WhatsApp Privacy Update - What's Changed?

Meta Founder Mark Zuckerberg has unveiled new privacy updates for WhatsApp, the direct messaging app, on Tuesday. He explained that these changes are part of their efforts to continuously build new ways to protect users’ privacy. The new updates include:

·        Members of a group chat will no longer be notified when a user leaves the group – only the admin.

·        Users will be able to determine which contacts can see their online status. 

·        WhatsApp is also testing screenshot-blocking for ‘view once’ messages. This feature was introduced last year, but users were warned that they would not know if the recipient of such a message screenshotted or saved it.

This comes a year after the introduction of a controversial update to WhatsApp’s privacy policy which detailed what user information is shared with Meta, its parent company. This led to users leaving the app in favour of their competitors and the European Commission launching an investigation earlier this year.

Ami Vora, head of product at WhatsApp, said “We believe WhatsApp is the most secure place to have a private conversation. And to spread the word about these new features, we’re also kicking off a global campaign, starting with the UK and India, to educate people about how we work to protect their private conversations on WhatsApp.”

The advertising campaign, which will include a billboard on Wandsworth Roundabout in southwest London, comes as Meta has faced a growing number of criticisms about how its privacy features could be abused by people seeking to evade law enforcement.

Local government calls for greater action on cost-of-living crisis in Northern Ireland

NILGA President Cllr Martin Kearney

The Northern Ireland Local Government Association has called for the creation of a cost-of-living task force to tackle the growing pressures on households and businesses.

NILGA welcomed the recent publication of the NEA survey on fuel poverty in Northern Ireland which puts into perspective the very real difficulties that households are facing. While energy costs are just one element of household costs, the strain that individuals and families are under requires a joined-up response across all sectors.

Local government is committed to doing everything it can to support communities, irrespective of its limited statutory role and finances. Local councils are at the forefront of providing community support, through signposting to government and third sector support, supporting local food banks and social supermarkets as well as funding community centres and capacity building in community groups.

At last week’s Partnership Panel meeting on 2 August between local government and the Communities Minister, local government called for central government to invest in the advice sector to support individuals and families, as well as enhancing flexibility in community based grant funding to enable quick and effective solutions at a local level.

Responding to the survey findings, NILGA President Cllr Martin Kearney said:

“This is a wake up call for national and regional government to find a solution to ensure households in NI can rightly receive the emergency funding which is being allocated elsewhere. In tandem, it is vital that we move forward on those aspects of the Anti-Poverty Strategy which can be advanced in the current political situation. NILGA supports the call for a Task Force to be established with a clear focus on removing barriers to collaboration and to leave no stone unturned in our efforts to support those in need. This Task Force should be inclusive of all public services and include energy companies as well as the community and voluntary sector.”

NILGA is coordinating a regional local government response to the crisis by facilitating the sharing of best practice among the councils. The collaboration between regional and local government and the third sector during the pandemic was critical for a successful response and this collaboration should be central to our resolve to tackle the current crisis.

'Staff retention crisis draining business focus and productivity' writes Baker Tilly Mooney Moore Consulting Partner Donal Laverty

As originally appeared in the Irish News, 9 August 2022.

Consulting Partner at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore Donal Laverty

The pace of the labour market in Northern Ireland has accelerated sharply in recent months to become a key operational concern for many businesses. Job openings are consistently high, salaries are leaping up and the normalisation of hybrid and flexible working has given candidates the power to shop around for a higher paying role that slots into their lifestyle.

From an employee perspective, this is a seismic shift from twelve months ago when a stable income, job security and a flexible working environment were the main drivers.

The labour market has clearly and fundamentally changed. There is a significant deficit of available staff, increasing pressure on organisations to retain existing staff and an increasingly febrile market where employees are seeking or have in fact been sought out for a competing role. We call it the war on talent, and as the situation rumbles on, it has the potential to wipe out organisational productivity.

Despite the slight stabilisation recorded in the last three months in the latest NI Jobs/ Ulster Bank Jobs Report, the market is still very much controlled by the candidate, with job growth up 67% on the same period pre-pandemic and companies finding gaps from entry to senior management level.

