C.E.O. Says Cyber Crime Bill Is Necessary
Judith Alpuche
The Cybercrime Bill 2020 was approved by the Senate on Wednesday. The new law combats cyber crimes such as cyber bullying, harassment and extortion through technology. The bill is a product of extensive consultations and cooperation from several bodies including the Office of the Special Envoy for Women and Children, the Attorney General office and the Ministry of Human Development. C.E.O. Judith Alpuche says that the law makes it possible for the police to investigate cybercrime properly and bring charges against the perpetrators.
Judith Alpuche, C.E.O., Ministry of Human Development
“Like when people would release photos, extortion. So that deals with it. And that will work along with other pieces of legislation like under the Commercial sexual exploitation of children and even the sexual offences portion of the criminal code that speaks to issue of child pornography. This will help us with that we call revenge porn and the extortion that comes along with that. So we are ecstatic.”
Hipolito Novelo
“What about blasting people on Belize Buy and Sell on Facebook, putting up nude pictures under a fake profile?”
Judith Alpuche
“That is where it gets complicated but along with everything else we have been since we started talking about cyber bullying and so forth and even before that there has been support from the OAS and from other entities as well in terms of training for the police and others on how do you investigate these kind of things and track it back to people and hold them responsible.”
Hipolito Novelo
“Do you believe that the public is fully aware of this law and what is contains because that was one of the points that Mister Elrington brought up in the House last week?”
Judith Alpuche
“We have to be able to socialize these things because that is where some of the misunderstanding that cause undue friction. There is a responsibility to socialize these laws, to educate people on the laws. Ideally you would want to do it ahead of time, start the process from before it is enacted, before you go to the House and so it is important when we have these consultations. Some people don’t go to those things but those are the spaces where you can be educated on those things, where you can have your input.”
