Computer Misuse Act to be reviewed

The All Party Parliamentary Internet Group (APIG) will investigate the Computer Misuse Act 1990, a law designed to fight hacking and computer crime in general.

"There is a lot of very disruptive activity on the internet," said Derek Wyatt MP, chairman of APIG. "Some of this is clearly illegal today, but some of it seems to fall into grey areas or is difficult to deal with across jurisdictional borders. We need to know if the law, both in the UK and elsewhere, needs strengthening to ensure that we can deter bad behaviour, and also prosecute and convict where necessary."

The APIG said the act would have to agree with Britain's obligations to international law, such as the Council of Europe Cybercrime Convention.

The inquiry will be held after April 29 at the House of Commons. The report is due in June.