This is a situation that will play out for at least the rest of 2022 and well in 2023. In the meantime, organisations right across the public, private and third sectors run the risk of potentially devastating repercussions.

We talk everyday now of the cost-of-living crisis, a scenario that leaders have been grappling with since almost the very moment Covid-19 began to settle. It is right that we are seeing more frequent announcements of cost-of-living support packages and pay rises in line with inflation, a tactic that no doubt plays into the recruitment and retention response for the companies and organisations that can afford it.

Yet the harsh reality is that not every business can stretch their budget to this, and even those who can must consider whether they have the bandwidth to resource a hike in salaries in the long-term.

In practice, what we are seeing across all sectors is that recruitment and retention is draining the focus, productivity and resources away from day-to-day operations. A notoriously expensive exercise, it requires careful consideration and a significant time commitment in a period when, if we wish to avoid repeating the process in a matter of months, it must be done right.

Whatever the purpose of the organisation, business or charity, the day-to-day reality means pulling senior managers and colleagues away from their workload to recruit new colleagues, restructure existing departments and develop new strategies for employee retention. In doing this, creative thinking, forward planning, and overall productivity inevitably takes a hit.

Add to that the considerations around the cost of doing business and whether salaries here can keep up with inflation, we have a situation where organisational strategy right across the business landscape is being hamstrung by the war on talent.

Although a significant challenge, solutions do exist, and steps can be taken now to ensure the long-term focus isn’t overwhelmed by recruitment matters. In our next piece, we will outline what organisations can do to ensure smooth transitions that protect their productivity in the long-term.

'Time for some vision…Eurovision' writes Chief Executive of Hospitality Ulster, Colin Neill

As appeared in the Irish News 9 August 2022.

The buzz created around a potential bid for Belfast as host city for Eurovision 2023 is something we haven’t experienced for some time. It’s great to see and hear such enthusiasm for a blue riband event after the successes of the likes of the MTV EMAs and the Giro d’Italia over the past decade.

Belfast is the perfect city to host the cultural phenomenon of Eurovision, ticking all the necessary boxes. It would be remiss of the head honchos at the European Broadcasting Union not to have us right at the top of their list.

However, they still might need convincing. Can we convince them by the two airports on our doorstep, the venues that can seat thousands, the hotels, bars and restaurants that can accommodate, feed and water international guests? Do we need to convince them about our UNESCO Music City status, or possibly our own Eurovision heritage?

Another attribute to support the collective campaign is that our liquor licensing has now been modernised and puts us on a par with any British city which might be thinking of throwing their hat in the ring.

Belfast knows how to hold a party of this size – we’ve done it before. When the MTV European Music Awards were hosted in the city in 2011, official figures highlighted that a £22m direct contribution was made to the local economy, with an extra £10m generated in extra revenue around the event. That is a significant return on investment.

The music awards saw thousands of international guests descend onto our streets with every bar, restaurant and hotel packed for days. This major event 11 years ago could act as the dress rehearsal for Eurovision, which is on an even bigger and far more flamboyant scale.

The Eurovision Song Contest could bring even more to Belfast and beyond with a weeklong celebration, uniting every country in Europe, as well as Israel and Australia. That means tens of thousands of people including artists, production crews, guests and tourists coming to Belfast, and the wider city region, to eat, drink, sleep and explore what Northern Ireland has to offer. It’s worth the effort.

Previous Eurovision contests have brought over £30m in revenue during the seven-day long competition to host cities, with an average of 30,000 attendees. The financial and reputational rewards Eurovision would reap for the wider Belfast area would be immense and a shot in the arm for a hospitality sector under pressure at present.

It has the potential to catapult Belfast onto the world stage with international media broadcasting to every corner of the world. A staggering 161m viewers tuned into Eurovision 2022 – just imagine the positive kick back of having an audience of that size. It also must be taken into consideration that we can provide a little bit of hope for post conflict prosperity and send a message out that things can and do get better. It will not be lost on anyone why this opportunity has come about in the first place.

It is great to hear that some political representatives and organisations with skin in the game are inching towards a potential bid. Hospitality Ulster stands ready to support the city for host status and provide any backing required to get us across the line. Twelve points from us.

