The CyberUp Campaign and techUK have written to Home Secretary Priti Patel welcoming a review into the Computer Misuse Act (CMA), and requested to meet with her to discuss reform proposals. The letter follows a joint briefing call last Tuesday with industry about the Home Office’s Call For Information into the Computer Misuse Act. That Home Office consultation closes on June 8.
In their letter, Ollie Whitehouse, CTO of NCC Group and spokesperson for the campaign, and Julian David, CEO of industry trade body techUK, welcomed the review of the 1990 Act, and offered to meet with the Home Secretary or her officials after the consultation, as the Government considers its next steps.
In a May 11 speech, Priti Patel told the CYBERUK 2021 conference that ‘now is the right time’ for the Government to formally review the Act, which the campaign has argued is out of date. For instance, the Act can make it an offence what security researchers do in good faith, acting in the public interest, or for the detection and prevention of crime.
The Government’s review asks the cyber security industry and the private sector for their views, including whether current “protections in the CMA for legitimate cyber security activity provide adequate cover”.
The groups told the Home Secretary they “share the desire to see a legal framework in the UK that is best able to assist UK law enforcement in defending the UK from an ever-evolving array of cyber threats, and that supports a thriving and internationally competitive UK cyber security industry.”
Ollie Whitehouse said: “The Government consultation represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the cyber sector to have our say on the badly out of date Computer Misuse Act, which has been around since the inception of the sector and increasingly acts as a barrier.
“We were delighted to hold a call with interested parties from across the sector last week. We impressed on them the importance of the current moment in pushing forward with a change that has the potential to position the UK as a global cyber security leader. Our letter to the Home Secretary today highlights the opportunity she now has to create a world-leading cyber security regime here in the UK. But she can only grasp this opportunity if the industry responds to this Call for Information en masse to say, ‘It’s time for change!’”
And Matt Evans, Director, techUK, said: “Through the formal review of the Computer Misuse Act 1990, there is a real opportunity for the UK to future-proof key cyber security legislation, allowing industry and law enforcement to better work together to protect citizens and businesses alike.”
“This is likely the start of a longer process and techUK will look to ensure that industry plays its role in exploring the potential options and challenges around reform, with a string view that through working towards sensible reforms that can also contribute to the UK’s international competitiveness and leadership in the cyber domain. techUK looks forward to engaging with Government throughout the review process on behalf of industry and additionally urges its relevant members to directly input into the Home Office.”
Visit www.cyberupcampaign.com.
