Solomon Islands vulnerable to cyber crime

BY BEN BILUA

Director of Public Procecution Mr Ronald Bei Talasasa

DIRECTOR of Public Prosecution says there is no existing law in the Solomon Islands to prosecute cyber-crime.

Speaking during the national workshop on promoting information and communication awareness on cybercrime and laws, Mr Ronald Bei Talasasa said Solomon Islands does not have a stand-alone legislation to deal with cyber-crime.

There is an international law called Budapest Convention that has been endorsed to penalise cybercrime, but Solomon Islands is unable to act upon it because of our lack in law to deal with the crime.

Mr Talasasa explained that DPP can only prosecute crime committed using ICTs based on what is available in the country’s penal code.

He said the starting point for Solomon Islands to legislate cyber-crime is the National ICT Policy.

Mr Talasasa stressed that he is pleased to see the very powerful message on the policy directions.

“The vision of the policy is to have a peaceful, united and progressive Solomon Islands communicating and inform by technologies that is open to all.

“To make information and communication technologies available, affordable and accessible to all Solomon Islanders enable equal participation by all social, cultural, economic and political life of Solomon Islands,” he said.

Mr Talasasa said the vision and mission of ICT policy demonstrates one of the foundations of a democratically free and united country.

He said the Ministry of Communication and Aviation must be congratulated for taking the lead in establishing the ICT policy.

But, Mr Talasasa said political will is crucial in making sure the country has a cyber-crime legislation put in place to guide users of ICT.

“Our leaders who are responsible for enacting laws for the common good of our country must know what cyber-crime is, leaders must see the significance of having a cyber-crime legislation and must do something about it.

“People are just running free though committing cyber-crime on Facebook and other platforms.

“It is time for people to think again as process to legislate cyber-crime begins now,” he said.

Mr Talasasa said the process will be long and challenging but through cooperation and working together, the country will soon have legislation to prosecute cyber-crime.

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