Former Northern Ireland international to inspire parents and coaches on young people’s mental health at Belfast Youth Cup

Former Manchester United and Northern Ireland footballer Pat McGibbon is set to host a series of mental health and wellbeing workshops at the Belfast Youth Cup.

 The tournament organisers – in partnership with Change Your Mind, Inspire and Train 2B Smart – will deliver a series of free masterclasses, for parents and coaches, focusing on the links between young people’s personal growth and footballing development on Sunday 7 and Monday 8 August.

A qualified physiotherapist, Pat will draw on his own knowledge of sports science – as well as his experiences of playing and coaching – to outline ways in which parents and coaches can best support the wellbeing of young players, in training and on the sidelines.

This important initiative is part of a wider campaign to remove mental health stigma from within football and encourage young people, along with their parents and coaches, to be more aware of the impact of poor mental health on and off the pitch.

The sessions will be held at Ulster University Jordanstown’s sports centre during the Belfast Youth Cup.

Ahead of the sessions, Pat McGibbon said:

“I’m delighted to be partnering with the Belfast Youth Cup and Inspire/Change Your Mind to deliver workshops focusing on the personal and social development of children and young people within a team environment.

“As a former professional footballer, UEFA Pro-level coach, qualified physiotherapist and qualified health and wellbeing coach, I have studied the links between physical, mental and emotional growth. Just as importantly, as a father of three children, I have gained the knowledge and experience to speak about the many challenges faced by parents, guardians, children and young people as they navigate the path from grassroots to youth and elite levels of sport. These sessions will give an insight into my own experiences growing up through child and youth sports, as well as the challenges my parents faced during my career.

“These informal, interactive workshops will provide a brilliant opportunity for parents to ask questions and explore the tools they can add to their mental and emotional toolkits, building resilience and promoting mental health in children and young people.”

Jenna Booth from Inspire/Change Your Mind said:

“It is always important to highlight the importance of positive mental health when it comes to our young people and we are thrilled to be joining Pat McGibbon as we focus on how to better encourage awareness around mental health and wellbeing within football.

“Parents and coaches are often those who our young people look up to and seek out when they are struggling. It is therefore important that we equip those responsible for young people with the knowledge and know-how on mental health. These masterclasses will delve into how adults can provide that support on and off the pitch, tackling stigma around the subject.

“We are encouraging all parents and coaches who are part of any of the Belfast Youth Cup teams to come along any session on Sunday or Monday.”

For further information on these training opportunities, and others, visit www.changeyourmindni.org

Baker Tilly Mooney Moore reacts to economic research on the Northern Ireland Protocol

Head of Tax at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore Angela Keery

Reacting to the NIESR publication on economic output and the Northern Ireland Protocol, Head of Tax at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore Angela Keery said:

“News today from the National Institute for Economic and Social Research (NIESR) of a temporary economic boost related to the Northern Ireland Protocol is welcome evidence of the positive impact the arrangement is having in many sectors. It is not often Northern Ireland outperforms the UK average, and this result is testament to the drive and ability of our business owners who are adapting to the circumstances, taking advantages where they can find them, and continuing to get the job done.”

“This boost will, however, be short lived without further investment in the region. The research clearly reflects what local businesses are telling us, which is that the overall uncertainty caused by the NI Protocol negotiations is dampening any opportunities offered up by dual-market access, and we are ultimately missing a window of opportunity. Perhaps even more concerning is the lack of economic forecasts around what will happen if moves are made to override the protocol at this stage. Surely, after over nineteen months of learning to work under the current arrangement, any significant withdrawal has the potential to have very detrimental effects on the economy.”

'Northern Ireland no longer excluded under new gaming legislation' writes Matthew Howse, Dispute Resolution & Litigation partner at Eversheds Sutherland

As appeared in the Irish News, 2 August 2022

Matthew Howse, Dispute Resolution & Litigation Partner at Eversheds Sutherland

FOR years, people in this part of the world have been used to seeing “Northern Ireland excluded” or “does not apply in Northern Ireland” on their TV screens during competitions or prize draws when watching their favourite programmes.

