Sony plans to fight PSN hack fine

SCEE has told MCV it "strongly disagrees" with the PSN hack the UK ICO hit it with today and will appeal.

This morningthe UK Information Commissioners Office said April 2011’s PSN hack was a breach of the Data Protection Act, and fined Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, which runs PSN in the UK, 250,000 for its fault in the matter.

"Sony Computer Entertainment Europe strongly disagrees with the ICO’s ruling and is planning an appeal," says a statement.

In fact, SCEE points out that, despite the technical faults found in the network, ICO itself acknowledged that Sony was the victim itself of an attack – and concluded that such cases have helped build stronger systems and more consumer awareness around data security.

The statement says:

"SCEE notes, however, that the ICO recognises Sony was the victim of a focused and determined criminal attack,” that there is no evidence that encrypted payment card details were accessed,” and that personal data is unlikely to have been used for fraudulent purposes” following the attack on the PlayStation Network.

"Criminal attacks on electronic networks are a real and growing aspect of 21st century life and Sony continually works to strengthen our systems, building in multiple layers of defence and working to make our networks safe, secure and resilient.

"The reliability of our network services and the security of our consumers’ information are of the utmost importance to us, and we are appreciative that our network services are used by even more people around the world today than at the time of the criminal attack."