More steps needed to combat cybercrimes
MUSCAT — The seminar "Cybercrimes: Challenges and Solutions," was concluded at InterContinental Muscat Hotel yesterday. The two-day seminar was organised by the Information Technology Authority (ITA).
The seminar came out with a number of recommendations for combating cybercrimes in the region. The recommendation included forming a welltrained judiciary to attend to this kind of crimes.
The participants called upon the Omani legislators to expedite introducing amendments to the Punitive Procedural Law.
The seminar also called on the legislators to develop and activate the cybercrimes departments at the Royal Oman Police (ROP) and provide them with quali ed staff in the information technology (IT) eld.
The seminar stressed the importance of enhancing and activating the exchange of information among law enforcement agencies namely the police, the public prosecution and the judiciary.
The seminar also recommended enhancing the international co-operation and coordination among countries and the international organisations operating in this eld especially the Interpol.
The closing day also included a number of working papers. Dr Hussain bin Said al Ghafri, Legal Adviser at ITA presented a working paper on the Sultanate's legislative experience in combating cybercrimes. He spoke about the Omani Punitive Law issued by the Royal Decree No 7/1974, which is the rst Arab law to combat cybercrimes. He also covered the e-Transactions Law and the Cybercrimes Combating Law.
Judge Dr Mohammed Shawqi, Adviser at the Egyptian State Council and Chairman of the International Association for Combating Cybercrimes presented a working paper on International Co-operation in Combating Cybercrimes.
Badr bin Ali al Salhi, Director of the National Information Security Centre at ITA presented a working paper on the experience of the National Information Security Centre while addressing cybercrimes.
Lo'ai Abdulkarim al Rahmani, Adviser to the Chairman of the Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP) for Legal Affairs presented a working paper on the procedural legislations and how far they meet the needs for investigating cybercrimes. — ONA