Tanzania Govt to introduce anti Cybercrime law

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

Govt to introduce anti cyber crime law

January Makamba

The government is planning to draft a new policy on Information and Communication Technology to improve ICT sector, including curbing cyber crime.

Deputy Minister for Science and Technology January Makamba announced the plans when launching a new websecurity (E-SECURITY) created by Twiga Hosting Limited for the preclusion of cyber crime in Bagamoyo yesterday.

According Makamba, the government will provide full support to the company to ensure the country's security by unleashing all means to prevent web system from hacking attacks.

He said: "For a long time high-tech crimes, including cyber-based terrorism, espionage, computer intrusions, and major cyber frauds have prevailed in our country, therefore producing expertise in this field will help prevent online hacking."

He said there would be security guarantees for the individual, and government, and that this can be attained through standard security training to curb cyber crime.

In a quick rejoinder, the Director of Twiga Hosting Limited Jacob Urasa expressed concern over inadequate auditing in website and web applications, saying it is a problem that many Web developers are facing.

"Perhaps it is lack of standards security auditing that challenges many website holders to be hacked and therefore through this security webisite we will ensure the activities of the faceless criminals are brought under control".

Urasa said many websites and web applications are vulnerable to security threat including the government's and non- government websites.

Through establishment of standard auditing procedures, quick measure of web security would be assessed through testing Web site's authentication scheme and see how it stands the hacking attacks, he explained.

According to Urasa more than 80 per cent of web sites in Tanzania are at risk of being hacked. Standard auditing would provide the needed awareness against hacking attacks.

He mentioned lack of enough experts in the field, undermining the efforts to prevent websites and web system from hacking attacks.

The trainings in Web security for web master, IT managers, IT specialists and web developers would improve their capacity to eliminate security holes from their website and web.

This would help avoid being hacked, and in the process learn how to prevent websites and web system from hacking attacks.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN​

My Take:

Right the General Elections of 2010 one thing was very clear - CCM would not go into another election under the same conditions it did the last one especially as far as social media and online communities are concerned.

The lessons of the Arab Spring are also clear to our rulers - ignore online media at your peril. While I acknowledge the need to update our cyber policy I believe this should not be done at the expense of freedom of association, freedom of expression, and freedom of speech. But ever more important such a policy and any legislation proceeding from it should not be at the expense of individual privacy of our people.

So my caution.. the government should tread careful.. but to activists and other stakeholders including bloggers and JF and its members beware!.. you have been officially warned.

 

[BabuK]

State and non-state actors have been challenged to fast track the formulation and implementation of the cybercrime law and online consumer protection in an effort to apprehend culprits in the country.

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

 

[Kimbori]

The government is planning to draft a new policy on Information and Communication Technology to improve ICT sector, including curbing cyber crime.

Deputy Minister for Science and Technology January Makamba announced the plans when launching a new websecurity (www.esecurity.co.tz) created by Twiga Hosting Limited for the preclusion of cyber crime in Bagamoyo yesterday.

According Makamba, the government willprovide full support to the company to ensure the country’s security by unleashing all means to prevent web system from hacking attacks.

He said: “For a long time high-tech crimes, including cyber-based terrorism, espionage, computer intrusions, and major cyber frauds have prevailed in our country, therefore producing expertise in this field will help prevent online hacking.
”
He said there would be security guarantees for the individual, and government, and that this can be attained through standard security training to curb cyber crime.

In a quick rejoinder, the Director of Twiga Hosting Limited Jacob Urasa expressed concern over inadequate auditing in website and web applications, saying it is a problem that many Web developers are facing.
“
Perhaps it is lack of standards security auditing that challenges many website holders to be hacked and therefore through this security webisite we will ensure the activities of the faceless criminals are brought under control” Urasa said many websites and web applications are vulnerable to security threat including the government’s and non- government websites.

Through establishment of standard auditing procedures, quick measure of web security would be assessed through testing Web site's authentication scheme and see how it stands the hacking attacks, he explained.

According to Urasa more than 80 per centof web sites in Tanzania are at risk of being hacked. Standard auditing would provide the needed awareness against hacking attacks.

He mentioned lack of enough experts in the field, undermining the efforts to prevent websites and web system from hacking attacks. The trainings in Web security for ‘web master, IT managers, IT specialists and web developers would improve their capacity to eliminate security holes from their website and web.

This would help avoid being hacked, and in the process learn how to prevent websites and web system from hacking attacks.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

 

[ndetichia]

kila la kheri..

 

[Lambardi]

Jacob Mtui atasaidia sana kuwapa upeo na mawazo mazuri kwenye hiyo sheria na jinsi kupambana nayo ingawa inabidi serikali kuwa na watu makini kila wakati wasilazimishe kuweka wazee kwenye vitengo hivyo maana watakuwa hawana wanalofanya sababu ya ukiritimba wa mambo ya serikalini!

Jacob Mtui ni kichwa ila hana bahati kazi zake kibao zinaishia katikati au anadhulumiwa na wajanja wa serikalini!!

