UK government seeks powers to secretly block risky tech suppliers

The UK government has proposed amendments to the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill granting ministers powers to issue "vendor-related directions" that can ban, restrict, modify, or remove suppliers' equipment across critical sectors (telecoms, energy, water, transport, health, managed services and data centers). Unlike prior telecoms legislation, these directions could be issued without publicly naming the vendor or notifying them, and recipients may be barred from discussing the orders; the government would publish notices naming only the recipient and report annually to Parliament on usage of the powers.