Critical Infrastructure Bill Grants New Powers to Combat Cyberattacks

Critical Infrastructure Bill Grants New Powers to Combat Cyberattacks
A hooded man holds a laptop computer as cyber code is projected on him in this illustration picture, May 13, 2017. Kacper Pempel/Illustration/File Photo/Reuters
Rebecca Zhu
Updated:
New legislation that provides the government greater powers to combat cyberattacks passed the Australian Senate with the support of the opposition on Monday.

The amendment to the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 allows the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) to step in and take over operating systems of certain industries in the event of a cyberattack.