Computer Misuse Act 1990

Computer Misuse Act 1990
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Act to make provision for securing computer material against unauthorised access or modification; and for connected purposes.
Citation1990 c. 18
Introduced byMichael Colvin
Territorial extent 
  • England and Wales
  • Scotland
  • Northern Ireland
Dates
Royal assent29 June 1990
Commencement29 August 1990
Other legislation
Amended by
Status: Amended
Text of statute as originally enacted
Revised text of statute as amended

The Computer Misuse Act 1990 (c. 18) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, introduced partly in response to the decision in R v Gold & Schifreen (1988) 1 AC 1063. Critics of the bill[who?] complained that it was introduced hastily, was poorly thought out, and that intention was often difficult to prove, with the bill inadequately differentiating "joyriding" hackers like Gold and Schifreen from serious computer criminals. The Act has nonetheless become a model from which several other countries, including Canada and the Republic of Ireland, have drawn inspiration when subsequently drafting their own information security laws, as it is seen "as a robust and flexible piece of legislation in terms of dealing with cybercrime".[1] Several amendments have been passed to keep the Act up to date.

  1. ^ IISS Global Perspectives – Power in Cyberspace. Q&A with Nigel Inkster, Director, Transnational Threats and Political Risk, IISS. 18 January 2011.