“North Korea, Iran, Russia and China.” These states use digital technologies to
“sabotage and steal, or to control and censor,” he declared.
He went on to describe the UK and its Western allies as a
“force for good in the world” that always demonstrates
“respect for international law” and uses cyber capabilities only for defending citizens and safeguarding
“international collaboration.”
Raab also accused China and Russia of
“sheltering criminal gangs” on their territories, instead of prosecuting them, but failed to mention any such groups that might be operating from within the UK or allied nations.
“We can see this clash between authoritarian and democratic states playing out very directly, right now, in cyberspace,” he said, referencing a string of cyber-attacks on Western nations that have been blamed on Moscow and Beijing.
New laws to counter threat from foreign spies May 11, 2021, 11:54 am
The move comes amid widespread concern about the activities of Russian spies in the wake of the Salisbury nerve agent attack (PA)
The Government is to strengthen Britain’s “archaic” counter-espionage laws amid growing concern about the security threat from foreign spies operating in the UK.
The Queen’s Speech includes a commitment to a Counter-State Threats Bill which will create a US-style register of foreign agents.
Under American law, individuals working on behalf of foreign governments, officials or political parties are required to register with the Department of Justice and file reports about their activities.
Queenâs Speech sets out plans for âstronger, healthier, more prosperousâ nation BORIS Johnson said the Queen’s Speech sets out a plan for “unleashing our nation’s full potential” as the UK recovers from coronavirus. The Queen set out the Government’s programme in her first major public ceremonial appearance since the death of her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh. But measures to address the long-standing issue of social care funding were not included in the speech. Proposals on social care will be brought forward later this year, the Government said – despite Mr Johnson’s promise when he entered No 10 two years ago that he had already prepared a “clear plan” to fix the system.
Boris Johnson said the Queen’s Speech sets out a plan for “unleashing our nation’s full potential” as the UK recovers from coronavirus.
The Queen set out the Government’s programme in her first major public ceremonial appearance since the death of her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh.
But measures to address the long-standing issue of social care funding were not included in the speech.
Proposals on social care will be brought forward later this year, the Government said – despite Mr Johnson’s promise when he entered No 10 two years ago that he had already prepared a “clear plan” to fix the system.
Around 30 pieces of legislation promised in the speech include: – A Health and Care Bill to better integrate the NHS and social care systems. – A Planning Bill to make it easier to build new homes, schools and hospitals. Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg in Central Lobby before the State Opening of Parliament (Stefan Rousseau/PA) – New laws to scrap the Fixed-term Parliaments Act, meaning it will be easier for Mr Johnson to call an early general election before 2024. – A Counter-State Threats Bill to introduce a US-style register of foreign agents to help counter espionage and influence from hostile governments. – An Online Safety Bill requiring tech giants to tackle illegal content on their platforms and clearly set out in their terms what content is and is not acceptable.