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UK Lawmakers Recommend to Regulate Google and Tech Giants
29 Oct, 2019 / 09:31 am / Anas Barbarawi

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UK lawmakers have recommended to impose higher levies on banks to curb the breakdowns of online accounts. They gave this suggestion after a review done on the services of the cloud services providers.

The review was launched after a major IT meltdown last year at TSB, part of Spain’s Sabadell, which left thousands of customers locked out of their online accounts. The issue led to the resignation of TSB’s CEO Paul Pester.

Many market infrastructure services and technology that banks use are outsourced and the review said firms cannot use third party failures as an excuse when incidents occur, drawing attention to suppliers of cloud computing.

“The consequences of a major operational incident at a large cloud service provider, such as Microsoft, Google or Amazon, could be significant,” the review said. There is a considerable case to regulate cloud service providers.

With bank branches and cash machines disappearing, more than 70% of adults rely on digital services, leaving them vulnerable to IT glitches such as those also seen at Barclays and Visa last year, parliament’s Treasury Select Committee (TSC) said in its review.

According to the lawmakers banks cannot give hundred percent fool proof services but regular and continuous IT failures have to be checked.

Steve Baker ,who headed the review asked The Financial Conduct Authority and the Bank of England to take necessary steps to prevent any online transaction breakdowns in the future.

“They should increase the financial sector levies if greater resources are required, ensure individuals and firms are held to account for their role in IT failures, and ensure that firms resolve customer complaints and award compensation quickly,” Baker said. Glitches are often due to changes to Britain’s patchwork of ageing “legacy” payments systems, but firms must not use the cost of upgrades to “cut corners” or as excuses to not make vital upgrades, the review said. The review also recommends coordination between regulatory authorities and the banks to avoid delay in any action taken.