By Nasratu Kargbo
As he appends his signature to the approve Cyber Security Acts of 2021, President Julius Madaa Bio said it is vital to create legal and regulatory reforms to provide security, freedom and right in the cyber space.
At the ceremony held at State House on Wednesday 17th November 2021, the President said even though the country embraces digital technology and participates in the digital space he stressed that the country must invest in digital infrastructure and introduce the 33 required legal and regulatory reforms to support that participation. He said questions about access, inclusion, freedom and rights should be tackled and the safe and secure use of digital technology be prioritized to support inclusive national development.
The president spoke about the transformative role digital technology has played in the society. He noted the role of ICT in helping to identify and reduce new global challenges, and in providing innovative ways in handling these challenges.
The president further acknowledged the fact that digital technologies are the drivers in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. “Sierra Leone has associated with the UN Secretary General’s call for developing a ‘storefront’ for digital public goods across the SDGs, for more connectivity, and for greater international cooperation in defining governance and cooperation”. Speaking on the local level, he stated that the country is focused on developing digital technologies and expanding access to those technologies.
The Ambassador of European Union Manuel Müller said the Act shows the level of seriousness by the government to mitigate cyber security threat and eradicate cybercrime. He said the new Act goes a long way to harmonize the domestic media framework of Sierra Leone and the Budapest convention on cybercrime in tandem with other international agreements.
He added that the adoption of this act has shown a clear indication of the legislature’s wisdom to national dialogue. He further stated that the EU acknowledges the active and prospective engagement of national authorities, in opening and creating space for civil societies, interested parties and Members of Parliament to set the necessary provisions and safe guards to protect human rights and the rule of law.
The Deputy British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone Alistair White said: “In the global network, no one is truly safe until we are all secure”. He noted that cybercrime threatens all aspects of the modern society, highlighting few areas such as the banking system, national security, and personal data amongst others.
Representing the ECOWAS Commission, Commissioner Folake Olagunju noted that ECOWAS cyber security agenda was launched with the aim of increasing cyber security resilience across the region, and for its member states to strengthen cyber security capabilities, and protect the cyber space to build confidence and security in the use of ICT. She stated that this act is vital to mitigate the negative impact cybercrime has across the region.
Speaking later on at the weekly government press briefing, the Director at the Ministry of Information and Communications Mumunie Jalloh explained the significance of the Act, which he said borders on conduct and protection of users in the cyber space.
He highlighted some of the offences that are punishable under the Act such as cyber bullying, cyber stalking, and cyber hacking, identity theft, impersonation and infringement of copyrights. Penalties for these offences range from five million to six billion Leones and jail term from one to ten years, with provision for civil restitution.
He said there is provision for forensic analyses and that the forensic lab in the Sierra Leone Police would be improved. Jalloh revealed that ECOWAS through funding from EU would support the country with all the requisite systems in place to implement the law.
The Bill was passed in the well of parliament on Tuesday 23 June 2021, after a heated debate, with All People’s Congress (APC) Member of Parliament Mark Mahmoud Kaloko of Constituency 032 saying the bill gives enormous powers to the Minister of Information and Communications and considered that an infringement of freedom of speech.
Another MP, Abdul Sulaiman Marray Conteh, of Constituency 130, representing the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) said the Act is very much needed with enormous goodies, but claimed it does have disadvantages as well. He said the bill is not as complicated as people presumed and hoped it won’t be politicised.
Copyright © Politico Online 17/11/21