Under old and archaic gambling, gaming, and competition laws, it was unlawful to conduct any competition which offers prizes where success does not depend to a substantial degree on the exercise of skill. This means that prize draws which require a purchase to enter, for example, were not legal in Northern Ireland.

But thanks to the introduction of the new Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Amendment) Bill earlier this year in March, Northern Ireland's laws have been brought into line with the rest of the UK. This includes rules on free entry routes to prize draws.

Before this new legislation, ‘No Purchase Necessary' draws were the standard in Northern Ireland. In some special circumstances and under very strict conditions, sporting or charitable organisations here were permitted to hold prize draws or lotteries. However, under the old laws, there were several examples of local sports clubs or other organisations inadvertently falling foul of the regulations.

Under the new laws, UK-wide businesses or promotions will be able to include Northern Ireland in the same way that England, Scotland, and Wales are. Previously, promoters of prize draws often had to exclude residents of Northern Ireland or provide an alternative free entry route.

Thanks to amendments to the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, there now includes a carve-out to the prohibition on organising prize draws for the public, allowing for prize draws where entrants are not required to pay to participate.

Crucially, therefore, the new amendment to the 1985 Order provides that making a payment in order to participate in an arrangement includes paying for goods or services “at a price or rate which reflects the opportunity to participate in an arrangement.”

The schedule thereby makes clear that prize draws in Northern Ireland are now permitted to require entrants to purchase a product or service in order to participate so long as the price of the product or service has not been inflated to take account of the prize draw.

This change to the law in Northern Ireland will be particularly welcomed by many big businesses and brands, which frequently use prize draws to market and sell their products. These brands will no longer have to exclude Northern Ireland or make special arrangements for our market.

The new laws will also give our local sporting and community organisations greater certainty and clarity over what they can and can't do when raising vital funds for their groups.

The new legislation is a progressive step forward for Northern Ireland and brings us into line with other jurisdictions across these islands.

Breastival returns with week-long programme to empower and support breastfeeding mothers

Breastival Coordinator Catherine Muldoon with her children James and Clara.

The award-winning Breastival returns today with a programme full of activities for the whole family.

A week-long series of free events will inspire, support and provide information to breastfeeding parents and their families across Northern Ireland. The week begins with a special launch event featuring Hollie McNish, award-winning poet and author.

Coinciding with World Breastfeeding Week, Breastival seeks to reduce the stigma, normalise and celebrate breastfeeding through online panel discussions, webinars and support.

Breastival will host a virtual screening of award-winning documentary ‘Birth Time’ on 5 August. ‘Birth Time’ follows three women as they seek to find out why an increasing number of women emerge from their births physically and emotionally traumatised. The women’s discoveries cause them to forge a movement that hopes to change maternity care in Australia and across the developed world.

The ‘Big Latch On’ will take place on Saturday 6 August from 9.30-12.30pm in Ormeau Park, Belfast and in St Columb’s Park, Derry/Londonderry. Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Tina Black will launch the event in Ormeau Park and Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Sandra Duffy will launch the event in St Columb’s Park.

The Breastival team will be competing between the two locations to create the biggest gathering of women and breastfed infants and children, with the count taking place at 10.30am. The family-friendly outdoor event seeks to empower women to feed for as long as they choose and create connections to the wider community there to support them. It will also feature fun activities for babies, toddlers and young children with free taster sessions of popular baby classes, yoga and a chance for older children and adults to be part of a unique ‘punch needle’ community art project.

Closing the festival on Sunday 7 August, renowned quizmaster Andy Kelly will host a virtual quiz night. Andy has hosted pub quizzes for over 30 years and has appeared on over 35 UK quiz shows, including “Mastermind”, “Who wants to be a Millionaire” and “Deal or no Deal”.

The full programme and tickets for all events, most of which are free to attend, can be found on www.breastival.co.uk.

Breastival Coordinator, Catherine Muldoon said:

“Unfortunately, even today, many women still feel nervous and vulnerable about breastfeeding, particularly in public. That is why Breastival is important. We are here to celebrate breastfeeding and we are thrilled to be able to host many of our events in person this year.

“Breastival seeks to support women build confidence in their feeding decisions, challenge the stigma around breastfeeding and help to reduce the isolation new mothers often feel as they adjust to life with a new baby.”

