By Mabinty M. Kamara
The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists is on a drive to popularize the Cyber Security and Crime Act 2021 among journalists across the country.
The activity is part of a nationwide project implemented by SLAJ, a Cyber Safe Sierra Leone aimed at educating its members on the Cyber Security & Crime Act, 2021 and its related offences.
Speaking at the training in Freetown on the 16th of February 2022, the President of SLAJ, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla said the training will help journalists to understand the Cybercrime Security and Crime Act 2021 and the responsible use of social media, the internet and the virtual space generally.
He called on colleagues to be professional in the execution of their duties as journalists.
Presenting the simplified version of the document, the Training Facilitator, Dr Francis Sowa, and Chairman of the Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG) said Cybercrime refers to illegal activities with computers and on the internet, adding that it is any activity in which computers or networks are a tool, a target, or a place of criminal activity. Cybercrime he says has three targets: the people, the property, and the government.
Therefore, he said the need for such a law to regulate cyberspace cannot be overemphasized. However, he said their concern is that it does not interfere with the Rights to Freedom of Expression and of the Press, so as not to affect the work of the journalists.
The Act provides for a National Computer Security Incidence Response Coordination Centre (NCS-IRCC) to combat cybercrimes, implement cyber security policy, oversee computer forensic laboratories, support the judiciary and law enforcement and support International corporations on cybercrimes. The Centre is headed by the National Cyber Security Coordinator, appointed by the President of Sierra Leone.
The National Cyber Security Advisory Council is chaired by the Vice President of Sierra Leone with 14 others including the Inspector General of Police, National Telecommunications Director-General, Governor, Bank of Sierra Leone, National Cyber Security Coordinator, Director General of the Financial Intelligence Unit, Minister of Information and Communications, Barrister and Solicitor nominated by the Sierra Leone Bar Association, the Minister of Internal Affairs, National Security Coordinator, ONS, Director General Central Intelligence and Security and the Chief of Defence Staff.
Dr Sowa said some of the offences covered by the Act include attacks on people through webcam blackmail, fraud, hacking, phishing, cyberbullying and harassment. Attacks on businesses, organizations, and the government, unauthorized access to a computer system, unauthorized access to a protected system, unauthorized data interception and interference, cyberstalking, identity theft and impersonation, forging an electronic signature, were the other offences highlighted. Fines could range from 10 million to 1.5 billion Leones or jail terms from 2 to 5 years depending on the nature of the offence.
Sierra Leone's Cyber Security and Crime Act, 2021 became effective on November 17 of the same year.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (21/02/22)
