Reflecting on the CyberUp Campaign’s Milestones in 2024
As 2024 draws to a close, we are celebrating a year of significant progress in our call for an urgent update to the UK’s outdated Computer Misuse Act 1990 (CMA). From shaping key legislative debates to expanding our engagement with both industry and Parliament, we’ve made great strides towards modernising the UK’s cyber laws. Here’s a look at six pivotal moments that defined our year:
1. Championing Amendments to the CMA in the Criminal Justice Bill
In the last parliamentary session, we briefed numerous MPs on why the Criminal Justice Bill was the ideal mechanism for CMA reform. We were delighted to see support from the then-Labour frontbench, with key amendments updating the CMA and introducing a statutory defence for legitimate cyber security activities—one of the CyberUp Campaign’s key asks.
2. Spotlight on Cyber Security in the King’s Speech
The announcement of the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill in July was a historic moment, as it marked the first piece of primary legislation to feature “cyber security” in its title. We were thrilled to hear long-time supporters Lord Clement-Jones and Baroness Neville-Jones mention the CMA during the King’s Speech debates, alongside Max Wilkinson MP, who called for the long-awaited CMA update in his maiden speech.
3. Launching the 2024 Cyber Industry Survey
Building on the momentum from the King’s Speech, we launched our industry survey in July, gathering invaluable evidence on how the CMA is impacting UK cyber security researchers, professionals, and businesses. The responses were insightful, providing detailed examples of how the CMA hinders legitimate cyber defensive research. We will be publishing our in 2025.
4. Engaging the Cyber Industry
Through events such as the International Cyber Expo and our virtual industry briefing, we’ve strengthened our connections with grassroots professionals and industry clusters across the UK. These engagements have been key in amplifying our campaign’s message and fostering collaboration within the sector.
5. Engaging with the New Parliamentary Cohort
In November, we hosted a drop-in event in Parliament to introduce the campaign to new parliamentarians and highlight the need for updating the CMA. We were pleased to meet MPs from a range of parties who expressed their support for this important issue. We look forward to continuing our engagement with this new group of decision-makers.
6. More Amendments and Campaign Shoutouts
To end the year, we were delighted to see several peers speak in support of Lord Holmes’s amendment to the Data (Use and Access) Bill proposing to update the CMA with a statutory defence to allow cybersecurity professionals to defend themselves from prosecution for legitimate cyber defensive activities. The campaign is incredibly grateful to the many peers who spoke up with powerful arguments in support of the amendment, including Lord Holmes, Lord Clement-Jones, Lord Bethell, Lord Arbuthnot, Lord Kirkhope and Lord Camrose. The CyberUp Campaign received several mentions during the debate, reflecting the years of advocacy and collaboration that have brought us to this point.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our supporters—industry representatives, cyber security professionals, parliamentarians, and other allies—who have championed this cause. Together, we are poised to make 2025 the year we achieve lasting change in the UK’s cyber laws.