Module objectives

Crime always follows opportunity. The internet provides countless opportunities. Traditional crimes such as fraud, identity theft, or trade in illegal goods, are now conducted through the internet. Also, the increase in using personal information for online transactions has created the need to balance security and privacy, especially in law enforcement. This module will explore issues around cybercrime, its definition and its impact, legal and legislative responses by countries around the world, along  with African examples. The module will also explore privacy and personal data protection through an overview of the interplay between data protection and security. The module will provide the participants with basic knowledge on how to address issues around cybercrime, privacy, and security.

By the end of this module, participants are expected to know how various countries approached the issues discussed in the text and proffer solutions. Some of the questions that would be addressed include:

• What is the nature of cybercrime?
• What activities may amount to cybercrime?
• How does crime impact Africa?
• Apart from the economic impact, what other areas in a acountry does cybercrime affect?
• What are the responses to cybercrime?
• What are the features of cybercrime legislation?
• What is the international community doing in response to cybercrime?
• What is privacy?
• What are the principles of data protection?
• How to balance the interest of data protection and security?
• What are the approaches to data protection?
• What are African countries doing to protect privacy?