Cyber Extortion
How the Cybercrimes Act addresses cybercrime used to obtain an advantage or compel another person to act or refrain from acting.
The short version
Section 10 covers unlawfully and intentionally committing or threatening to commit specified cybercrime offences for the purpose of obtaining an advantage from another person or compelling that person to perform or refrain from performing an act.
Which offences are connected to section 10?
Section 10 specifically refers to unlawful interception, data interference, system interference and certain password or access-code conduct.
Obtaining an advantage
One purpose identified by section 10 is obtaining an advantage from another person.
Compelling an act
Another purpose is compelling someone to perform or refrain from performing an act.
A threat can be enough for the offence described
Section 10 expressly covers committing or threatening to commit the specified offences when the required purpose is present. The offence therefore is not limited to situations where the underlying cybercrime has already been carried out.
Official source
This page is based on section 10 of the Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020.
Read the Cybercrimes Act on justice.gov.zaCyber Conduct provides general educational information, not legal advice. The application of the law depends on the facts of an individual situation.