Cybercrime Bill Infringement On Subscribers’ Privacy – Stakeholders January 29, 2014 Stakeholders including global system mobile communications (GSM) operators have faulted the Cybercrime Bill forwarded to the National Assembly by the federal government, saying that the proposal would invade the privacy of subscribers. The Cybercrime Bill if passed into law would force telecom operators to conduct surveillance on individuals, and release user data to the authorities. A warrant would not be required in cases of “verifiable urgency” to intercept and record electronic communications under the new bill. But the stakeholders argue that the proposal may also be used to deal with perceived enemies of those in government by monitoring their private communications. The telecom operators have also stated that said they are aware of the Cybercrime Bill, adding that they had been invited by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) early this year on the bill where they made their input known to the federal government. According to Mr Gbolahan Awonuga, executive secretary, Association Of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), who spoke on behalf of Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, chairman of the association, the operators are afraid that the bill as it is will invade the privacy of the telecom subscribers. He said, “We have expressed our concern and we are afraid that the privacy of subscribers will be invaded. We have called for safeguards which protect subscribers as is done in the other parts of the world. We are still a developing economy and we are afraid that the bill could be used to deal with perceived enemies of those in government by snooping on their private communications.” Last year, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) released a draft document on Lawful Interception Of Communications Messages which will allow authorities to intercept and record personal emails, text messages, instant messages, voice mails and multimedia messages, in order to facilitate a criminal investigation. The telecommunications industry warned that the bill will put the lives and security of subscribers at risk. According to Gbenga Adebayo, if the bill is passed , it will put telecom operators at risk also as the operators will be forced by agencies of government to release email and phone communications of operators without any warrant from a competent court of law, which can force the subscribers to sue the telecom network. The bill also empowers authorities to prosecute and convict electronic fraudsters and make the country a conducive environment and attract foreign investment. Also, some Nigerians yesterday condemned the draft bill on cybercrime sent to the National Assembly by the federal government. Speaking on the proposed law, former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), said, “If the law is passed, with the level of maturity of the present government in power and the various security agencies, I can assure you that it will be used more against opponents. “Without the law you can see the level of intolerance and victimisation of political opponents going on because we don’t have strong institutions that cannot be influenced or hijacked by those in power.” -[LEADERSHIP]
Posted on: Wed, 29 Jan 2014 06:52:25 +0000
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