Kenyan Times – CJ Maraga warns of surge in cyber crime during Covid-19 lockdown

CJ Maraga warns of surge in cyber crime during Covid-19 lockdown
By JOSPHAT THIONGO | May 30th 2020 at 13:42:44 GMT +0300

Chief Justice David Maraga (pictured) has warned of a surge in litigation of cyber-crime related cases in the future post-Covid-19 period due to the high uptake of technology.

The CJ was speaking during a virtual judiciary training on Cyber Crime and Electronic Evidence.

He said the Covid-19 pandemic has seen a tremendous rise in the use of online platforms for sectors such as education and learning, financial transactions, and even the justice system to minimize spread of the virus.

Maraga was concerned that inevitably, the surge in the use of online platforms increases the risk of cybercrime, online scams, and other web crimes.

“While technology presents efficient and easier ways of carrying out transactions making life easier for all of us, technology misuse is also a reality.

\”The post-Covid period will translate to a lot litigation of a cyber-crime nature; perhaps more than has ordinarily been before the courts. This makes cybercrime and electronic evidence a pertinent issue in Kenya,” said Maraga.

The CJ explained that the Judiciary is not exempted from cyber threats given that cases are now being filed, heard and determined virtually.

“As judges we are also exposed to a host of other challenges such as cyber security, hacking and social media in our day to day use of technology, thanks to the digital age,” he added.

Maraga also praised the ongoing training on cybercrime in collaboration with the Judicial Training Institute (JTI), saying they were important in relation to legal jurisprudence.

Most crimes committed today and their investigations as well as preservation of evidence involves aspects of technology.

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