Legal challenges to cyber security institutions

Abstract

The past decade may be portrayed as a period of growing cyber threats and a time of increasing cyber insecurity. In fact, given that societies increasingly rely on information systems and the Internet, cyberspace - a virtual and interactive, non-physical environment created through computer networks accessible regardless of geographic location - has become a vulnerable landscape. Thus, governmental authorities around the world have launched cyber security programmes. For example, the Australian Cyber Security Strategy defines the roles, responsibilities and policies of Australian intelligence, cyber and policing agencies to protect Australian Internet users. The United States (US) funded the Trustworthy Cyber Infrastructure for the Power Grid through its Departments of Energy and Homeland Security, which aims to secure new 'smart meters' against hackers' attacks. Similarly, the Infocomm Security Masterplan in Singapore seeks to defend national critical infrastructures, such as finance, energy, water and telecommunications, against cyber attacks. The European Union considers cyber terrorist threats the highest priority for the security of critical energy infrastructure.