Belize: CyberCrime Act, 2020
The Cybercrime Act of 2020 is a law passed by the government of Belize to address cybercrime and online offences in the country. The Act criminalizes various online activities, including cyberbullying, cyberstalking, and identity theft. It also provides for penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for offences such as hacking, phishing, and spreading malicious software.
The Act establishes the Cybersecurity Incident Response Team (CSIRT) to coordinate the response to cyber incidents in Belize. The CSIRT works with other government agencies and private sector organizations to share information about cyber threats and to develop strategies for addressing them.
The Act has been praised for its comprehensive approach to cyber security and for its emphasis on international cooperation in the fight against cybercrime. However, some critics have raised concerns about the potential for the Act to be used to infringe on civil liberties and privacy rights. The Act has been amended several times since it was first introduced to address some of these concerns and to keep up with technological developments and changes in the cyber threat landscape.
PART I – Preliminary
1. Short title.
2. Interpretation.
PART II – Cybercrime Offences
3. Illegal access to a computer system.
4. Illegal access to computer data.
5. Illegal data interference.
6. Illegal system interference.
7. Illegal devices and codes.
8. Computer-related forgery.
9. Identity-related fraud.
10. Identity-related theft.
11. Child luring.
12. Publication or transmission of image of private area. Cybercrime
13. No liability for service provider.
14. Service provider to store traffic data and subscriber information.
15. Using a computer system to coerce, harass, intimidate, humiliate, etc. a person.
16. Infringement of copyright, patents and designs and trademarks.
17. Attempt, aiding or abetting.
18. Offences prejudicing investigation.
PART III – Enforcement
19. Ex-parte application for Storage Direction.
20. Scope and form of Storage Direction.
21. Ex-parte application for Search and Seizure Warrant.
22. Application for a Storage Direction or Search and Seizure Warrant.
23. Extension of time for prosecution of an offence.
24. Record of seized material.
25. Assistance.
26. Ex-parte application for Production Order.
27. Expedited Preservation Order.
28. Removal or Disablement of Data Order.
29. Ex-parte application for Remote Forensic Tools Order. Cybercrime
30. Offence to disclose confidential information.
31. No liability for person aiding in enforcement of Act.
32. Application for Compensation Order.
33. Ex-parte application for Forfeiture Order and issue of Restraint
Order.
34. Failure to comply with a Court order.
35. Evidence.
36. Determining the severity of charges.
PART IV – International Cooperation
37. Mutual Legal Assistance.
38. Spontaneous information.
39. Extradition.
40. Transborder access to computer data with consent or when unsecured and publicly available.
PART V – Miscellaneous
41. Use of computer system to commit offence under any other law.
42. Corporate liability.
43 Jurisdiction.
44. Regulations.
