Europe to get stronger cybersecurity laws

Europe is to strengthen its cybersecurity legislation in the context of increasingly powerful attacks, the European Commission said. New regulations are proposed that would see the perpetrators of cyberattacks and the producers of related and malicious software prosecuted, and criminal sanctions increased to a maximum two-year sentence.

European countries would also be obliged to respond quickly to requests for help when cyberattacks are perpetrated, and new pan-European criminal offences will be created for the "illegal interception of information systems".The European Network and Information Security Agency (Enisa), which has been operational for the last five years, will also be modernised and strengthened to help countries and private stakeholders prevent and combat cyberattacks. The proposals will have to be passed by the European Parliament and Council of Ministers if they are to come into effect.