14 Aug 2019

Cyber-crime is a growing problem. 

 It is worth noting that cyber-crime and the cyber world is the purview of young people as they are most proficient in it.

Cyber-crimes include cyber extortion, cyber fraud, cyber harassment, cyber stalking, website defacement, ransom ware, threatening emails, offensive electronic communication and revenge pornography amongst others. 

Revenge pornography is a crime committed by using a computer to disclose or publish a private sexual photograph or film without the consent of the person appearing in it with the intention of causing misery. 

According to Botswana’s Cybercrime and Computer Related Crimes Act 2018, punishment for the crime is a P40 000 fine or a two-year jail term or both.

The same punishment awaits a person found guilty of using a computer system for prejudicial and tribal remarks. 

Assistant Commissioner and Deputy Director of Cyber Forensic Branch, Mr Nonofo Dichabe said they took cyber-crime seriously and brought to justice all those who were responsible for computer related law-breaking.

“Botswana Police Service (BPS) informs the concerned stakeholders/owners and or affected people about any wrong information transacted in the cyberspace,” he said.

He also said BPS took steps to engage and apprehend falsifiers of such information with a view to have them retract it, or if any offence had been committed, to open a case against them. 

He explained that it was done to protect information, consumers of information and the public.

Assistant Commissioner Dichabe said several ways were used to monitor Internet content, and that at times the public notified the police of any information that was wrong or offensive.

He emphasised that BPS had cyber-crime investigators within CID, adding that several cases had been completed with accused persons admitting guilt while others were still before courts and some still under investigation. 

He said BPS also has a cyber-crime investigation unit and has also established a modern digital forensics laboratory pursuant to the act.

 Assistant Commissioner Dichabe warned the public to refrain from sharing information before confirming its truthfulness as it may lend them into trouble.

“Do not be too excited when you see something which may appear funny and hit the like button on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. The same funny information may be tarnishing another person’s reputation,” he said.

Reached for comment, BPS deputy public relation officer, Senior Superintendent Near Bagali stressed the importance of working towards a cyber-doctrine that reflected the wisdom of free markets, private competition and the role of government in establishing and enforcing the rule of law.

He said it was also important to honour the rights of personal property, the benefits of free and fair trade and the fundamental principles of liberty.

He added that the first step in securing Batswana’s cyber future was education, and that it meant everything from educating individuals and companies to the next generation of IT professionals.

An IT expert, Mr Kago Baleseng said people suffered an array of online criminal undertakings such as monetary fraud, drugs, human trafficking and terrorism.

“While these crimes have existed offline for spans, the Internet has provided a bountiful seedbed for them to flourish by disguising their offenders and cumulating their pool of probable fatalities. 

The cyberspace has become a device for criminals to draw cash from the reservoirs of banks without a sound and halt economic activities at the press of a button,” he added.ENDS