The government will gain emergency powers to order telecoms companies to disable or remove services amid fears of Russian interference. New criminal penalties include up to 14 years in prison for tampering with undersea cables or energy pipelines.
01Summary
- 01Ministers will be able to force telecoms firms to modify or halt services during national security emergencies and access cable landing stations.
- 02Intentional tampering with undersea cables or energy pipelines carries a maximum 14-year prison sentence; reckless conduct 10 years; gross negligence two years.
- 03Almost all UK international data traffic and three-quarters of its gas supplies travel via undersea infrastructure owned mainly by the private sector.
- 04The UK has accused Russia of using spy ships and submarines to map underwater cables; Russia denies the claims.
- 05Non-compliant companies could face fines of up to £17m or 10% of global turnover; new legislation will follow a consultation closing in January.
02Why it matters
These powers aim to close a security gap in protecting the cables and pipelines that carry nearly all the UK's data and most of its gas. The measures may affect how telecoms firms operate during a crisis and could set a precedent for emergency state intervention in private infrastructure.
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