header-logo header-logo

No privacy in online wild west

06 November 2019
Issue: 7863 / Categories: Legal News , Data protection , Technology , Human rights
printer mail-detail
The right to privacy does not exist in the online ‘wild west’, the Joint Committee on Human Rights has concluded. 

In a report published last week, it found privacy policies are ‘too complicated’ for the vast majority of people to understand that ‘information is being compiled, without their knowledge, across sites to create a profile’. It is too difficult for people, even tech experts, to find out what they have consented to or to stop information being shared. It heard disturbing evidence about eye tracking software being used to make assumptions about people’s mental health, or profiles being used to discriminate when placing job and housing adverts. It concludes that the ‘consent model is broken’. 

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
back-to-top-scroll