 

[Buchanan]

The policy is welcomed!

 

[jmushi1]

He said: "For a long time high-tech crimes, including cyber-based terrorism, espionage, computer intrusions, and major cyber frauds have prevailed in our country, therefore producing expertise in this field will help prevent online hacking."

Mkuu ebu funguka zaidi kuhusu madhara ya hiyo policy kwa mtandao kama huu wa JF na watumiaji wake.

BTW hizo crimes zimeshatokea Tanzania kwa kiasi gani?Kwa mfano espionage,ina maana kuwa serikali imeshakuwa matatani kwa maana ya kutaka kupinduliwa?Ni siri gani za serikali zimeibiwa kutoka serikalini kwa njia ya mtandao?

He said there would be security guarantees for the individual, and government, and that this can be attained through standard security training to curb cyber crime.

In a quick rejoinder, the Director of Twiga Hosting Limited Jacob Urasa expressed concern over inadequate auditing in website and web applications, saying it is a problem that many Web developers are facing.

Pia kwa jinsi walicyoizungumzia,inaonekana kama vile wataprovide training kwa individuals na government ili kuwasaidia kuprevent ciber attack, pahala ambapo sijapaelewa ni kuhusu "auditing in website and web applications"

Ebu funguka zaidi mkuu kuhusu warning especially to activist pamoja na bloggers, pia sisi JF members, madhara ya hii kitu kwetu sisi ni yapi? Na ni kwa namna gani serikali inaweza ikalichukulia suala hili kama njia ya kudhibiti activists na wale wanaowaona hawafagilii utawala wao?

 

[Nicholas]

Mkuu ebu funguka zaidi kuhusu madhara ya hiyo policy kwa mtandao kama huu wa JF na watumiaji wake.

BTW hizo crimes zimeshatokea Tanzania kwa kiasi gani?Kwa mfano espionage,ina maana kuwa serikali imeshakuwa matatani kwa maana ya kutaka kupinduliwa?Ni siri gani za serikali zimeibiwa kutoka serikalini kwa njia ya mtandao?


Pia kwa jinsi walicyoizungumzia,inaonekana kama vile wataprovide training kwa individuals na government ili kuwasaidia kuprevent ciber attack,pahala ambapo sijapaelewa ni kuhusu "auditing in website and web applications"

Ebu funguka zaidi mkuu kuhusu warning especially to activist pamoja na bloggers,pia sisi JF members,madhara ya hii kitu kwetu sisi ni yapi?Na ni kwa namna gani serikali inaweza ikalichukulia suala hili kama njia ya kudhibiti activists na wale wanaowaona hawafagilii utawala wao?

usiogope hii ni kama kupanda bajaj kwingine tuu.Hao jamaa wa twiga hawana lolote zaidi ya kupata shavu kama kawaiada.Si unajua nchi yetu ni nchi ya kuzindua tuu kwa kelele and you will never hear hiyo habari popote.

 

[tetere]

We need policy to protect who agaist what?
1. We need to make government accountable for any policy that infringe our rights.
2. We need to be aware that our government should not get us into stupid contracts to hire security services that we dont need, want or asking for it.
3. Online media/ activities are more important to our lives than the need of our government to protect their incompetence
4. This should not lead into another RADAR like projects - Serikali inajijengea maadau ambao hawapo!

 

[mathematics]

Cyber crime encompasses any criminal act dealing with computers and networks (called hacking). Additionally, cyber crime also includes traditional crimes conducted through the Internet. For example; hate crimes, telemarketing and Internet fraud, identity theft, and credit card account thefts are considered to be cyber crimes when the illegal activities are committed through the use of a computer and the Internet.

MM usitishe watu, hiyo ishu haihusiani na online journalists inahusiana na wezi wa kwenye mitandao.

 

[Bongolander]

Cyber crime encompasses any criminal act dealing with computers and networks (called hacking). Additionally, cyber crime also includes traditional crimes conducted through the Internet. For example; hate crimes, telemarketing and Internet fraud, identity theft, and credit card account thefts are considered to be cyber crimes when the illegal activities are committed through the use of a computer and the Internet.

MM usitishe watu, hiyo ishu haihusiani na online journalists inahusiana na wezi wa kwenye mitandao.

I tend to agree with Mwanakijiji that Internet has become a thorn on government's flesh. I do believe that the government's intention for coming up with this law has anything to do with real cyber crimes, simply because there are no any in Tanzania. And if there were crimes, Crime is not what our government is fighting against, our government is in war with those who fight against crimes committed by officials in our government.

As far as i can remember Mexence Melo was once in trouble for allegedly committing a cyber crime, ie..his websote Jamiiforums publishing information about EPA and Richmond scandals, which turned out to be true....thank god there was no any law regarding Cyber "crime", otherwise the guy would be languishing in jail.

