UK proposes new powers for comms regulator to legally unleash avenging hordes on security-breached telcos

UK proposes new powers for comms regulator to legally unleash avenging hordes on security-breached telcos

Britain's Telecommunications Security Bill will allow anyone to sue their telco if they suffer "loss or damage" as a result of a system breach – but only if they get Ofcom's permission.


The far-ranging proposal is in the new bill, which was introduced to Parliament back in November amid lots of government boasts of a crackdown on Huawei and other Chinese telco equipment makers.


Yet buried in the details away from the China-bashing stuff is a potentially heavy stick to be wielded by telco regulator Ofcom, pitting baying crowds against telecoms operators. Currently, these operators face a maximum fine of £2m (enforced by Ofcom itself) for failing to adequately secure their networks ( proposes powers comms regulator legally unleash avenging hordes security breached telcos