LTA Hosts Three-Day Conference on Combating Cyber-Crime Threat In Liberia - FrontPageAfrica

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Monrovia- Liberia Telecommunication Authority ( LTA) has commenced a three-day cybersecurity conference aimed at confronting and tackling the rising threat of cybercrime in the country.

By Jaheim T. Tumu- jaheim.tumu@frontpageafricaonline.com

The conference, which is observed under the theme: “Secure The World,” brings together local and international experts to develop strategies and share knowledge on enhancing cybersecurity measures. It aims to strengthen Liberia’s digital future, improve the protection of data, and ensure that the nation’s communication networks are safeguarded against escalating cyber threats.

Cybersecurity is referred to as a “comprehensive set of measures designed to protect computer systems, networks, and data from unauthorized access, attacks, and damage.”

Delivering his remarks at the opening session, President Joseph Boakai emphasized the urgent need to address technological challenges, stressing that cybercrime’s impact is comparable to the devastating consequences of military conflicts.

 Said President Boakai, “As technology advances, dishonest individuals disrupt progress by launching attacks on systems, attempting to influence political decisions, and defrauding financial institutions. In today’s global village, Cybercrime has become very sophisticated and can be seen across various sectors.”

President Boakai highlighted the critical issue of cybersecurity breaches, stating that over the past 20 years, such breaches have increased by more than 70%. In 2023 alone, businesses reported losses exceeding $2 billion due to attacks on their email systems.

Accordingly, he said cybercrimes not only harm individuals and institutions but also enable criminal activities like money laundering, drug trafficking, and human trafficking.

He called on ministries and agencies to prioritize cybersecurity as a major component of their risk mitigation strategies and implementing technologies, practices, and policies to prevent cyberattacks.

 “When an entity prioritizes cybersecurity, its computer systems, applications, devices, data, and financial assets are better protected against cyber threats, ” he said.

President Boakai urged the Legislature to expedite its passage of the bill Cyber Security to facilitate necessary legal actions against cybercriminal activities and restore trust and credibility to affected individuals and institutions, stressing that victims will have renewed hope that their privacy is safeguarded.

“As we take these measures, let us not forget that criminals are crafty. They are daily designing plans to succeed with their actions. We must, therefore, remain resolute and deal with this unwholesome practice drastically. We must be ahead of them,” he emphasized.

He, however, said LTA, as the regulatory institution responsible for regulating the telecommunications sector, should ensure to establish robust regulatory frameworks to effectively address cybersecurity issues.

“The knowledge gained today should not remain dormant due to the persistent issue of unemployment in our country. There will always be a demand for cybersecurity services as long as criminals continue to pose threats, President Boakai said.

In the open statement, the Acting Chairman of the Board of Commissioners at LTA, Abdullah Kamara, highlighted the need for a strong legal framework and government responsibility in ensuring that citizens are protected, especially when utilizing technology, which can bring about vulnerabilities and exposure to risks.

Kamara emphasized the growing concerns in cyberspace, indicating that when most people think of cybersecurity, they primarily focus on financial risks.

However, he highlighted even more severe threats, such as identity theft including fake information, incitement, and the importance of being aware and understanding how to engage responsibly in the digital world.

Said Kamara, “ We already have some initiatives with the Ministry of Post and Telecommuting and Legislature, there is a draft bill on cybercrime, for us to identify and to be able to prosecute or address, they have to agree as a nation what constitutes cyber-crime so that the right mechanism can be put into place.”

He added, “We are mainly reliant on international best practices and other regulatory frameworks from across, but we need to look at our specific situation and this cybersecurity crime.”

Presenting the overview, Acting Commissioner for International Gateway Services,  Angela Cassell Bush emphasized the critical importance of cybersecurity, particularly for regulators in the telecom sector.

She stated that it is essential for the government to join global efforts in declaring the significance of safeguarding data from theft and loss.

“Cybersecurity has become a kitchen table topic as a footprint cut across the fabric of our society.  Our goal at the LTA is to use this medium as the first step to begin sensitizing our citizens and others residing within our borders about the importance of cyber security,” she said.