Crimes such as phishing and online payment fraud are already criminalised under the Fraud Act [2006] and the Computer Misuse Act 1990 (CMA). To ensure that online platforms are doing all they can to further protect the public the Government passed the Online Safety Act (OSA) in November 2023. Fraud is included as a priority offence under the Act, which means tech companies are now required to tackle fraudulent content on their platform that is \u2018user-generated\u2019 or face the possibility of significant fines. The Act\u2019s fraudulent advertising duty will also require certain categories of companies to stop fraudulent advertising appearing on their platforms.<\/p>
The Government published the Online Fraud Charter in November 2023; a voluntary agreement with the largest companies in the tech sector, designed to raise best practice across the sector and deliver a much quicker and more targeted response than regulation. As part of the Charter, signatories have committed to supporting the Government\u2019s Stop! Think Fraud<\/em> campaign. This was a major campaign \u2013 across TV, radio, social media and billboards \u2013 that aim\u2019s to improve public awareness by streamlining and amplifying messaging. The campaign, and supporting website, will make it easier for the public to recognise fraud and take steps to protect themselves, their family and friends.<\/p> Furthermore, the Government is committed to ensuring that the CMA, the UK\u2019s key piece of cybercrime legislation which criminalises unauthorised access to computer systems and data remains up to date and effective to tackle criminality. We are currently reviewing the CMA, and the Home Office will provide an update to Parliament on any proposals that we will take forward in due course.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4462", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tom Tugendhat"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Tonbridge and Malling"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Tom Tugendhat"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-04-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-04-29T15:05:21.77Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2024-04-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Cybercrime"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he is considering legislative proposals to strengthen the ability to tackle (a) phishing, (b) online payment fraud and (c) other cybercrime.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4638", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Slough"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi"}
], "uin" : "22629"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1701761", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1701761/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Since the announcement of the National Cyber Strategy on 15 December 2021, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has received 71 reports associated with cyber crime activity, considered to be significant.<\/p> The NCSC categorise incidents based on numerous contemporaneous factors, including but not limited to, the technical impact of the incident, the nature of the affected organisation, and contextual considerations at the time of the incident report being received.<\/p> NCSC and law enforcement take action against cyber criminals by taking down their malicious URLs used to defraud people.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4462", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tom Tugendhat"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Tonbridge and Malling"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Tom Tugendhat"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-04-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-04-22T14:45:47.207Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2024-04-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Cybercrime"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many major cyber crime incidents have been reported since the National Cyber Strategy was introduced.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1409", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Londonderry"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Gregory Campbell"}
], "uin" : "22259"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1693335", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1693335/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Fraud is designated a priority offence under the Online Safety Act (OSA), meaning companies will be held to account if they fail to remove illegal content on their platforms. This is expected to have a strong impact on some of the highest harm fraud types, such as online purchase, investment and romance scams, as well as key fraud enablers such as the recruitment and use of money mules.<\/p> However, the OSA will take time to come into force. Therefore, the Government has also created the Online Fraud Charter: a voluntary agreement bringing together the largest companies in the tech sector, who have committed to a series of actions aimed at reducing fraud on their platforms and services. The Charter was signed on 30 November, and will deliver a much quicker and more targeted response than regulation: Online Fraud Charter - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)<\/a>.<\/p> Tackling cyber crime is at the heart of the Government\u2019s National Cyber Strategy<\/a> 2022-25, which is supported by £2.6 billion of investment through the National Cyber Fund.<\/p> As part of the Criminal Justice Bill, we are also introducing a new power for law enforcement and other investigative agencies to act to suspend IP addresses and domain names where they are being used for a criminal activity with a link to the UK.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4462", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tom Tugendhat"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Tonbridge and Malling"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Tom Tugendhat"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-03-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-03-14T12:18:45.83Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2024-03-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Cybercrime"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he has taken to tackle (a) online scams and (b) other cyber crime.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1447", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Rosindell"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Romford"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Andrew Rosindell"}
