GCHQ may be allowed to broaden its remit to protect private networks in the UK from hackers.
Under a government plan, security experts at the UK intelligence agency would be allowed to keep watch for hackers on the systems of important private networks. They would study signs of attack and take action when required.
However, the security minister, Baroness Pauline Neville-Jones, has said denied the plans have privacy implications.
"What this partnership will not do is start breaking boundaries that we have around privacy and personal data", she said.
Prime Minister David Cameron has already held a meeting with company representatives of British Airways, BT and National Grid to discuss the plan, The Telegraph reported
Recently the governments of Canada, South Korea and France had to face unprecedented cyber attacks. There is a fear that Britain could be the next target. A shut down of important industries such as communication and financial services, electricity grid, or air traffic control systems could cripple the country and hurt its economy.
Cyber security has received attention in last year’s Strategic Defence and Security Review, with the government naming cyber attacks as a Category One threat. The Cameron administration has pledged £650m over the next four years towards cyber-security.
