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PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE
Cyber-activities: Rule of Law - 22 March 2018 (Commons/Commons Chamber)

Debate Detail

Contributions from Sir Jeremy Wright, are highlighted with a yellow border.
Con
Mrs Kemi Badenoch
Saffron Walden
5. What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the application of the rule of law to cyber-activities.
Con
Mary Robinson
Cheadle
8. What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the application of the rule of law to cyber-activities.
  10:27:42
Jeremy Wright
The Attorney General
Cyber-space is not a lawless world. When states and individuals engage in hostile cyber-operations, they are governed by the law, just as they are elsewhere. The UK has always been clear that we consider cyber-space to be governed by the wider rules-based international order that we are proud to promote.
  10:27:56
Mrs Badenoch
What actions can we take against those countries that we know are carrying out hostile actions in cyber-space?
  10:28:27
The Attorney General
Many states accept that international law covers cyber-space. In June 2015, there was a decision by 20 United Nations states to confirm that. Interestingly, one of those 20 states was Russia. Our argument, therefore, is that if there is an internationally wrongful act against the UK in cyber-space or anywhere else, the UK is entitled to respond.
  10:28:37
Mary Robinson
In confirming that the UN charter also applies to state actions in cyber-space, will the Attorney General also confirm that that includes the prohibition on the use of force?
  10:28:49
The Attorney General
Yes, I can. The UN charter applies in its entirety to cyber-space, including the general prohibition on the use of force and the ability of states to defend themselves.
Lab/Co-op
  10:28:49
Mr Barry Sheerman
Huddersfield
rose—
DUP
Jim Shannon
Strangford
rose—
  10:28:58
Mr Speaker
Order. I want to get down the Order Paper, so I will take each of the two hon. Members on condition that they give a short sentence each, not two, three, or four sentences.
  10:29:08
Mr Sheerman
What is the Attorney General going to do about the horrendous breach of cyber-security by Cambridge Analytica, and who are the right people to prosecute?
The Attorney General
The hon. Gentleman will know from what the Prime Minister said yesterday that the Information Commissioner is already engaged in an investigation. It is important that she has the powers to investigate properly, and the Data Protection Bill, which was referred to previously, will give additional force to that.
  10:30:00
Jim Shannon
A C1 cyber-attack is a matter of when, not if. Will the Attorney General outline the steps his Department is taking to protect the masses of digital personal information files held, and are there plans to upgrade this protection?
The Attorney General
I fear that that needs more than a one-sentence answer. The hon. Gentleman will recognise that it is certainly a responsibility not just of the Government, but of each of us, to ensure that data on organisations and individuals is as well protected as it can be.
Mr Speaker
Extreme brevity is now required.

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