PAPUA NEW GUINEA LACKS CYBER-CRIME LAWS

Source: The National

The lack of funds and no proper body to deal with emerging crimes related to Information Communication Technology (ICT)in Papua New Guinea is a worrying sign as there is an increase in crimes being committed on the internet. Recently a man was arrested and charged for stalking, luring and posting indecent materials of women without their consent, preying on their lack of knowledge of ICT to torture them. The women were asked to have sex, pay money or marry the stalker if they wanted the indecent materials associated with them removed from the social network sites. A man who wanted to remain anonymous said: “His wife nearly fell victim to the stalker however as they were IT professionals, they tracked the stalker until he was successfully arrested, charged and locked up in prison awaiting court appearance.

National Information Communication Technology Authority Legal Services Manager Ian Mileng said, “With crimes committed using ICT as a medium there is no tangible element as in traditional crimes such as murder where an accused can be prosecuted based on the elements involved in committing the crime.”

He said that it was tougher to prosecute crimes committed using ICT as it was not tangible and also there was no legal frame in placed to prosecute offenders.

Mileng said, “An adhoc group was formed at the request of the National Executive Council Chief Secretary Manasupe Zurenuouc in March 2012 comprising of members from the National Intelligence Organization, Attorney General, Public Prosecutor, NICTA, Law reform Commission and a private lawyer. He said that the group however has limited funding and members volunteered therefore the pace in which a legal framework can be set up for cyber crimes is far from becoming law.