UK to toughen penalties for subsea cable damage to deter Russia

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London: The UK government proposed measures to strengthen legal protections for subsea internet cables, proposing up to two-year prison penalties and unlimited fines for those found guilty of purposefully or carelessly harming critical infrastructure. Officials said the move is meant to prevent hostile behaviour, including potential Russian sabotage, as security worries over subsea networks rise.

The proposed amendments would update law that governments believe is outdated and inadequate for modern security needs. The government intends to conduct a consultation later this year on measures that would enhance fines for offenders, impose stricter security duties on cable operators, and give authorities greater power to respond rapidly to threats or interruptions.

The announcement corresponds with worries expressed by European nations regarding the vulnerability of pipelines and subsea cables that transport huge amounts of energy supplies, financial data, and internet traffic. Russian naval and maritime activities near vital infrastructure has heightened recently, according to British officials, who have warned that such assets may be targeted as part of so-called ‘grey zone’ operations that fall short of conventional confrontation. Russia has repeatedly denied allegations that it threatens subsea infrastructure.

Subsea cables are viewed as the foundation of the global digital economy, carrying more than 99% of worldwide internet traffic. The UK government estimates that the networks allow approximately £1.4 trillion ($1.9 trillion) in financial transactions per day. While fishing vessels or ship anchors cause the majority of cable damage, officials say that tighter rules are required to protect the infrastructure from purposeful attacks and for national security.