Weekly Industry News 3rd March 2026
PM: “No platform gets a free pass”: Government takes action to keep children safe online
The Government will give parents and carers greater clarity and support as the Prime Minister announces immediate action to make the online world safer for children.
Speaking to parents and young people later today [Monday 16 February], the Prime Minister will make clear this government will act at pace to keep kids safe online as they navigate a digital world that did not exist a generation ago, and one that is shaped by powerful platforms, addictive design and fast-moving technologies.
GP surgery reprimanded after excessive medical history of terminally ill patient sent to insurer
We have reprimanded Staines Health Group for sending excessive medical details about a terminally ill patient to their insurance company.
A patient at the NHS GP surgery was diagnosed with a terminal illness and made a claim to their insurer. The insurer, on behalf of the patient, subsequently requested that five years of medical history be sent to the patient to review, before being sent to the insurer in order to progress the claim.
We have reprimanded Staines Health Group for sending excessive medical details about a terminally ill patient to their insurance company.
A patient at the NHS GP surgery was diagnosed with a terminal illness and made a claim to their insurer. The insurer, on behalf of the patient, subsequently requested that five years of medical history be sent to the patient to review, before being sent to the insurer in order to progress the claim.
ICO responds to MPs on the website Tattle Life
20 MPs wrote to the ICO to ask them to investigate the website Tattle Life following the death by Suicide of Princess Dickson (daughter of an online influencer). The ICO confirmed it was investigating the website for its compliance with GDPR and that it does not have the powers to shut the website down.
Today, Britain is the third largest AI market in the world. We are home to an extraordinary array of global talent and pioneering AI firms like Google DeepMind, ARM, and Wayve. But despite our record of scientific discovery – from Alan Turing on algorithms and general-purpose computing to Tim Berners-Lee’s World Wide Web – the UK risks falling behind the advances in Artificial Intelligence made in the USA and China.
In this next phase of AI development, we want Britain to step up; to shape the AI revolution rather than wait to see how it shapes us.
Today, Britain is the third largest AI market in the world. We are home to an extraordinary array of global talent and pioneering AI firms like Google DeepMind, ARM, and Wayve. But despite our record of scientific discovery – from Alan Turing on algorithms and general-purpose computing to Tim Berners-Lee’s World Wide Web – the UK risks falling behind the advances in Artificial Intelligence made in the USA and China.
In this next phase of AI development, we want Britain to step up; to shape the AI revolution rather than wait to see how it shapes us.
Reddit issued with £14.47m fine for children’s privacy failures
Our investigation found Reddit, Inc. (Reddit) used children’s personal information unlawfully
Reddit’s failings included not checking the age of users accessing its platform, putting children at risk
Penalty follows MediaLab fine and is part of a wider ICO intervention to improve the safety of children’s personal information online.
Microsoft error sees confidential emails exposed to AI tool Copilot
Microsoft has acknowledged an error causing its AI work assistant to access and summarise some users’ confidential emails by mistake.
The tech giant has pushed Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat as a secure way for workplaces and their staff to use its generative AI chatbot.
But it said a recent issue caused the tool to surface information to some enterprise users from messages stored in their drafts and sent email folders – including those marked as confidential.
Microsoft Copilot Chat error sees confidential emails exposed to AI tool – BBC News
Microsoft has acknowledged an error causing its AI work assistant to access and summarise some users’ confidential emails by mistake.
The tech giant has pushed Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat as a secure way for workplaces and their staff to use its generative AI chatbot.
But it said a recent issue caused the tool to surface information to some enterprise users from messages stored in their drafts and sent email folders – including those marked as confidential.
Microsoft Copilot Chat error sees confidential emails exposed to AI tool – BBC News
How a hybrid approach to AI sovereignty is shaping EU digital policy
In response to the Draghi report, weakened transatlantic cooperation and an AI arms race between the U.S. and China, the EU has been working fastidiously to bolster its technological independence. As a recent study prepared for the European Parliament concluded, “the EU’s reliance on non-European providers for foundational digital infrastructure … makes it inherently vulnerable to geopolitically driven coercion,” meaning that political whims could cause unexpected restrictions and disruptions to essential services across the EU.
How a hybrid approach to AI sovereignty is shaping EU digital policy | IAPP
Safeguarding, British Values & Prevent News
Understanding men’s experiences of self-harm
Self-injury is often a way of coping with strong and painful emotions, releasing overwhelming tension, or coping with the impact of traumatic experiences, such as intrusive memories and dissociation. People of all ages, genders, and backgrounds can experience these difficult feelings and engage in self-injury as a result.
However, self-injury is a topic surrounded by stigma and stereotypes. One of the most common stereotypes is that it mainly affects teenage girls.
Understanding men’s experiences of self-harm | Mental Health Foundation
Self-injury is often a way of coping with strong and painful emotions, releasing overwhelming tension, or coping with the impact of traumatic experiences, such as intrusive memories and dissociation. People of all ages, genders, and backgrounds can experience these difficult feelings and engage in self-injury as a result.
However, self-injury is a topic surrounded by stigma and stereotypes. One of the most common stereotypes is that it mainly affects teenage girls.
Understanding men’s experiences of self-harm | Mental Health Foundation
Sex offenders should tell police about pregnancies, review finds
Registered sex offenders should inform police about their new partners and share details of any pregnancies, a review into the death of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon’s daughter has found.
Baby Victoria’s body was found in a shopping bag in Brighton in 2023, after her parents concealed her birth and went on the run in an attempt to avoid contact with social services.
Marten and Gordon, a convicted rapist, were both sentenced to 14 years for gross negligence manslaughter last year.
Sex offenders should tell police about pregnancies, review finds – BBC News
Warning around extreme content online as teenager is convicted of terrorism offences
A Northumberland teenager has been convicted by a jury for multiple terrorism offences.
The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of offences including membership of a proscribed organisation, possession and distribution of terrorist publications, following a four-week trial at Leeds Crown Court. Sentencing will take place on Friday 27 March.
The teenager, who was 15 at the time, was arrested as part of an intelligence led operation by Counter Terrorism Policing North East, supported by Northumbria Police, on February 20, 2025, from his home address in Northumberland.
A Northumberland teenager has been convicted by a jury for multiple terrorism offences.
The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of offences including membership of a proscribed organisation, possession and distribution of terrorist publications, following a four-week trial at Leeds Crown Court. Sentencing will take place on Friday 27 March.
The teenager, who was 15 at the time, was arrested as part of an intelligence led operation by Counter Terrorism Policing North East, supported by Northumbria Police, on February 20, 2025, from his home address in Northumberland.
Men jailed for their part in Manchester terror plot
Two men have been given life sentences and a third jailed for their parts in a foiled terrorist plot intended to target the Jewish community in Greater Manchester.
The sentences follow guilty verdicts returned in December 2026 which saw Walid Saadaoui and Amar Hussein convicted of preparation of terrorist acts, contrary to section 5(1)(b) of the Terrorism Act 2006. Bilel Saadaoui was found guilty of failure to disclose information about an act of terrorism.
In late 2023, Walid Saadaoui came into online contact with a man he believed shared extremist views like his own. The pair frequently exchanged messages and it soon became clear that Saadaoui was keen to conduct a significant terrorist attack targeting Jewish people.
Men jailed for their part in Manchester terror plot | Counter Terrorism Policing
