Macra, police join forces to fight cyber crimes
Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) has partnered the Malawi Police Service (MPS) to fight increased cases of cyber crimes which are having a negative effect on the economy.
Cyber crimes are criminal offences committed via the Internet or otherwise aided by various forms of computer technology, such as the use of online social networks to bully others or sending sexually explicit digital photos.
According to Macra director general Godfrey Itaye, some of the cyber crimes Malawi is facing include dissemination of fake news and bullying.
Speaking on the sidelines of a signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two institutions in Lilongwe on Tuesday, Itaye said there is need to capacitate the police to deal with this problem with ease because information and communicaiton technology (ICT) is here to stay.
He said: “Cyber security has become an area that needs our urgent attention if we are to make the most of this technological age.
“As we make progress in the promotion of ICTs, there are new cases of cyber crime which are having a negative effect on the economy and these need to be combated.”
Itaye said the MoU provides a number of processes in which Macra and the MPS will collaborate in.
“These areas include the use of technical expertise, capacity building, investigation and prosecution of cases, consultations on certain regulations, monitoring and enforcement of relevant provisions of the acts that govern the two instutions,” he said.
Inspector General of Police Lexten Kachama said with proper knowledge of the Communications Act (as amended), the parties will be able to track down those that are violating laws, seal off their premises where necessary and bring them to book.
He said: “It is our understanding that unregulated spectrum management may be unhealthy to security of the country as others may take advantage of it in order to champion their evil agenda.
“As police, we can only succeed if we have a close collaboration with all agents including Macra.”
Recently, the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) also admitted that cybercrime is an emerging issue and there was need for officers to gain more expertise to deal with it effectively. n
