Development and Implementation of Cybercrime Strategies in Africa with Specific Reference to South Africa
Abstract:
Cybercrime is increasing at a rate few individuals would have predicted. IBM estimated in 2016 that, in 2019, the cost of cybercrime would reach $2 trillion, a threefold increase from the 2015 estimate of $500 billion. The growth of the Internet and the rapid development of technology provide enormous economic and social benefits but at the same time provide platforms for cyber-criminals to exploit. Organised crime is using more sophisticated techniques, which require highly skilled and specialised law enforcement responses. One example is the use of cryptocurrencies, which makes it easier for cybercriminals to hide their proceeds. Regulatory measures often lag behind.
In this paper, the authors give an overview of the growing threat of cybercrime with a specific focus on high levels of cybercrime in Africa. The focus then turns to the development of national cybercrime strategies and implementation. Results from literature and the authors’ analyses of two cyber indices to measure the capabilities and capacities of countries are combined to present a framework for the development of a cybercrime strategy, and in particular, a strategy customised for African countries.
AUTHORS
Tshwane University of Technology Pretoria,
South Africa
Professor Joey Jansen van Vuuren (PhD) is a NRF-rated researcher in the faculty of ICT at Tshwane University of Technology. She is also the Vice Chair of the international IFIP (Federation for Information Processing) Working Group 9.10. She is also a coordinator of SA for the BRICS Integrated Thematic Group Computer Science and Information Security (ITG-CSIS). Her research focuses on cybersecurity, education, government, policy, and culture. She was the coordinator of the South African CybersecurityCentre of Innovation for the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), which initiated several cybersecurity government initiatives in South Africa. The centre also focused on the promotion of research collaboration, cybersecurity education, and the exchange of cyber threats. She was also involved in the development of cybercrime strategies for the South African Police Services. Previously as the Research Group Leader for Cyber Defence at CSIR, she gave the strategic research direction for the research conducted for the South African National Defence Force and Government sectors on cyber defence. She has spent over 25 years in academia and research and has published various journal papers, conference papers, and book chapters on cybersecurity governance. She has presented on numerous forums, such as national conferences and also international conferences, some of which she has been invited to as the keynote speaker. She is also very passionate about the development of people outside the university and is involved in the offering of training in the TVET and other education sectors.
University of Western Cape and CAIR
Cape Town, South Africa
Louise Leenen is an Associate Professor in the Computer Science Department at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) in South Africa. Louise completed her PhD in Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the University of Wollongong in Australia. Her research focus areas are AI applications in cybersecurity, and problem formulation and modelling. She joined UWC in 2019 after working as a Principal Researcher at the CSIR in the Cyber Defence Research Group. Leenen is a member of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence (CAIR) and leads the research group on AI and Cybersecurity. She regularly serves in various positions on committees of national and international bodies, such as the NRF, BRICS, and IFIP. She has authored or co-authored several journal publications, book chapters, and conference papers.
Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation South African Police Service Pretoria,
South Africa
Brigadier Piet Pieterse is at present the Section Head of Cybercrime Investigation (CCI), Component: Priority Crime Specialised Investigation (PCSI), which is part of the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) (Hawks). He joined the South African Police Service in 1979 and has been a detective since 1981. He worked at the Murder and Robbery Unit and became the commissioned officer during 1987. He was a founding member of the Directorate for Special Operations (DSO) Scorpions, before joining the Commercial Crime Unit of the Police Service in 1992. He also commanded the former Serious Economic Offences Unit. Brigadier Pieterse holds a National Diploma in Police Administration.
Published In
Journal of Information Warfare
The definitive publication for the best and latest research and analysis on information warfare, information operations, and cyber crime. Available in traditional hard copy or online.
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