second largest creative arts sector”, Kyle told [...]
What the Online Safety Act means for UK tech March 23, 2025 New rules under the Online Safety Act came into force on Monday, requiring tech firms to find and remove illegal content, or risk facing heavy fines. The law applies to around 100,000 online services including social media platforms, online forums and messaging apps. It has given the UK watchdog the power to enforce stricter content [...]
Virgin Media 02 to spend millions upgrading its mobile network March 11, 2025 Virgin Media has announced a £700m investment this year to improve mobile reliability and boost speed for its UK customers. This investment will also help the broadband giant to strengthen its 4G and 5G coverage in rural areas. As part of its mobile transformation plan, the firm plans to roll out thousands of upgrades, including [...]
Tech secretary hails space sector as a ‘launchpad’ for growth March 11, 2025 Science secretary Peter Kyle has hailed the UK space sector‘s recent achievement as proof that the UK is a “launchpad for innovation and investment”. The field has secured £80m more in European Space Agency (ESA) contracts than government contributions in late 2024, the highest return for any ESA member state. This success is set to [...]
Tech secretary to slash red tape in bid to boost tech growth March 10, 2025 The technology secretary has pledged to strip away outdated regulations that delay cutting-edge technology across the UK.