N$500 000 for spam

ANYONE who is convicted of sending unwanted spam e-mail, under the proposed new law for electronic communication, could have to fork out N$500 000 and spend up to five years behind bars.

This proposed legislation makes provision for a minimum fine of N$100 000 or a two-year prison term or both.According to the Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Joel Kaapanda, Namibia has had ‘its fair share of serious misuse of information and communication technology (ICT)’ and these acts could even, ‘if unattended, threaten national interests’.Kaapanda said, as a result of the influence of the misuse of ICT, Namibia has experienced ‘incidences of identity theft and the circulation of pornographic material via cellphones by teenagers during school hours’.In a statement read on his behalf Kaapanda said, about further consultations on the draft ‘use of electronic transactions and communications’ bill for Namibia, ‘I would not be surprised if there are other forms of misuse (with criminal intent) such as unauthorised access of IT systems, misuse of personal data, the purveying of child pornography and the like, which might often just be brushed aside when encountered’.He referred to the penalties which perpetrators face as ‘stiff sentences’.National interest is at risk because companies could lose money through fraud and individual privacy infringements, Kaapanda charged.He said he is ‘sure that ultimately, the law will benefit Namibia in a variety of ways on the socio-economic front’. According to him, ‘it could further lead to improvement in litigation support, which will increase efficiency in court systems, and the handling of evidence required for the settlement of disputes. It goes without saying that the so-called e-laws must allow for a proper understanding of their impact and application.’