The Government wants to reduce digital attacks against public bodies, and may introduce new rules preventing local authorities from releasing funds.
Security Minister Dan Jarvis cited ‘an estimated $1billion flowing to ransomware criminals globally in 2023’ when discussing the proposals. If enacted, the regulatory changes would mean councils are blocked from issuing payments in ransomware and hacking scenarios.
The proposal forms part of the wider Plans for Change touted by Labour as the beginning of an ‘age of renewal’ for Britain. Heavily reliant on digitisation, digitalisation, and automation, it is hoped technology can both cut costs and boost efficiency.
‘It is vital we act to protect national security,’ he said. ‘These proposals help us meet the scale of the ransomware threat, hitting these criminal networks in their wallets and cutting off the key financial pipeline they rely upon to operate.’
Earlier this week, the Information Commissioner’s Office released a damning analysis of digital security across the public sector. Calling for councils to ‘do better’, figures showed that 30% of people who had data leaked, lost or stolen through local authority servers experienced emotional distress as a result, and one-quarter had no offer of support from the body involved in the data breach.
Nevertheless, Downing Street is pressing on with its comprehensive overhaul of public sector technology and placing pressure on organisations to modernise rapidly. AI and data are areas that will be focused on, and some have expressed concerns about skills and expertise shortages. Human error has been implicated in a number of ransomware cases involving councils and other public bodies.
More data management:
‘Must do better’: Information Commissioner on public sector data breaches
A year of open data in the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority
Image: Michael Geiger
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