Cyber ·
UK proposes up to 14 years in prison for sabotaging undersea cables
The British government wants to update the 1885 law on undersea cables, which now sets a maximum fine of £1,000 and up to five years in prison for deliberate damage, amid hybrid threats.
According to material published by The Record's feed on 23 October 2026 (machine translation), the British government intends to update the Submarine Telegraph Act 1885. The current penalty includes a maximum fine of £1,000 and five years in prison for deliberate damage to undersea cables. The article headline states that the proposal raises the penalty to up to 14 years in prison. The feed text does not detail other clauses, the legislative process or a voting timetable, so these points should not be assumed.
The context cited is hybrid threats to critical infrastructure, since undersea cables carry a significant share of communications and data between continents. Rota Nacional does not act on this infrastructure and does not offer physical threat or cable monitoring; this item is informational. To verify the figures and the stage of the proposal, consult the original article on The Record's website by searching its title, and the official UK legislation on the Submarine Telegraph Act 1885.
Original source: Reino Unido propõe penas de 14 anos de prisão por sabotagem de cabos submarinos