A cross-party group of UK parliamentarians are urging the government to update the 1990 Computer Misuse Act (CMA), arguing it is outdated and limits cybersecurity efforts.
Led by Lord Holmes of Richmond, the coalition highlights how parts of the CMA criminalise essential security practices needed to protect the country’s digital infrastructure.
The CMA was originally designed to combat the malicious misuse of computer systems and data. However, since it was drafted before the modern internet era, the coalition argues that it no longer addresses the complex challenges faced by UK cybersecurity professionals today.
The group has proposed amendments to the Data Access and Use Bill, including a statutory defence for cybersecurity professionals to protect those acting with a reasonable belief they had system owner consent or were working to prevent malicious attacks.
The proposed amendments will be debated in the House of Lords Grand Committee, offering a critical opportunity to bring UK cyber laws into the digital age.
Richard Petrie, CTO of the London Internet Exchange (LINX), comments: “While updating the Computer Misuse Act (CMA) is critical, it is equally important that organisations take proactive steps to safeguard their systems themselves, in order to address the evolving digital threat landscape . It is vital that businesses focus on building resilience into their networks to eliminate downtime and disruptions.
“Network peering and alternative traffic routes can play a significant role in ensuring systems stay online, even during cyberattacks or infrastructure failures. Strengthening these network defences will help protect both the country’s critical infrastructure and individual organisations from the growing cyber risks.”
Leave a Comment