ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS & TRANSACTIONS BILL NEW RULES FOR NAVIGATING CYBERSPACE.

Byline: Marina Bidoli

A good start, but Big Brother proposals cause concern The Electronic Communications & Transactions Bill - which will recognise digital signatures and electronic agreements, make electronic evidence admissible in court and outlaw cyber crime - goes a long way towards bringing SA in line with developed countries. Until now, SA has had to rely on common law and interpretation of legislation that did not always envisage electronic commerce, says Webber Wentzel Bowens attorney Robby Coelho.

Though generally in favour of the Bill, legal experts have also highlighted concerns, including potentially sinister clauses that could see the State wielding excessive control over how business is conducted over the Internet.

A worry is the wide-ranging powers mooted for the Communications Minister and the …