UK Law Lagging Behind: Undersea Cable Sabotage Exposes Legal Gaps

A UK government minister has warned that cyberattacks and undersea cable sabotage are blurring the lines between war and peace, highlighting flaws in UK law. The outdated 1885 Submarine Telegraph Act, with its paltry £1,000 fine, is woefully inadequate for modern threats. Recent incidents, such as suspected Russian attacks on underwater cables in Sweden, underscore the urgency. The government is considering a new Defence Readiness Bill to address state-sponsored cybercrime and undersea cable attacks, but faces challenges in defining 'acts of war' and balancing civil and military responses.