[AfrICANN-discuss] [***SPAM***] East Africa moves to control cyber crimes

[Dr Yassin Mshana]

Hello, I thought yo might be interested in the article below - apologies if
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Yassin
East Africa moves to control cyber crimes
BY JAMES GASHUMBA
29th July 2012
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East Africa is fast-tracking the implementation of joint initiatives to
combat the rising challenge of cross-border cyber crimes that threaten
peace and stability in the region.

Government officials say the region is vulnerable to a range of online
criminal activities, including financial fraud, drug and human trafficking,
and terrorism.

"There is need to develop a common platform to address cyber security. As a
region, we must begin to cooperate to deal with cyber threats at national
and regional level," Kenya's Permanent Secretary in the Information
Ministry Dr Bitange Ndemo said at an East African Internet Governance Forum
in Nairobi, Kenya .

The East African nation has scaled up efforts to combat cyber crimes
through a multi-stakeholder approach involving the government, industry and
civil society organizations.

"Kenya has a national cyber security steering committee hosted by the
Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK). The law enforcement agencies and
industry players are included in this initiative," Ndemo said.

He regretted cyber crimes have significantly reversed gains made by higher
internet penetration in Kenya. The country has taken a lead role in
galvanising regional efforts to fight cyber crimes.

According to Ndemo, a cyber security management task force chaired by Kenya
has been coordinating activities aimed at curbing cyber crimes in the five
East African Community member states.

The taskforce deals with cyber security at legal, policy and regulatory
level. Cyber attacks are a recurrent phenomenon in the East Africa due to
infrastructural, legal and policy loopholes, he explained.

Chris Mulola, the president of the Internet Society of Rwanda made
reference to a study done by an international auditing firm, Deloitte and
Touche, which revealed that 60 per cent of East African banks were
susceptible to cyber crimes. The estimated cost of combined threats of
cyber crimes to financial institutions in the region was estimated at 245
million US dollars.

He called for the establishment of entities to monitor and report cyber
crimes across borders. "Lawmakers must also be involved to help pass
legislation that addresses cyber threats at all levels," Mulola said.

Capacity building, cooperation with law enforcement agencies and linkages
with internet service providers, telecommunication operators and software
suppliers have bolstered efforts to curb cyber threats, according to
experts.

Kenya has taken the lead by establishing national computer emergency
response teams endorsed by all East African Countries. The focus is on
research to improve security of existing systems while monitoring cyber
security events globally.
SOURCE: GUARDIAN ON SUNDAY

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