PROSECUTION CALLS FOR COOPERATION IN FIGHTING CYBERCRIME GLOBALLY

The prosecution has called for international cooperation in the fight against cybercrime globally, considering the increase of such crimes and advancement of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the world.

In the National Prosecutions Service Journal released by the Attorney General’s Chambers recently, the prosecution pointed out that, however, global initiatives made at regional and sub-regional level and guidelines to fight such foe were developed at different stages.

According to the document, Africa, which was regarded as backwards has been able to get a leap into the world of ICT and Tanzania among the sub-Saharan countries was not divorced from that though such leap could not come without its price.

“The rapid rate of diffusion of cybercrimes in Tanzania has been a wakeup call to put safeguards to combat these crimes (though) there is no specific legislation which deals with cybercrimes in Tanzania,” the prosecution states in the Journal.

It points out, however, that in 2010, the Parliament enacted the Electronic and Postal Communications Act Number 3 of 2010, which has some provisions that relate to cybercrimes.

“At the moment, the government is making efforts to enact laws to deal with cybercrimes. It is high time for the general public to become conscious of the use of computers and other related devices since any user maybe vulnerable to cybercrime,” the prosecution warns in the Journal.

The Journal points out that one of the most well-known guidelines in fighting cybercrimes is that of the Council of Europe Convention against Cybercrimes, 2001.

“This instrument has been used as a guideline in drafting many regional and sub-regional instruments such as Commonwealth Model Laws on Computer and Computer related Crimes, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Directive on Fighting Cybercrimes (2009),” it states.

Such instrument, according to the prosecution, was also been used in drafting African Union Convention of the Establishment of a Legal Framework Conducive to Cyber Security in Africa (2012) and East African Community Legal Framework for Cyber laws phase one (2008). Cybercrime is not a new thing.

It has been there since 20th century due to the development and use of ICTs. The manifestations of cybercrime, along with its far reaching and potentially devastating capacity have brought challenges to governments.

This is due to the fact that the existing laws and institutions were unable to keep up with its alarming rate of growth. Cybercrimes are computer mediated illegal activities, which can be conducted through global electronic networks.