CSA cautions public against sharing explicit videos of SHS students

The management of the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has cautioned the public against the sharing of sexually explicit videos and photographs involving Senior High School students in the country.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Authority, citing Section 62 of the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038), warned that anyone caught may face imprisonment for 5 years or more.

It said such an act constitutes a serious criminal offence under Ghana’s laws, explaining that Section 62 of the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038) prohibits the creation, possession and distribution of indecent images of children.

“The public is hereby reminded that it is a crime to share indecent videos and images of children as specified in the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038). Section 62 of the Act states that a person shall not take, produce, publish/stream, or possess an indecent image or photograph of a child in a computer system or on an electronic device such as a mobile phone,” the Security Authority stated.

According to the Authority, Section 62 of the Act clearly states that a person shall not take, produce, publish, stream or possess an indecent image or photograph of a child on a computer system or electronic device, including mobile phones.

The CSA cautioned that any individual, blogger or institution found circulating sexually explicit videos or photographs of children risks severe punishment under the law.

“Any person, blogger or institution who is found circulating sexually explicit videos or photographs of children is liable to a term of imprisonment of not less than 5 years and not more than 10 years,” the Authority warned.

The authority also urged members of the public who receive such content to immediately delete it and refrain from forwarding it to others, stressing that even sharing such material amounts to committing an offence.

It further called on the public to report individuals and bloggers involved in the circulation of the explicit content to the Authority’s cybersecurity and cybercrime incident reporting points of contact for prompt action.