CYBERCRIME ACT CRITICAL IN TANZANIA - WE NEED TO READ THE CONTENTS FIRST !!!

http://www.touch.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/local-news/44236-cybercrime-act-is-highly-critical

 

 

Published on Tuesday, 28 April 2015 07:00

Written by ROSE ATHUMAN

Director of Presidential Communications, Mr Salva Rweyemamu

 

THE government has defended the recently passed Cybercrime Act 2015, saying that it will help in the security of the nation in issues pertaining to cyber crimes, including terrorism and not meant to infringe on the freedom of the public.

Addressing journalists in Dar es Salaam, the Director of Presidential Communications, Mr Salva Rweyemamu, said the nation is faced with significant challenges related to cybercrime and the new law soon to be signed by President Jakaya Kikwete will help address the challenges.

“There have been a lot of negative reports about the Cybercrime Act 2015, many expressing their feelings that it will infringe on the public’s freedom.

This is not the case. The ever growing and changing technology has brought with it a lot of cyber threats that will be addressed through this Act,” Mr Rweyemamu noted.

He noted that the Act will also address issues of cyber terrorism including potential damages and illegal interference of systems and computer related frauds.

“There is no country that does not have this law to protect and address cyber crime challenges. We must all understand that the security of the nation is first and foremost ... we must ensure the nation is protected from this new threat, paused by technology,” he explained.

The Cybercrime Act 2015 has touched on a number of cybercrimes which include Illegal Access, Illegal interception, Illegal data interference, Data espionage, Illegal system interference, Illegal device, Computer-related forgery, Computer-related fraud, Child pornography and Pornography and Identity related crimes, among others.

The cybercrime fear in the country has been increasing day by day with cries from all corners of people losing millions of shillings through bank accounts and mobile phones.

Government and private sector networks and person accounts have been hacked into and confidential and personal information accessed by cyber-criminals, which according to Mr Rweyemamu, will be addressed by the Cybercrime Act of 2015.

On the same note, the director of presidential communications said that recently President Kikwete was invited by King Abdulla II of Jordan to attend a one day consultation meeting on terrorism challenges facing the Horn of Africa.

Mr Rweyemamu clarified that the president did not publicise the meeting because King Abdulla II wanted it that way, due to the critical position of Jordan’s location.

He said Jordan is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the South and East, Iraq to the North-East, Syria to the North and Israel and Palestine to the West.

President Kikwete joined three other leaders that at the meeting who included President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti and President Sheikh Mohamoud of Somalia.

The meeting was held with the aim of finding a holistic approach in an effort to counter terrorism, through member states strengthening efforts in fighting terrorism by maintaining coordination and consultation among various parties in the fight against terrorism.

Meanwhile, the media has been urged to accept the Access to Information and Media Service Act, which is here to protect journalists and will not infringe on media freedom.

Mr Rweyemamu said that the fact that why it was under certificate of urgency is not a new thing since it has been done before on other bills.

He said the Access to Information and Media Services Bill is long overdue, noting that the process to have the law started a long time ago.

Comment from the Author:

 Personally,  I suffered from cyber crime  in 2009  when  more than $400 was stolen from my CampusEdge checking Account  - 3048  through my ATM  Card 2065 while on airline  flight  from Washington DC,  USA to Amsterdam, The Netherlands on 12/6/2009.   As this law comes into effect,   I am waiting to see if I could prosecute the said cybercrime at home because all my efforts at  reclaiming my remaining $900 from my ATM  CARD  of the  BANK OF AMERICA have met with deaf ears. I have yet to be reimbursed my money.       I  am very disappointed that the BANK OF AMERICA does not realise that some of us in other countries are not able to contact them  through the  numbers they provide in their letters/email messages.  

As time does not run against the state in criminal matters,  I am still hopeful that the new law could be my salvation after all.???