Bill to better protect people’s smartphones, TVs, speakers, toys and other digital devices from hack24 Nov 2021 21:38
Bill to better protect people’s smartphones, TVs, speakers, toys and other digital devices from hackers
Will prevent the sale of consumer connectable products in the UK that do not meet baseline security requirements
Comes as research shows four in five manufacturers of connectable products do not implement appropriate security measures
Includes plans for fines up to £10 million or up to 4 per cent of global revenue for firms failing to comply
A new law will require manufacturers, importers and distributors of digital tech which connects to the internet or other products to make sure they meet tough new cyber security standards - with heavy fines for those who fail to comply.
The Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill (PSTI), introduced to Parliament today, will allow the government to ban universal default passwords, force firms to be transparent to customers about what they are doing to fix security flaws in connectable products, and create a better public reporting system for vulnerabilities found in those products.
The Bill will also speed up the roll out of faster and more reliable broadband and mobile networks by making it easier for operators to upgrade and share infrastructure. The reforms will encourage quicker and more collaborative negotiations with landowners hosting the equipment, to reduce instances of lengthy court action which are holding up improvements in digital connectivity.
Minister for Media, Data and Digital Infrastructure Julia Lopez said:
Every day hackers attempt to break into people’s smart devices. Most of us assume if a product is for sale, it’s safe and secure. Yet many are not, putting too many of us at risk of fraud and theft.
Our Bill will put a firewall around everyday tech from phones and thermostats to dishwashers, baby monitors and doorbells, and see huge fines for those who fall foul of tough new security standards.
The ownership and use of connected tech products has increased dramatically in recent years. On average there are nine in every UK household, with forecasts suggesting there could be up to 50 billion worldwide by 2030. People overwhelmingly assume these products are secure, but only one in five manufacturers have appropriate security measures in place for their connectable products.
Cyber criminals are increasingly targeting these products. A recent investigation by Which? found a home filled with smart devices could be exposed to more than 12,000 hacking or unknown scanning attacks from across the world in a single week.
And, in the first half of 2021, there were 1.5 billion attempted compromises of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, double the 2020 figure. The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre last week revealed it had dealt with an unprecedented number of cyber incidents over the past year.
Currently the makers of digital tech products must comply with rules to stop them causing people physical harm from issues such as overheating, sharp comp
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