The European Parliament has adopted new EU legislation to fight cyber-crime, such as large-scale cyber-attacks, a move welcomed by Cecilia Malmström, European Commissioner for Home Affairs.

“This is an important step to boost Europe’s defences against cyber-attacks. Attacks against information systems pose a growing challenge to businesses, governments and citizens alike. Such attacks can cause serious damage and undermine users’ confidence in the safety and reliability of the internet.

“The perpetrators of increasingly sophisticated attacks and the producers of related and malicious software can now be prosecuted, and will face heavier criminal sanctions. Internets will also have to quickly respond to urgent requests for help in the case of cyber-attacks, hence improving European justice and police cooperation,” she commented.

The European Commission said the directive on attacks against information systems builds on rules that have been in force since 2005. While retaining a number of current provisions, it introduces new offences, such as the use of tools to commit large-scale attacks, new aggravating circumstances and higher criminal sanctions that are necessary to fight more effectively large scale attacks against information systems.

Moreover, the directive improves cross-border cooperation between the judiciary and the police of the internet, introducing the obligation for internet to make better use of the existing 24/7 network of contact points by treating urgent requests within eight hours.

Finally, the directive provides for the obligation to collect statistical data on cyber-attacks and for internet to have reporting channels in place for reporting of the offences to com­petent authorities.

Once it is published in the EU Official Journal, internets will have an obligation to comply with the new Directive and implement its provisions into national legislation within two years at the latest.

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