The Cyber Security Authority has indicated to hold Internet Service Providers accountable for illicit content online.

The authority will therefore begin engagement with stakeholders and telecommunication service providers to strengthen the legal framework of online content.

According to the authority, this will help sanitise the cyber space since Ghana has been experiencing an exponential growth in the use of digital platforms.

Director General of the Cyber Security Authority, Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako, made the disclosure in a speech to mark the Safer Internet Day celebration in Accra.

Speaking at a forum for media and children on the celebration, Dr. Albert Antwi- Boasiako disclosed that work will begin on a new law to make internet service providers responsible for online content that can be harmful to children.

“The Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038) has provisions that criminalise the online grooming and enticement of children for sexual abuse. In addition, the Cyber Security Authority, in collaboration with UNICEF Ghana, has reviewed the National Child Online Protection Framework to address non-accessible formats of cyber hygiene content for children with disabilities, harmful and age- inappropriate content on online games; and extreme online behaviours including internet influenced suicide, hate speech, and interest in terrorism and violence.”

“In October 2020, the then Ministry of Communications, through the then National Cyber Security Centre (now CSA), in collaboration with the Internet Watch Foundation, launched a Child Online Protection Reporting Portal for the reporting and removal of child sexual abuse materials being accessed from Ghana but hosted outside the country. Later this year, the CSA will be developing the legislative instrument to the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038) which will have provisions to hold non-compliant service providers accountable for the collection of children’s data without parental consent and refusing or neglecting to report harmful content”, he added.

Mr. Antwi- Boasiako expressed hope that the private sector will disclose and report incidents of harmful content against children to the Authority to help keep our children safe

This year’s internet safety day is geared towards the protection of children online and the quest to sensitise stakeholders on the dangers online.

The theme for this year’s event was “Empowering the African Child on Safer Internet”.

Head of Child Online Protection at the Cyber Security Authority, Afua Brown Eyeson has been highlighting the importance of the event.

More than 50% of the country’s population have access to the internet according to the authority.