Deputy Executive Secretary & Head
Research Department for the Law Reform Commission of Tanzania Adam Mambi
sounded the observation in Dar es Salaam during a three-day Mobile
Money Summit which was held in the city.
Mambi who is currently pursuing a PhD in
ICT Law and is the author of various articles and Books on Legal and
Policy issues on ICT (Cyber Security, e-commerce, intellectual property)
said immediate intervention was needed by both state and none state
actors towards addressing the spreading crime.
The officer claimed that the ‘penal code’
was not structured to try cybercriminals since the law underscored the
crime that involves breaking of properties while cybercrime involves
computer and network invasion.
“We still hope the law will come into
effect very soon because of the extra push currently coordinated by the
East African Community that requires all member countries to adopt
cybercrime prevention Act,” he said.
“There’s the usual hacking, cracking,
identity theft and spamming, which most of us can agree should be
illegal. But there’s also cybersex, pornography, file-sharing (SOPA’s
main target) and the most controversial provision, online libel, all
these need protection,” the officer said.
Speaking during a Mobile Money Summit
cocktail mid last week, Prof John Nkoma, the Director General for
Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA) said despite
significant improvements in the telecommunication industry in the
country, there were challenges to be solved.
The DG pointed out that among the
challenges the sector was facing was the increasing cybercrime and
security among mobile users.Prof Mkoma said already there were a
number of acts and regulations that the government had adopted with the
view of protecting consumers.
For his part Vodacom Tanzania Managing
Director, Rene Meza, said this year’s summit was unique, as it provided a
critical link between digital life on Smartphones and other factors
around.
He underscored that ‘individuals can
perform so many duties on the phone, apart from keeping in touch’ and
that he/she can now watch music, view photos, send and receive emails,
and conduct various research activities using the phone.
The large number of mobile phone customers
and subscribers are now involved in mobile money services as operators
begin to understand what is needed to make them successful.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
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