Cyber Crime Prevention Organization Launches in Africa
A spike in cyber crime in Africa has led the United Nations to launch the African Center for Cyber Law and Cybercrime Prevention, according to Computerworld Zambia.
The financial sector in Africa has experienced a recent increase cyber crime, threatening to stall the launch of online banking and electronic commerce services. An explosion of mobile money services as banks and mobile providers compete for customers who would otherwise not have a bank account has increased phishing attacks.
Launched in Uganda last week, the new organization will monitor cyberspace and cyber crime in Africa. The center will also deal with organized crime, online child pornography, cyber terrorism, online tax fraud and information security.
Several countries in the region, including Zambia, Nigeria and Uganda, have established national policy frameworks on cyber crime.
The Nigerian government has approved a computer crime prosecution unit for prosecuting cyber criminals, and the Ugandan parliament has developed laws to tackle cyber crime after several cases of cyber attacks. Zambia was the first country in Africa to pass an Internet crime law under which convicted hackers can be sent to prison for up to 25 years.
Related posts:
