November 19, 2021
BY: MOHAMED SAHR
The Director of Communications at the Ministry of Information and Communications Mohamed Jalloh has intimated the press about the enactment of the Cybersecurity bill into law. He was speaking at a press briefing convened Thursday 18th November 2021 at Youyi building in Freetown.
In providing a background to the passage at the House of Parliament yesterday 17th November 2021, the Director of Communication at the Ministry of Information and Communications Mr. Mohamed Jalloh revealed that there is an increased rate of the use of digital system in Sierra Leone with an average growth rate of twenty one percent of people in Sierra Leone widely engaged in the using social media annually.
He stated even though a compelling number of people are shuttling between different social media platforms in Sierra Leone, there are still a trimming figure of new phenomenon in crime such as cyber theft, bankruptcy, identity, impersonation, cyber bullying, cyber espionage and other cyber-attacks.
‘These security incidents have actually affected sectors of our economy including energy, telecom departments and banking. Therefore, with the support of the UK government, cyber risk assessment has been provided,’’ he said.
Director Mohamed Jalloh maintained that the Parliament through a bye-partisan support passed a milestone Cyber Security and Crime Acts of 2021. He revealed that this law represents one of the most progressive legislations the Parliament of the Republic of Sierra Leone had passed in recent times in the country and it aims to protect users of the cyber ecosystem.
He further noted that the Act is in compliance with the Malabo Convention which is the Africa Union Convention on Cyber security and Crime as well the ECOWAS directives on cybercrimes.
He said: ‘’the Cyber Security and Crime Acts is specifically focused on cybercrime, electronic evidence both of which are currently not in our judicial system.’’
The main objectives of the Acts supplied a comprehensive regulatory and institutional framework of the state.
Director Jalloh pointed out the Act provides International Corporation in dealing with cybercrime matters. He urged the people of Sierra Leone to refrain from any form of cybercrimes as it would serve as a detriment when such crime is committed. He also said, that parliament has provided sufficient safe guards to protect the rights of individuals and guaranteed individual privacy.