The UK Home Office is preparing new rules that would block public sector organisations and key national service providers from sending money to ransomware attackers.
If approved, the ban would cover sectors like healthcare, energy, and local councils.
According to the proposal, private companies and other victims not covered by the ban would need to notify authorities if they plan to pay a ransom. Additionally, all victims would be required to report attacks within 72 hours and submit a more detailed report within 28 days.
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Security Minister Dan Jarvis said the goal is to stop cybercriminals from making money and to protect services the public depends on. He added that the government plans to work with industry partners to move the changes forward.
The public consultation, which ran from January 14 to April 8, received 273 responses. Of these, 57% came from organisations, 39% from individuals, and 4% from others.
Around three‑quarters of respondents supported the idea of banning ransomware payments in the public sector. About one in five disagreed. Regarding the application of the ban to all sectors, opinions were mixed, with nearly half in favour.
The government also asked for views on penalties for breaking the rules. Most respondents agreed that some form of penalty should apply, though many raised concerns about punishing victims and whether penalties should be criminal or civil.
Ransomware is a type of malicious software that locks access to a computer system until the victim pays a fee, usually in cryptocurrency.
Recently, the UK government announced plans to sell over $7 billion in seized Bitcoin
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