Media Monitoring Africa hosted a Cybercrimes Bill round-table discussion at Melrose Estate. The discussion on 29 November aimed to define cyber crime as well as unpack some of the key issues around it while we wait for the bill to be implemented.
According to the director at Media Monitoring Africa, William Bird, since 2015, the proposed Cybercrimes Bill has gone through a number of revisions and has been fundamentally altered. “A number of elements have been challenged by many organisations.
“Recently, the select committee on security and justice held oral hearings on the latest version of the Cybercrimes Bill (B 6B-2017). It looks like we are nearing the end of the process.”
Director and co-founder of ALT Advisory, Avani Singh said we face a lot of cybercrime in the form of personal information, data and banking details being used without our knowledge or permission.
“We as individuals are also complacent in cybercrime and we don’t take steps to protect our assets. Part of our discussion is to unpack forms of cybercrime and suggest ways to be more digitally secure.”
She proceeded to list examples of cybercrime which include online fraud, hacking, computer viruses and ransomware. Singh said there was an African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection in 2014 which also included the prohibition on the distribution of xenophobic and insulting material but has not entered into force.
Before putting the Cybercrimes Bill into practice, Singh highlighted a few challenges to take note of which include the borderless nature of cybercrimes; establishing international cooperation; provision of government services; regulation of online content and restriction of access to websites.
Bird also suggested recommendations to apply when implementing the Cybercrimes Bill and these include the clear purpose for the law, public interest override, multi-stakeholder approach and education and raising awareness.
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