Technology

EAC states draft cyber laws

East African Community member states are expected to draft new laws focusing on intellectual property rights, competition, e-taxation and information security in reforms aimed at boosting electronic commerce.

The East African Community (EAC) Task Force on Cyberlaws, currently meeting in Mombasa, hopes to finalise on the draft cyber laws and submit them for adoption by respective institutions.

The meeting is a follow up of the Phase I Cyber laws discussions, endorsed by the EAC Council of Ministers last November, that covered electronic transactions, e-signatures and authentication, data protection and privacy, consumer protection, and computer crime.

Lack of harmonisation of cyber laws by regional member states is not only stifling electronic commerce, but has also created a loophole in curbing computer related crimes, data and consumer protection.

“Developing country officials are increasingly aware of the need to adapt and harmonise legislation to take into account the Internet economy and the potential of both e-commerce and m-commerce for boosting domestic and cross-border business,” read a statement from UNCTAD, adding: “The intent is to finalise the draft and submit it for adoption by relevant EAC institutions.”

The task force meeting, organised jointly by the EAC secretariat and UNCTAD, will review progress in implementing the Cyber Law Framework’s Phase I, which covers electronic transactions, electronic signatures and authentication, data protection and privacy, consumer protection, and computer crime.

Thirty five members of the task force are attending the meeting, including representatives from the Ministry of East African Co-operation Justice, Law Reform Commission, ICT ministries, and regulatory institutions dealing with telecommunications, revenue and competition.

Protect

Other participants will come from the East African Business Council and the East African Legislative Assembly.

Representatives from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law will also attend.

UNCTAD supports activities to build the capacities of developing countries in the ICT field.

In East Africa and other regions, it has helped lawmakers prepare cyber laws that protect both consumers and businesses, and encourage economic growth.