Security News > 2004 > August > Zambian parliament passes tough cyber crime law

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/08/11/1092102488282.html Lusaka August 11, 2004 Zambia's parliament has unanimously passed a tough law to curb cyber crime that would see convicted computer hackers and other offenders get jail sentences ranging from 15 to 25 years. The Computer Misuse and Crimes law, which was passed by lawmakers without any debate on Tuesday, will come into effect after President Levy Mwanawasa gives his presidential assent. "If there is no debate or objection, then the bill passes third reading," said deputy speaker Jason Mvula when the bill was presented for the last stage of enactment in the National Assembly. The government said the new law would help curb cyber crimes that had become a problem in the poor southern African country where only one in 1000 people have access to computers, according to unofficial figures. The new law enjoys support from bankers and some computer experts who argue that electronic fraud has become rampant in the country's financial sector. The most famous cyber offence in Zambia was committed by a young computer expert who accessed the State House website and replaced the picture of then president Frederick Chiluba with a cartoon. He was arrested and charged with defaming the head of state but the case was dropped as there was no provision in Zambian law to deal with cyber crimes. AFP _________________________________________ Open Source Vulnerability Database (OSVDB) Everything is Vulnerable - http://www.osvdb.org/

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