More than 30 pc of phone users hit by cybercrime

MORE than 30 per cent of all mobile phone users in Tanzania receive strange, mysterious and even threatening short messages (SMS) from unknown people, it has been revealed here.

It was also pointed out during the ongoing Capacity Building for Law Enforcement Authority Stakeholders’ Meeting on the Electronic Transaction Act and Cybercrime Act 2015 taking place here that 46 per cent of people using internet services have, in one way or another, been victims of cybercrime.

According to a Legal Officer at the Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology, Ms Eunice Masigati, most young people in the country have been depending on mobile devices, such as phones and tablets to accessthe world-wide web but many of these gadgets are never safeguarded by mobile security.

She was on view that leaving phones and tablets unlocked gave access to all sorts of intruders and web culprits to use the mobile devices and post, or send unlawful messages online or to other parties, something which leaves the gadgets owners to face the music now that the cybercrime law has sailed through.

“When it comes to surfing the web, especially using mobile devices, it is usually the youth who do this as aged persons hardly own smart phones or tablets. Young people also have the tendency of sharing or consuming online media contents via groups and other peerto- peer connections,” she said, adding that this makes local youth susceptible to electronic crimes.

On her part, the ministry’s Senior Information Officer, Ms Prisca Ulomi, said to ensure that the two newly-enacted acts are properly executed, the government has taken the initiative of localising digital traffic and content.

Ms Ulomi, who made the presentation on behalf of the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr John Mngodo, added that localising traffic as well as building the ‘Public Key Infrastructure,’ (PKI) created conducive environment for safety and properly regulated electronic usage and online transactions.

Responding to claims that, it would be difficult for the state machinery to trace and capture culprits who exchange criminalizing contents through platforms such as ‘Whatsapp,’ ‘Viber’ ‘Facebook,’ and other social media modules because the servers are located far-away overseas, Ms Ulomi said it will take just 72 hours to get access to the servers in the US or UK for responsible organs to start dealing with offenders.

A legal officer from the Police Headquarters in Dar es Salaam, Mr Alfred Haonga, said while ordinary residents may be put off by the police when they report cyber-related offences at district desks, it was advisable for them to seek assistance from higher authorities.

“Sometimes officers at the police stations, due to ignorance, will fail to assist people with complaints related to electronic contents. In this case, complainants should not give up but instead should take up the matter to the heads of station or regional police commanders,” advised Mr Haonga.