UK's Computer Misuse Act 'needs urgent reform'

The legislation in the UK designed to protect the country against hackers and cyber crime is in urgent need of reform, a new report has said.

Research gathered by the Criminal Law Reform Now Network (CLRNN) criticised the Computer Misuse Act 1990 (CMA) for being outdated and unfit for purpose.

Although it criminalises individuals who attempt to access data on digital devices without permission, the study authors pointed out that it actually hinders threat intelligence research and therefore puts critical national infrastructure at increased risk.

The CLRNN has urged the government to implement changes and ensure journalists and academics can research cyber threats that are in the public interest without fear of prosecution.

Barrister and CLRNN member Simon McKay said: "The CMA is crying out for reform. It needs to be future and technology-proofed to ensure it can meet the challenges of protecting the embedded internet-based culture we all live in and depend on."

This is not the first such appeal, with companies including Nettitude and Orpheus Cyber writing to UK prime minister Boris Johnson last year in an attempt to get the CMA reformed.