The Dangerous Cybercrime Bill

The Nigerian cybercrime bill is a legislative faux pas with obviously no thought put into the process.

The bill smacks of political ignorance and is certainly hypocritical in nature.

Agreed that such a bill is desirable to fight cybercrime and terrorism, as it is being done globally, there, however need to balance national interest with citizen’s rights especially as there is a tendency for such a law to be abused by security agents.

A part of the bill will require internet service providers to keep all traffic data and subscriber information for the purpose of prosecuting those suspected of committing cyber-crimes.

This is fine.

It is also necessary for service providers to provide assistance towards the identification, apprehension and prosecution of offenders, failure of which makes them liable to fines and or jail terms.

Cyber-criminals, who hide under the anonymity of the Internet to bully, harass other users of online platforms also risk jail terms when the law comes into full force.

This is also spot on.

Just as anyone found guilty of posting messages deemed “grossly offensive, indecent, obscene” or messages aimed at “causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety” to another online user should get a jail term of 12 months

But prescribing death sentence to a person who commits crime against Critical National Information Infrastructure, which is defined as “certain computer systems, networks and information infrastructure vital to the national security of Nigeria or the economy and social wellbeing of its citizens is reckless and overreaching.

This clearly violates the provision of Section 37 of the 1999 constitution as amended which guarantees rights to privacy of individuals.

The section provides that “The privacy of citizens, their homes, correspondence, telephone conversations and telegraphic communications is hereby guaranteed and protected.”

It is inhuman to prescribe death sentence for divulging national secrets and a five-year jail term for insulting people on social media platforms.

People have a right to freedom of speech. It is non-negotiable.

Some critics have said the bill is an attempt to gag voices against tyranny and we are inclined to believe them.

If the bill is passes, it will be a dangerous law.

Government must not be left with free hand to implement such a potentially unsafe legislation.

The bill should be revisited so that those who commit fraud on the Internet would be dealt with.

But the best way to curb cyber crime is to provide jobs and basic amenities.