Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the manufacturer liability for simple internet-connected devices such as cameras, televisions and domestic appliances in the event such a device is hijacked in a cyber attack; and how consumers can obtain compensation from the manufacturer in the event of such an attack.

The cyber security of the UK is a top priority for the Government which is why we are investing £1.9 billion and have opened the National Cyber Security Centre to help make the UK the safest place to live and do business online. In general, manufacturers of Internet-connected devices should ensure those devices have appropriate security measures built in and seek to ensure emerging technologies are secure by design.

Individuals who are concerned about how their personal information is being processed or stored, or who believe it may have been compromised following a cyber breach, can raise a concern with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Under the Data Protection Act, the ICO has a number of powers to change the behaviour of organisations and individuals that collect, use and keep personal information including issuing monetary penalty notices, requiring organisations to pay up to £500,000 for serious breaches of the Data Protection Act occurring on or after 6 April 2010 and prosecuting those who commit criminal offences under the Act.