The Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021 (c. 31) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.[1][2]
| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| Long title | An Act to make provision about the security of public electronic communications networks and public electronic communications services. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 2021 c. 31 |
| Territorial extent | England and Wales; Scotland; Northern Ireland |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 17 November 2021 |
| Commencement | 17 November 2021, 1 October 2022 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends | Communications Act 2003 |
Status: Current legislation | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Text of the Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
The act builds upon and strengthens the Communications Act 2003, in particular the role of Ofcom, the United Kingdom's Office for Communication, in regards of its role in policing the security of telecommunications and telecom providers. The Act requires the provider of a telecommunications network to ensure that they identify, prepare, and reduce the risk of security compromises.
The act provides the government with "new national security powers"[3] and introduces a "duty owed to every person who may be affected" by a security breach.[4]
In November 2020, the government published its "5G Supply Chain Diversity Strategy"[5] It pledged to "introduce a new, robust security framework" for telecommunications suppliers, enhance security powers for OfCom, and place decisions on "high risk vendors" in statutory terms.
The bill, when introduced, represented "a watershed moment in the development of the UK's response to cyber-security threats."[6] though was also called "narrowly focused".[7]
External links
edit- Telecommunications (Security) Bill Text of the Bill
References
edit- ^ "New telecoms security law to protect UK from cyber threats". Gov.uk. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
- ^ "Telecommunications (Security) Bill". 26 May 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
- ^ "New telecoms security law to protect UK from cyber threats". Gov.uk. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
- ^ "What could the Telecommunications (Security) Bill mean for ISPs and telcos?". Decoded Legal Blog. 2 December 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
- ^ "5G Supply Chain Diversification Strategy". Gov.uk. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
- ^ Benson, Townsend, Jonathan, Matthew (11 December 2020). "The Telecommunications (Security) Bill: the rollercoaster ride continues". JD Spura. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Allisson, Peter Ray (2 June 2021). "What the Telecommunications (Security) Bill means for UK industry". Computer Weekly. Retrieved 13 July 2021.