The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) supports the need for the Verkhovna Rada to pass a bill on amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine on countering national security threats in the information sphere concerning the blocking of websites, with a view to thwarting Russian cyber attacks.
“The Security Council of Ukraine believes that the introduction of changes to the current legislation in terms of ensuring information security and cybersecurity will ensure the introduction of a legal mechanism for blocking an information resource (service) based on the decision of the investigating judge and the court in criminal proceedings. The blocking is possible under the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine adopted in accordance with the law of Ukraine on sanctions. The application by the Russian Federation during the hybrid war of the newest technologies against Ukraine has transformed the information sphere and cyberspace into a key arena of confrontation with the aggressor,” the SBU’s press center said on July 6.
The legal mechanism proposed in the bill gives the SBU the powers to take measures specifically for cyber-protection of information critical infrastructure facilities and block the further spread of the computer virus on the territory of Ukraine.
The SBU noted that the adoption of the bill on the blocking of websites would help ensure legal support for the SBU’s activities for the effective fulfillment of basic tasks stipulated by law in the field of information security and cybersecurity of Ukraine.
As reported, on July 5, Ukrainian MPs refused to consider at first reading the bill (No. 6688) on the blocking of websites.
On July 4, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security and Defense recommended that people’s deputies pass at first reading the bill (No. 6688) that allows temporarily blocking information resources.
This bill proposes to grant the SBU the right to ensure, by a court decision or in other cases established by law, the blocking of access to a certain information resource using technical means that are installed by operators and telecommunications providers.
Blocking access to information resources will become another type of sanctions. In addition, it is proposed to create a single register of enforcement of judgments and application of sanctions in the telecommunications sector.
According to the bill, the order of blocking information resources will be established by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
Telecommunications providers are to be obliged to purchase for their own money and install technical means that will be determined by the administration of the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection in coordination with the SBU and that are needed to block access to information resources, as well as limit and stop the provision of telecommunications services.
At the same time, the Criminal Code of Ukraine is to be supplemented with a new article, according to which the ground for blocking an information resource or deleting information from it under a court ruling will be the spread through this resource of information “using which serious and especially serious crimes are committed.”
