Security expert dismisses gov’t cybercrime threat to ‘crush online dissent’

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By Sheriff Saidykhan



 The Gambian-U.S based criminologist have dismissed the cybercrime bill initiated by the government of President Adama Barrow to effectively crush online freedom of expression and dissent.



Mod Lamin Faye, a specialist on law enforcement and national security matters made these remarks recently in a telephone interview with The Outpost Media.



“It just did not make sense. Cybercrime doesn't have to do anything with freedom of expression. Freedom of expression does not consitute cybercrime.The currently administration is basically trying to bring a law that only favors them. Anyone who understand the word cybercrime will tell you it does not have to do with freedom of expression,” he said



On 18 March 2023, the proposed 2023 Cybercrime Bill (the draft Bill) was approved in the 


first reading in the National Assembly of the Gambia and committed to the second reading in the Assembly Business Committee.


He added: “What they are trying to do is not going to work. Is only going to bring security threat and people are going to be tired of it. Is similar to what forme President Yahya Jammeh will do by threatening people” he concluded.

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