SPEAKER of Parliament Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu has highlighted the vulnerability of developing countries to cyberattacks and harmful online activities such as cyberbullying, harassment, stalking and use of the internet for criminal ends.
Ratu Naiqama told the Regional Pacific Islands Parliamentary Workshop on Cybercrime in Nadi last week that cybercrime was one of the biggest threats to security, public safety and economic development.
“There is no doubt that a significant part of our lives from financial services, health to education and even parliamentarians’ lives are increasingly dependent on online or electronic modes of communications and transactions,” he said.
“Today, as we swipe the ATM card or fill in an online form with personal information, we should ask ourselves constantly – how safe are we?”
Ratu Naiqama stressed that members of Parliament played a pivotal role in developing legislative and institutional cyber security frameworks and guaranteeing that principles of good governance apply in cyber security.
“MPs have the power to convene different stakeholders for policy discussions, ensuring comprehensive and multi-stakeholder governance models are a very pertinent component of cyber security.
“As advocates and lawmakers, MPs can advocate for the ratification and accession of international treaties which promote cybersecurity as well as the domestication and implementation of cybersecurity legislations in their respective countries to give effect to the obligations they assume under such international treaties.
“MPs also have ample opportunity in this sphere to encourage their respective governments to support, draft and ensure the passage of requisite implementing legislation.”
