Tuesday 9 July 2013

EU businesses can be shut down by new cyber law

New laws on cyberattacks voted in by the European parliament will allow any business found to be engaging in hacking or any other cyber crime to be closed down.
The new framework   will require member states to "take necessary measures” to make sure that firms who indulge in any kind of cybercrime can now be held accountable. The rules allow member states to serve punishment even if an employee carried out hacking without bosses’ knowledge.
Sanctions will vary, depending on the crime committed and include: "exclusion from entitlement to public benefits or aid; temporary or permanent disqualification from the practice of commercial activities; placing under judicial supervision; judicial winding-up; temporary or permanent closure of establishments which have been used for committing the offence", the EP document stated.
The European Commission said that the draft laws are an update to a 2005 framework, to make it more secure for businesses and to stop the "massive spread of malware”.
Last week  it emerged that in the UK, businesses are being attacked on an "industrial scale”, with around 70 sophisticated attacks being carried out each month.
Those found carrying out cyberattacks could also face up to 5 years in prison under the news laws. This is especially true of those that "cause serious damage” and those that are carried out on a "critical infrastructure information system".
"This is an important step to boost Europe's defences against cyber-attacks," the EU's Commissioner for Home Affairs, Cecilia Malmström, said.
"Attacks against information systems pose a growing challenge to businesses, governments and citizens alike. Such attacks can cause serious damage and undermine users' confidence in the safety and reliability of the Internet."
"The perpetrators of increasingly sophisticated attacks and the producers of related and malicious software can now be prosecuted, and will face heavier criminal sanctions".
She went on to say that member states would have to move quickly when it comes to urgent requests and this was intended to improve EU "justice and police cooperation”.

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