], "uin" : "16645"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1651862", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1651862/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Tackling cyber crime is at the heart of the Government\u2019s National Cyber Strategy which is supported by £2.6billion of investment over the three year Spending Review period. The National Cyber Strategy<\/a> (2022-2025) has set the direction and ambition for investment and efforts across the UK cyber ecosystem. Delivery of the Strategy is being supported by the National Cyber Fund. This programme has allocated investment to lead government departments to support delivery of the objectives set out in the strategy.<\/p> In the financial year 23/24, the Home Office is receiving £18,243,506 from the National Cyber Fund to provide a range of capabilities and resource to tackle cyber crime. The National Crime Agency receives a further £30,300,000 from the National Cyber Fund, which includes building and maintaining high-end capabilities that allow a cross-system response to the most harmful cyber crimes, such as ransomware.<\/p> This funding is supplemented by a further £16,103,000 of Home Office funding under the Police Settlement Programme. This funding continues to build law enforcement capabilities at the national, regional and local levels to ensure they have the capacity to deal with the impacts of increasing volume and sophistication of cyber crime. This includes ensuring local police officers have the skills to investigate these crimes.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4462", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tom Tugendhat"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Tonbridge and Malling"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Tom Tugendhat"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-07-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-07-17T16:22:53.967Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-07-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Cybercrime"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, How much funding has the Government allocated to tackling cyber crime in the next twelve months.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1409", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Londonderry"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Gregory Campbell"}
], "uin" : "193311"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1606904", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1606904/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Our National Cyber Strategy, launched in December 2021, sets out how we will ensure that the UK continues to be a leading, responsible and democratic cyber power, able to protect and promote our interests in the rapidly evolving online world. This includes our approach to making the UK more resilient to cyber attacks and countering cyber threats. It is supported by £2.6 billion of investment up to 2024 - 25.<\/p> The UK will do what is necessary to protect ourselves through our world leading capability in this area. We are vigilant to cyber threats, wherever they come from, and ready to defend against them. We are continuing to work to make the UK more resilient to cyber threats and raise the cost for those who would do us harm.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4507", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Jeremy Quin"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Horsham"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jeremy Quin"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-03-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-03-30T14:48:05.83Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-03-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Cybercrime"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to strengthen the UK\u2019s response to cyber threats.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4526", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for David Warburton"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Somerton and Frome"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "David Warburton"}
], "uin" : "172469"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1566496", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1566496/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Tackling cyber crime is at the heart of the Government\u2019s new National Cyber Strategy which is supported by £2.6bn of new investment over the three year Spending Review period. The National Cyber Strategy<\/a> (2022-2025) has set the direction and ambition for investment and efforts in UK Cyber. Delivery of the Strategy is being supported by the National Cyber Fund. This programme has allocated investment to lead government departments to support delivery of the objectives set out in the strategy.<\/p> We are continuing to invest in law enforcement capabilities at the national, regional and local levels to ensure they have the capacity to deal with the increasing volume and sophistication of cyber crime, which includes ensuring officers are being trained and upskilled.<\/p> The Cyber Aware campaign is a major national advertising campaign that aims to help businesses (as well as individuals) to protect themselves online. The campaign empowers and enables the public and micro businesses to understand the best ways to stay secure online and take the necessary protective actions; and supports wider efforts to combat the threat at source via the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERs), and through partnership interventions. This year\u2019s campaign was launched on 18 March and is focusing on empowering citizens, microbusinesses and sole traders to keep their email accounts secure. Cyber Aware - NCSC.GOV.UK<\/a><\/p> The Governments\u2019 Cyber Essentials Scheme provides the basic controls all businesses should implement to protect themselves. About Cyber Essentials - NCSC.GOV.UK<\/a><\/p> Cyber Prevent is an important part of our response to tackling cyber crime. This is an early intervention programme aimed at deterring individuals from getting involved in cyber crime in the first place, moving deeper into cyber crime or reoffending and diverting them towards positive directions. Since 2019, all local forces now have a Cyber Prevent capability.<\/p>