Abstract

Just as social media has brought several benefits, in aspects of business, entertainment etc. it has equally posed social and security risk. As the activities online rise, there are worries about the ways the personal information shared by the users may be collected and analyzed. Despite the prevalence of many laws enacted in Cameroon, prohibiting cybercrimes, yet the crime is on a very high increase rate especially with the use of social media on cyber criminality in Cameroon, this is to say how a social medium influence cyber criminality in Cameroon does.

This study seeks to make an appraisal on the regulation of cyber-crimes in Cameroon. It also discusses the various from of cybercrime like phishing, hacking. The methodology used during this finding is the quantitative research or approach where facts are analyzed using words. The doctrinal research method was used which deals with the interpretation of both primary and secondary data which include statute and journal articles respectively.

The finding reveal that, Cameroon have enacted legal framework on cybercrime like the law No 2010/012 of the December 2010 relations to cyber security and criminality in Cameroon in order to help curb the issue of the cybercrime. In spite of the laws, cybercrimes still prevails due to factors like limited knowledge of the users on social media network and lack of monitoring activities.  A lot of training must be carried out to educate the people. It is therefore recommended that, there should be stringent methods to punished perpetrators of this act. This is so because most often than not, rather than punishing perpetrators, authorities turn to collect money from them and allow them to continue with the acts.

CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background To The Study

The UN General Assembly resolution on cyber security  addresses cybercrime as one major challenge. Though it is abstruse to quantify the impact of cybercrime on society, one may say without fear or contradiction that cybercrime has made it difficult for developing countries to promote e-business and participate in online service industries . In this context, it is useful, to define the term cybercrime.

Definitions abound for the term. The variety of approaches, demonstrates the fact that there is no single definition for the term. One common definition describes cybercrime “as any activity in which computers or networks is a tool, a target or a place of criminal activity”.  Cybercrime may be defined as offences committed through the internet. Going by Article 1.1 of the Stanford Draft International Convention to Enhance Protection from Cyber Crime and Terrorism (the “Stanford Draft”) , cybercrime refers to acts in respect to cyber systems.

Reference  described cyber-crime as “a range of offences including traditional computer crimes, as well as network crimes”. For Gercke, cybercrime is narrower than computer related crimes because it involves only a computer network while computer-related crime covers even those offences that bear no relation to a network . Gercke‟s definition is good but like other definitions, it falls short of the fact that it does not sufficiently fetch out the different types of cybercrime or what constitutes acts of cybercrime. Though it is difficult to develop a typology or classification system for cybercrime, one approach can be found in the cyber law which distinguishes between different types of offences, namely, cryptography, unauthorised disclosure of confidential information, invasion of privacy and private indecency (pedophia, child pornography and homosexuality) .Cybercrime is rampant in Cameroon.

The National Agency for Information and Communication Technologies (ANTIC) reminded that over 90% of software and operating systems used in Cameroon are hacked including email addresses and social media accounts of businesses, individuals and government members resulting to lamentable losses for operators, individuals, businesses and the state . Assongmo reported of the prevalence of telephone calls fraud in Cameroon. In 2015, the mobile phone sector lamented losses of 18 billion FCFA for operators with another 46 billion for the state . In 2014, anti-corruption commission reported that “cyber criminality cost 3.5 billion to Cameroon between November and December  .

For Abeng, scammers are still doing a brisk business because there has been more talk than action. He recounted the story of a British national who came to Cameroon to track down scammers who fleeced out millions of pounds, but unfortunately, he was found dead in the capital city of Cameroon, Yaoundé . In response to the different offences committed, the government has put in place measures to combat cybercrime. This includes but not limited to the enactment of the cyber law and training of personnels.

1.2 Statement Of The Problem

Cybercrime compromises the security of cyberspace, making it both a homeland security and societal issue. The Cameroon economy suffers billions of francs in loss annually as the result of cybercrime.

Digital connectivity has permeated almost every aspect of our daily lives, which thus creates more opportunities for cybercriminals and increasing the demand for local law enforcement to intervene . In addition, the data challenges, the level of cybercrime training for local law enforcement is not mandated or standardized.  Moreover, no set national standards or any type of unified plan is available for law enforcement’s response to cybercrime.

Most Cameroon local law enforcement agencies lack the resources necessary for the level of investigative capabilities and capacity to perform cybercrime-related functions at a pace that keeps up with the demand.  Local law enforcement agencies from around the nation were queried about the three most significant challenges impeding their ability to perform cybercrime investigations effectively.

Of the responding agencies, 54 percent reported a lack of staffing, 31 percent reported a lack of funding, and 29 percent reported a lack of internal expertise.  These realities combined with cybercrime’s rapidly evolving nature have most law enforcement agencies consistently “behind the curve” in the fight against it.

1.3 Research Questions

1.3.1 General Research Question

How effective are the laws in the fight against cyber criminality in Cameroon?

1.3.2 Specific Research Question

1. What is the concept and nature of cyber-crime?
2. What is the legal and institutional framework for the fight against cyber criminality in Cameroon?
3. What are the challenges faced in implementing cyber criminality laws in Cameroon?
4. What is the Policy recommendation for the fight against cyber criminality?

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