Hardap governor Riaan McNab has warned that cybercrime is no longer a distant concern, as it affects almost all areas of society.
He made these remarks during a consultative workshop aiming to come up with a draft Cybercrime Bill earlier this week in Mariental. “Cybercrime affects our financial systems, critical infrastructure, businesses, public institutions and valued lives of our citizens,” McNab said.
The governor continued: “The importance of a comprehensive cybercrime bill cannot, however, be overstated, as such legislation will provide a legal framework to prevent, detect, investigate and prosecute cyber-related offences.”
McNab further informed stakeholders present that these crimes also hold serious threats like fraud, identity theft, data breaches, attacks on essential services and the national security of the country at large. “If left undetected, it can undermine public confidence, weaken institutions and cause significant socio-economic damage,” he cautioned.
He also said laws alone will not serve sufficiently, as fighting cybercrime is a shared responsibility between communities, youth, the public and private sectors.
“Equally important is to create awareness tapped from knowledge gained and be vigilant as the first line of defence against the evil,’’ he said.
McNab then underscored the importance of empowering citizens to recognise cyber threats timeously, adopt safe online practices and report relevant suspicious activities accordingly.
“These consultations should at the end of the day provide opportunities for open dialogue, constructive criticism and collective ownership of the proposed legislation,’’ he expressed.