It may be a good law, but for sure the law will be abused based on definition of "illegal" activities, it is very possible that anything legal can be illegal, or even sending a text message by phone or receiving one can as well be illegal.

Watu watakuja kukamatwa kwa kukutwa na "illegal" materials kwenye computer zao, au kwa kutumiwa vitu ambayo hawakutakiwa kutumiwa. Naona hii ni kama opportunity nyingine ya ufisadi zaidi ya jaribio la kuwalinda watanzania. I may be wrong.

 

[Mwadilifu]

It was a shame a judge to announce that in Tanzania thr is no law concerning cyber crimes and that criminal(who stolen money by manoeuvring ATM mashne) havent broken any law

 

[Mwanahisa]

We should have this policies n laws in place before jumping into technology, where was regulatory authority all this time?
China made fones, Digital televised broadcast and the list goes on n on!

 

[Mtangoo]

Tunao wataalam wa Teknohama wanaoweza ishauri serikali kutengeneza sheria yenye mantiki?
Nina hofu na "wataalam" wengi wanaotumika na serikali. Angalia tu mitandao ya serikali au tembelea maofisi yake uone yalivyo katika tasnia hii.
Wabunge wetu nao wengi hoi....nadhani wakati wa kupitisha sheria kama hii bado...tupange safu ya wataalam kwanza
Hivi tuna wataalam wowote wa Forensic Investigation (Kiswahili imekaaje aisee?) Tanzania? Samahani kwa swali la kichokozi!

 

[Mzalendo80]

How about the sms walizokuwa wanazituma wakati wa Uchaguzi wa 2010? Kama wapo serious naona wangeanzia na hizo walizokuwa wao wakizituma kuchochea vurugu na uhuni wao wa ki-ccm

 

[Mwakalinga Bujo]

Hizi ni porojo za Makamba ,nchi hii kuelekea 2015 mambo mengi sana yatasimama kutokana na ufinyu wa Budget. Sasa hivi kila aliyeko kwenye nafasi ya juu serikalini anajaribu kujisogezea deal kwani chochote chaweza tokea. J. Makamba amesahau sera za chama chake anaendekeza mambo ambayo utekelezaji wake ni wa gharama kubwa kuliko uwezo na uwaledi wa serikali yake.

Ajifunze zaidi ya yeye kutaka kuwa HERO wa mambo yasiyo na tija. Kama mbinu ni kuwadhibiti wanaharakati/blogerz /waumini wa mitandao ya kijamii amechelewa sana kwa ujumla imekula kwake kwani zama za kutishana na kuwaabudu wahujumu uchumi kwa manufaa yao zinakwisha kwa kasi ya Concord Supersonic Jet.

 

[Mzalendo80]

Hizi ni porojo za Makamba ,nchi hii kuelekea 2015 mambo mengi sana yatasimama kutokana na ufinyu wa Budget. Sasa hivi kila aliyeko kwenye nafasi ya juu serikalini anajaribu kujisogezea deal kwani chochote chaweza tokea. J. Makamba amesahau sera za chama chake anaendekeza mambo ambayo utekelezaji wake ni wa gharama kubwa kuliko uwezo na uwaledi wa serikali yake.

Ajifunze zaidi ya yeye kutaka kuwa HERO wa mambo yasiyo na tija. Kama mbinu ni kuwadhibiti wanaharakati/blogerz /waumini wa mitandao ya kijamii amechelewa sana kwa ujumla imekula kwake kwani zama za kutishana na kuwaabudu wahujumu uchumi kwa manufaa yao zinakwisha kwa kasi ya Concord Supersonic Jet.

Suala la Vitambulisho vya Taifa limesimama, pesa zimeshaliwa na wapumbavu wa CCM

 

[waubani]

I am waiting to see its implication!
One thing i believe is that , there is dirty conspiracy behind '' ant cyber crime law''
This is all about devastating individual democracy and entertaining embezzlement.

 

[Mwakalinga Bujo]

Suala la Vitambulisho vya Taifa limesimama, pesa zimeshaliwa na wapumbavu wa CCM

J.Makamba kwa yeye kuwa Naibu Waziri amesahau kabisa kuwa leo na kesho na yeye atakuwa mpinzani .Ukiwa ndani huwezi amini kuwa walioko nje wananguvu ya kukuondoa .Anahubiri nadaharia tena ya vitabu vya kusadikika ,angekuwa anasoma alama za nyakati angegundua mapema kuwa wenzake wanaimba taarabu yeye anaimba hip hop.

Mambo mengi sana ya muhimu kwanye serikali ya Baba Riz yamesimama .Nilikuwa namuuliza jamaa yangu mmoja kwamba , kuna uhusiano gani kati ya Epica9 na vikao vilivyoisha vya chama tawala ?!!!!...Tafakari na chukua hatua

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

Leo wapo wengine wanajiita watetezi wa uhuru wa habari; kwamba wanapinga Cybercrime Act.. wakati wengine tulionya mapema na kuonesha hili... tunaambiwa ati sisi ndio tumebadilika!