Internet and cybercrime

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material about the Internet and cybercrime. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.

Standard Notes

DateDescription
18.05.2012Internet surveillance
This note looks at the history of the two programmes, cites the justifications given by successive governments for what critics have dubbed a 'snooper's charter' and details some of the objections that have been raised against surveillance of this sort.
01.12.2011Internet regulation
The practicalities of blocking and filtering harmful material on the internet have generated interest in a range of contexts: the misuse of social media during the August 2011 riots, child sexual abuse images and copyright infringement.
18.10.2011Cloud computing
The cloud is a reference to the internet, and cloud computing means relocating computer resources and activities on to the internet. This note considers the potential for cloud computing, its applications and risks.
30.06.2011Copyright online
The online world and those who inhabit it throw up challenges to the legitimacy of copyright law and the methods and effectiveness of enforcing it.
23.06.2011Cyber Security - A new national programme
It is widely acknowledged that cyber attacks will increasingly be a key aspect of future warfare and organised crime. This note explains the increasing threat to national security posed by the new "front" of the cyber realm of networked, digital activities (often internet-based) and sets out the Government's response.

Research Papers

DateDescription
21.01.2011UK Defence and Security Policy: A New Approach?
Both the National Security Strategy and the Strategic Defence and Security Review were published in October 2010, five months after the Government took office. This paper examines the main priorities and recommendations set out in each of those documents
08.12.1999Electronic Communications Bill (Bill 4 1999/2000)
The Electronic Communications Bill (revised edition). (Bill 4 of 1999/2000). House of Commons Library Research Paper 99/100.(Updates and replaces Research Paper 99/92).

Select Committee Reports

DateDescription
09.03.2010Protecting Europe against large-scale cyber-attacks.
European Union Select Committee (HL) report [Lords]
26.01.2010Legislative scrutiny: Digital Economy Bill.
Human Rights Joint Select Committee report [Commons and Lords]
12.01.2010Legislative scrutiny: Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill; Video Recordings Bill.
Human Rights Joint Select Committee report [Commons and Lords]

Early Day Motions

DateDescription
09.02.2012SUCCESS OF SAFER INTERNET DAY
That this House applauds the way that children, parents and grandparents were welcomed to Parliament for Safer Internet Day 2012, organised for the UK by the UK Safer Internet Centre, ...
26.01.2012ANONYMITY ON THE INTERNET
That this House is concerned at reports in the Wall Street Journal that Google may now be combining nearly all the information it has on its users, which could make it harder for them ...
05.12.2011PROPOSED COMMONS TWITTER HASHTAG
That this House notes that it is important to keep up with modern communication techniques; further notes that hon. Members are now allowed to tweet from the Chamber; believes that ...
14.11.2011CYBER CRIME
That this House notes that despite overwhelming numbers of UK businesses being affected by cyber crime, 40 per cent. of cyber crimes committed against businesses currently go unreported; ...
08.11.2011EVANESCENCE, SCHILLINGS, SAM SMITH AND THE RULE OF LAW
That this House notes that Schillings acting for Amy Lynn Lee Hartzler, the lead singer of the band Evanescence, and her manager Andrew Lurie of 110 Management threatened Sam Smith ...

POST Papers

DateDescription
15.03.2012Impacts of Video Games
There is debate surrounding the impact of violent video games on behaviour.
22.09.2011Cyber Security in the UK
Cyber security refers to defences against electronic attacks launched via computer systems. This POSTnote looks at approaches to cyber security in the context of large-scale attacks, with a focus on national infrastructure.
01.01.2010Counterfeit medicines, January 2010
This POSTnote considers the extent of the global counterfeit medicine trade, its impact in the UK and the technologies and policy options available to combat it. It also examines the risks and benefits of online pharmacy, one of the main ways in which counterfeits are distributed.
01.01.2009E-democracy, January 2009
This POSTnote looks at recent UK e-democracy initiatives, and at challenges faced in their design and implementation. It examines debate over the purpose of eDemocracy and where its future lies.
01.12.2007Next generation telecoms networks, December 2007
Next generation telecoms networks, December 2007. POSTnote 07/296.
01.07.2007Grids and e-Science, July 2007
Grids and e-Science, July 2007. POSTnote 07/286.

Glossary

  • Research Papers (RP) - briefings produced by the House of Commons Library on Bills, topical issues and regular statistics
  • Standard Notes (SN) - shorter, topical briefings from the Commons Library
  • Early Day Motions (EDMs) - formal motions submitted by MPs in the House of Commons
  • POST Notes - short briefing notes produced by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
  • Lords Library Notes (LLN) - an occasional series of papers compiled by the House of Lords Library