UK – The Computer Misuse Act 1990 Amended to include Life Sentence

As of today 3rd May 2015, The Computer Misuse Act 1990 has been amended to include a life sentence in section 7

 …an act causing or creating a significant risk of

1. serious damage to human welfare of the kind mentioned in subsection (3)(a) or (3)(b), or

2. serious damage to national security,

Also earlier in Section 2

Damage is of a “material kind” for the purposes of this section if it is—

1. damage to human welfare in any place;

2. damage to the environment of any place;

3. damage to the economy of any country; or

4. damage to the national security of any country

These now carry a sentence of maximum sentence of 14 years

Full amendment here www.legislation.gov.uk

This is adds a significant increase in penalty which the many UK home grown hackers now face.