By: Stephen G. Fellajuah
Email fellajuahstepheng@gmail.com
Dozens of Internet User who participated in a three week training of the Liberia Internet Society School of governance has unanimously agreed to stage a peaceful march/protest at the National Legislature to demand the passage of the Cyber security Act that was presented to the lawmakers in 2016.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen at the end of the training at a local Hotel in Monrovia, Friday, August 26, 2022, Mr. Matthew Roberts, President of the Liberia Internet Society Liberia Chapter said that the passage of the cyber security law is critical as it intends to create more jobs opportunities for Liberians and at the same time protect the country’s digital space.
There is no clear law on cyber privacy in Liberia. Liberia as a country does not have a clear law that speaks sprightly cyber security.
According to Mr. Roberts, the law when pass will restraint people from hacking because when that is done they will be prosecuted and held accountable for their action.
“Liberia is vulnerable in the digital space because there is no law to protect the right of citizens and internet users in the country. We have trafficking in person that is done by the internet, data protection, and hacking and other sensitive things that this law will protect” he mentioned.
Speaking further he reference the scenario that transpired in the case between Lonestar Cell MTN and then Cellcom GSM where the company was accused of shouting down and hacking the system of Lonestar to get more customers to themselves and said it was allegedly done by a British man, but he was not prosecuted because the lack of law to do so.
The Internet Society Liberia Chapter President named the illigal transferred of stolen data by Facebook, Google and other social media platforms and said Liberians can not take action because there is no law to hold perpetrators accountable.
“Sometimes you can hear that Facebook and Google are sued in other countries because of this cyber security law and data protection act but that cannot happen in Liberia. We need the law to take action so that our right can be respected.
We have to create more jobs by observation of the digital space to monitor hacking activities going out in our country and have people sue”, said Mr. Roberts and stressed that only strong legislations can save Liberians from cyber-attacks.
Internet Society Liberia Chapter was conceived as a Chapter by a group of Liberians Internet enthusiasts, who are convinced that the Internet is a valuable development tool for Liberia and there is an urgent need to promote its use in all areas of life (social, educational, economic and cultural) in Liberia, to keep pace with the global community
The Chapter is therefore committed to the development, use and open access to the Internet in Liberia.
The overall purpose of the Chapter is to promote, in a global context, the open development, evolution and use of the Internet for the benefit of everyone in Liberia.
