Matiang’i: We will not shut down Twitter over elections

The government will not shut down social media websites before, during and after the elections, Interior Minister Fred Matiang’i said.

The CS, which admitted there had been an escalation of fake news and unprecedented abuse of social media, said cyberspace has been a tough call for police as security agencies deal with internal and external cases.

Dr. Matiang’i said the government is counting on the cybersecurity strategy being finalized in Naivasha, Nakuru County to fight online crime ahead of the August 9 general election.

After officially opening the morning session, Dr . Matiang’i, the government is aware of the cyber threats.

“We are approaching elections and the big debate is how we will interact with each other. The strategy could not have come at a better time as it will help police build capacity in cyberspace,” he said.

But he said Kenya is a democratic country and the government cannot help regressive ones Measures like closures involve internet and recovery of constitutional profits.

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“No amount of insult will make us to engage in such actions, but in the same breath we expect those involved in politics to behave responsibly,” noted the CS.

He pointed out that new technologies bring new ones Bring risks that can cause widespread damage to national security, economic growth and critical infrastructure.

He acknowledged that cybercrime is a complex challenge that each government faced alone and stressed the need for a multi-sectoral approach to countering vice.

He expressed the need for the Kenyan Defense Forces, Police, DCI and NSIS to invest heavily in internal cybercrime capabilities.< /p>

“We must protect the integrity of our country…we must be prepared,” said Dr. Matiang’i.

Dr. Matiang’i’s goal is to have a single source of information for better services, which raises hopes on the current strategy for dealing with the privacy issue.

“When we thought we were doing something wonderful by we create a single source of information, collecting personal data to improve service delivery, we found ourselves in the corridors of justice,” he said.

He recognized the need to review laws and regulations affecting commerce and called on the Kenya Bureau of Standards to advance a technology-based standardization program.

“By addressing these risks and understanding the impact of Kenya’s cybersecurity efforts, cybersecurity implementation will greatly enhance technology growth and economic development.” ‘ he added.

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For his part, ICT Principal Secretary Jerome Ochieng told attendees that cybercrime targeting children is increasing and urged stakeholders to develop guidelines for child safety and the future to the nation in cyberspace.

“Misinformation and false propaganda are some of the cyber risks. It is therefore necessary to develop a national culture of cyber security or cyber hygiene and strengthen positive online propaganda/news where necessary,” said Mr. Ochieng.

In a speech read on his behalf, said It was necessary to conduct research or surveys to determine the nation’s actual cybersecurity posture and identify existing gaps.

Police Inspector Hillary Mutyambai said cyberbullying incidents have decreased since the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act came into force .

For his part, Ezra Chiloba, Director General of the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), said that cybersecurity threats have become dynamic and resilient.

“As we focus on the digital economy, we must secure space. The nation’s survival will depend on the digital economy,” he said.

In a speech on Zoom from Kigali, Rwanda, Mr Chiloba said the strategy should respond to existing threats, according to a recent release by the World Economic Forum Report ranks cybercrime among the top 10 security risks worldwide.

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