Computer Misuse Press Release

16th March 2004

For immediate release

Press Release – APIG to hold public inquiry on revision of the Computer Misuse Act

The All Party Parliamentary Internet Group (APIG) is to hold a public inquiry into the desirability of revising the Computer Misuse Act 1990 (CMA).

The inquiry will particularly focus upon the following:

  • Whether the CMA is broad enough to cover the criminality encountered today;
  • Whether the CMA’s generic definitions of computers and data have stood the test of time;
  • Whether there are “loopholes” in the Act that need to be plugged;What revisions may be needed to meet our international treaty obligations;
  • Whether the level of penalties within the CMA is sufficient to deter today’s criminals;


APIG calls upon interested parties to present written evidence to the inquiry before 9th April 2004.
A public hearing will be held in the House of Commons on the 29th April 2004 when MPs will question industry, Government and the public on their suggested revisions to the CMA.

Richard Allan MP, Joint Vice-Chairman of APIG said:
“As computer networks increasingly underpin our everyday activities any disruption to them can have very serious consequences.  There must be effective legislation to prosecute those who maliciously attack computer networks in the same way that we deal firmly with people who cause criminal damage to physical objects.  The law in this area needs updating and we will look at how this can be done most effectively.”

Brian White MP, Treasurer of APIG said:
“The CMA has stood the test of the time remarkably well.  However, it was drafted before the revolutionary nature of the Internet and the World Wide Web was fully known.  As more people find increasingly sophisticated ways to attack our information systems, it is important we have all the protections we need.  A review of the Act is therefore timely.”

Derek Wyatt MP, Chairman of APIG said:
“There is a lot of very disruptive activity on the Internet, from outright hacking and the distribution of viruses, through denial of service attacks on systems, and right down to the sending of spam via insecure end-user machines. Some of this is clearly illegal today, but some of it seems to fall into grey areas or is difficult to deal with across jurisdictional borders. We need to know if the law, both in the UK and elsewhere, needs strengthening to ensure that we can deter bad behaviour, and also prosecute and convict where necessary.”

The Earl of Northesk, Member of APIG said:
“The Computer Misuse Act dates from 1990. Fourteen years on the technological advance and increasing sophistication of the Internet has outstripped its capacity to deal with the generality of e-crime adequately. It is now two years since I introduced my Computer Misuse (Amendment) Bill which received a generous, if somewhat lukewarm, response from the Minister concerned, Lord Bassam. If strengthening and recasting of the Computer Misuse Act was urgent then - and I believe it was - it is even more so now, especially given that Home Office Minister, Caroline Flint, identified this is a priority at the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit's second e-Crime Congress last month. Any contribution that APIG's inquiry can make to this end is welcome.”

Written evidence should be submitted to inquiry@apig.org.uk by 9th April 2004. APIG may, at its discretion, ask for oral evidence from witnesses on 29th April 2004 at the House of Commons. The inquiry's report will be published in June 2004.

Note to Editors:
Derek Wyatt MP is the Labour MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey. He is a leading campaigner on Internet issues in Parliament.
Richard Allan MP is the Liberal Democrat IT spokesman and represents Sheffield Hallam.
Brian White MP is a leading Labour backbencher on technology issues, representing Milton Keynes North East.
The Earl of Northesk is a Conservative Peer and a leading authority on IT matters in the House of Lords. In 2002 he introduced the Computer Misuse Amendment Bill, which sought to protect computerised systems against denial of service attacks.

The All Party Parliamentary Internet Group exists to provide a discussion forum between new media industries and parliamentarians. Accordingly, the group considers Internet issues as they affect society, informing Parliamentary debate through meetings, informal receptions, inquiries and reports. The group is open to all members of the Houses of Parliament.

Enquiries about the work of the Committee:
Telephone: 020 7233 7377
Fax: 020 7233 7294
E-mail: inquiry@apig.org.uk

APIG CMA Inquiry: Guidelines for Witnesses
The All Party Parliamentary Internet Group announced its inquiry into the “Computer Misuse Act” on March 16th 2004. The inquiry is anxious to receive as wide a range of submissions as possible.

  1. More information about APIG can be found at www.apig.org.uk
  2. Documents of relevance to the inquiry include:
  1. Written submissions should be concise and address the matters raised by the inquiry concentrating on the issues with which the witness has a special interest. A typical length would be about 1,000 words. Essential statistics or further details can be added as appendices.
  2. It would be much preferred if written submissions were made in an electronic format. They should be in plain text (ASCII), PDF , .DOC or .RTF format. Submissions should be dated and include the name, address and telephone number of the person in the organization who is responsible for the submission.
  3. It is at the inquiry's discretion to publish any evidence it receives. Any information that a witness would not wish to be considered for publication should be clearly marked.
  4. The inquiry has asked for all written evidence to be submitted by 9th April 2004. The Officers of APIG following consideration of written evidence, will decide, which organisations and individuals to invite to give oral evidence in Westminster on 29th April 2004.

Hard copies of written evidence may be submitted to:
APIG Secretariat
23 Palace Street
London
SW1E 5HW
But electronic submissions (in plain ASCII, Adobe PDF or Microsoft Word .DOC or .RTF formats) are preferred and should be emailed to inquiry@apig.org.uk