UK Culture Minister Ed Vaizey said that Sony must make security a priority going forward, but wouldn't say if the government would consider fining the company for its massive security breach that has seen around 100 million PSN users with compromised accounts an without online play for three weeks.
While his words were firm against Sony, the Culture Minister insisted that the government would not interfere with the Information Commissioner’s Office on whether to fine Sony.
"Clearly, as more and more companies move their products online – with more and more customers handing over their details – data protection is going to have to be a number one priority," Vaizey said. "The Information Commission has been given new powers to issue fines where necessary. I know the ICO has been in touch with Sony and clearly this is a huge issue, Sony getting hacked and people’s data being stolen."
Vaizey did not disclose any further details about what ICO would do to Sony, but did say that how Sony reimburses customers is up to them.
Source: Develop
Comments
Re: UK Culture Minister Warns Sony over Weak PSN Security
"Hey, that thing you're doing to fix your network? You should totally be doing it."
Re: UK Culture Minister Warns Sony over Weak PSN Security
What's the point of demanding they upgrade security and then fining them so that they have fewer finances available to do this? Until it's proven with tangible evidence that Sony was negligent with customer data, they were the victims of a crime. A little less of this enthusiasm for fining/suing companies and making money, and more towards catching the hackers, please, so it doesn't happen again?
Re: UK Culture Minister Warns Sony over Weak PSN Security
I hardly think Sony is struggling for cash.
They have a responsibility with the data that they hold, I believe the Data Protection act requires a decent level of protection. Still, I believe it's been mentioned that their security was lacking and under-funded, but I'd like to see the evidence of this.
Re: UK Culture Minister Warns Sony over Weak PSN Security
It doesn't matter if they're struggling for cash or not. If they've been genuinely negligent with customer data and its security to the extent that they've violated the DPA, fine and dandy, but if not, it aggravates me to see some bumbling politicians jump on the 'blame Sony regardless' bandwagon. The only real evidence we've seen of such negligence is second-hand reports - I'm waiting on the verdicts of these professional security experts that Sony has supposedly drafted in.
Re: UK Culture Minister Warns Sony over Weak PSN Security
^ XBL Only user.
Re: UK Culture Minister Warns Sony over Weak PSN Security
And that's exactly why PSN hasn't been back online already.