An MP in Worcestershire is supporting the idea of cyber criminals being given a two-year jail sentence.
Ex-Google executive Nigel Huddleston said that the increasing cyber security means that ministers should consider a tougher stance.
The Conservative MP, who is the representative of Mid-Worcestershire, has a seat on the Commons’ Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, which has recently evaluated the situation.
The report recommends a maximum two-year custodial sentence for those convicted of illegally acquiring and trading personal information.
It comes after a number of high-profile breaches at telecommunications company TalkTalk.
The committee offered a warning that the data theft issue is far larger than is perceived, and that it is increasing.
Huddleston said:
“Cyber Security is a big issue in the modern world and it’s only growing in significance.
“Ninety per cent of large organisations have reportedly experienced a security breach, and 25 per cent of companies experience a cyber-breach at least once a month.”
He went on to say that it has to be a primary priority of every business in order to inform and protect their customers, and that the government needs to take the protection of customer data more seriously.
Huddleston is clearly taking a tough view on the handling of cyber criminals, but it is a sign of times we live in and how much damage cyber crime can have on a company. UK businesses need to be on the lookout for talented cyber pros to fill IT security jobs if they want to keep both their customer data and reputation secure.
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