Breastival Founder, Jennifer Hanratty said:

“This year’s World Breastfeeding Week theme is ‘Step Up for Breastfeeding’, and I am so proud Breastival continues to advocate for, and support women to meet their own goals around breastfeeding while having fun and enjoying each other’s company.

“While breastfeeding rates in Northern Ireland have improved in recent years, we still have a long way to go. Women’s choices are often undermined by aggressive marketing of formula and some families aren’t familiar with breastfeeding or are unsure as to how to support women that want to breastfeed.

“Events like Breastival allow mothers to feel empowered in their choices, to access support, feed their babies and interact with one another in a safe environment, free of judgement. We encourage extended family, friends and supporters to join us to ‘step up’ to support breastfeeding.”

Revised Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland's Enterprise Strategy

The Irish Government has published a revised Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland’s Enterprise Strategy.

Recognising that data centres in the ROI currently account for just under 2% of all greenhouse gas emissions but are responsible for about 14% of Irish electricity use, they have brought forward a new set of agreed principles to “harness the economic and societal benefits that data centres bring, facilitating sustainable data centre development that adheres to our energy and enterprise policy objectives.”

The six agreed principles are as follows:

• Economic Impact: The Government has a preference for data centre developments associated with strong economic activity and employment.

• Grid Capacity and Efficiency: The Government has a preference for data centre developments that make efficient use of our electricity grid, using available capacity and alleviating constraints.

• Renewables Additionality: The Government has a preference for data centre developments that can demonstrate the additionality of their renewable energy use in Ireland.

• Co-location or Proximity with Future-proof energy supply: The Government has a preference for data centre developments in locations where there is the potential to co-locate a renewable generation facility or advanced storage with the data centre, supported by a CPPA, private wire or other arrangement.

• Decarbonised Data Centres by Design: The Government has a preference for data centres developments that can demonstrate a clear pathway to decarbonise and ultimately provide net zero data services

• SME Access and Community Benefits: The Government has a preference for data centre developments that provide opportunities for community engagement and assist SMEs, both at the construction phase and throughout the data centre lifecycle.

Any new data centre developments which are not consistent with these principles would therefore be deemed to be against government policy and not permissible.  

Allstate NI welcomes Animal Assisted Therapy Dog

Lexi the Therapy Dog spends time with an Allstate NI team member in the collaborative working space.

Employees at Allstate NI have welcomed Lexi, a therapy dog from Assistance Dogs Northern Ireland (ADNI), to take up residence at their Belfast office.

Lexi the Labrador is the latest addition to the growing Allstate NI team of over 2,300 technologists and will spend time at the May’s Meadow Belfast office for several days throughout the summer. 

It’s a partnership between ADNI and Allstate, one of Northern Ireland’s largest employers, that allows staff to spend time with Lexi in their new collaborative working space.

Lexi will work with the Allstate NI Ausome committee, which raises awareness of autism in the workplace, and the Allcare network which supports employees who are caregivers outside of work, amongst other colleagues.

ADNI trains therapy dogs, disability assistance dogs, autism companion dogs and autism anchor dogs.

The initiative comes as animal assisted therapy gains traction in many settings. The therapy can reduce anxiety, increase self-esteem and self-confidence, improve social connections, and increase focus and attention.

Lexi the Therapy Dog joins an Allstate NI team member for a game of pool in the collaborative working space.

Director at Allstate NI Suzi Murtagh said:

 “It is a pleasure to welcome Lexi from Assistance Dogs NI to the Allstate team. Animal assisted therapy is well known for helping to relax individuals, improve socialisation, and reduce stress or anxiety. We take employee mental health and wellbeing seriously at Allstate NI and understand that everyone can do with a little downtime every now and again. It is fantastic to have Lexi join us, and we have no doubt he will receive a warm welcome from our team.” 

Chief Executive of Assistance Dogs NI Geraldine McGaughey said:

“We train dogs to transform lives. We operate our animal assisted therapy programme in many areas of society, including in schools, hospices, and the courts service in Northern Ireland to support both children and adults with disabilities. We are thrilled that the team at Allstate NI have decided to adopt this practice and look forward to seeing the fun Lexi brings to the team.”