Reforming the Computer Misuse Act

techUK is supporting the cross-industry campaign ‘Making the Computer Misuse Act 1990 fit for the 21st century’. At 30 years old this key component of UK cyber-crime law has not kept pace with technological advances and is now outdated. Its legal ambiguity creates barriers for the UK’s cyber security industry. The campaign, led by NCC Group, is urging the UK Government to reform the legislation and ensuring UK companies are able to compete on a level international playing field and foster better collaboration between industry and Government.

This session will be an opportunity for attendees to learn more about the challenges posed by the current legislation and what the campaign hopes to achieve, including:

• Section 1 of the Computer Misuse Act 1990, prohibits unauthorised access to computers, inadvertently criminalising a large proportion of cyber threat intelligence research and investigation by UK cyber security professionals;
• Failure to fix the current situation threatens jobs and investment in the UK as global demand is met elsewhere and companies look outside UK borders to remain competitive.
• Removing legislative restraints would significantly unlock the growth of the UK cyber threat intelligence market.
• Change is required to level the playing field and create a sound permissive legal framework that offers certainty to UK threat intelligence providers and UK-based personnel.

There will also be an opportunity to discuss how companies can get more involved with supporting the campaign.

Confirmed speaker:

Katharina Sommer, Head of Public Affairs, NCC Group

For more information, please contact Dan Patefield or visit: https://www.techuk.org/events/roundtable/item/16286-reforming-the-computer-misuse-act