KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Senate on Friday approved a range of amendments to the Cybercrimes Act, including provisions which prescribe harsher punishment for perpetrators who target children.
Kamina Johnson – SmithGovernment Senate Leader Kamina Johnson Smith piloted the debate on the bill.
The proposed amendments, tabled earlier this year, seek to strengthen penalties, improve investigative powers, and expand protections against emerging forms of online crime.
The legislation proposes new measures to hold persons accountable for knowingly allowing their properties to be used to facilitate cybercrime activities with prison sentences of up to fifteen years attached to such offences.
Meanwhile, Johnson Smith called on young victims of revenge porn to report it and not give power to perpetrators.
She said the cybercrimes act makes revenge porn an offence, Johnson Smith said anyone, especially a young person, who has fallen victim, should seek help from someone they trust in getting the report to the police.
She stressed that cops are being trained to be sensitive about these matters.
