London announced the disclosure of Russian activity near critical infrastructure.
The United Kingdom plans to introduce stricter penalties, including possible imprisonment, for shipowners and operators who accidentally damage undersea internet cables: these measures are aimed at protecting critical infrastructure from potential sabotage by Russia and other states.
This was stated by Telecommunications Minister Liz Lloyd.
Undersea cables account for over 99% of international internet traffic and support daily financial operations in the UK amounting to over £1.4 trillion, as well as telecommunications services.
Lloyd refers to the growing security threats. In particular, last month London announced the disclosure of Russian underwater activity near critical infrastructure, which is believed to be a potential part of a broader covert operation.
According to the minister, existing legislation, which is over 140 years old, will be updated to close legal loopholes. She is confident that this will allow for a more effective response to incidents and enhance deterrence.
"As hostile activity from Russia and other countries increases, protecting these cables becomes more important than ever for our economy, security, and daily lives," she stated.
Lloyd noted that sabotage by a hostile state already carries a life sentence for those involved, but the new laws will cover the use of intermediaries by state actors and unintentional damage.
The government will also work with cable operators and owners to reduce accidental damage caused by fishing activities or vessels towing anchors, which accounts for nearly all cases of cable outages, she said.
Lloyd mentioned that the government is consulting with industry representatives about creating a repair vessel under the British flag to enhance resilience, adding that a decision will be made later this year.
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