Here is the article converted into Markdown format:

Tanzanian Government Cracks Down on Cybercrimes with New Act

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania - The Tanzanian government has passed a new law aimed at combating cybercrimes in the country. The Cybercrimes Act comes into effect immediately and aims to protect critical information infrastructure from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction.

Attempted Offences Carry Hefty Penalties

• Anyone who attempts to commit an offence, including hacking, cyber-terrorism, or illegal data breaches, will be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not less than one million shillings or imprisonment for a term not less than six months.
• The law takes into account the severity of attempted offences and provides stiff penalties to deter individuals from engaging in such activities.

Conspiracy to Commit Offences Also Prohibited

• The Act also prohibits conspiracy to commit any offence under the law. Anyone found guilty of conspiring with others to commit such offences will face a fine of not less than one million shillings or imprisonment for a term not less than one year.
• This provision aims to prevent individuals from plotting and planning cybercrimes before they are committed.

Critical Information Infrastructure Protected

• The Minister has been given the power to designate computer systems as critical information infrastructure, and guidelines have been set out for their protection. The law also prohibits unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction of such infrastructure.
• This provision recognizes the importance of protecting critical systems and data that could be used to compromise national security or disrupt essential services.

Offences Relating to Critical Information Infrastructure Carry Heavy Penalties

• Anyone found guilty of committing an offence under this Act in relation to critical information infrastructure will be liable to a fine not less than one hundred million shillings or three times the loss occasioned, or imprisonment for a term not less than five years.
• The law takes into account the severity of offences committed against critical systems and provides stiff penalties to deter individuals from engaging in such activities.

Jurisdiction Expanded

• The courts have been given jurisdiction to try any offence under the law where an act or omission constituting an offence is committed wholly or in part within Tanzania, on a ship or aircraft registered in Tanzania, by a national of Tanzania, or by anyone who uses a computer system, device, or data located in Tanzania.
• This provision ensures that cybercrimes are tried and punished regardless of the location from which they are committed.

Search and Seizure Powers Expanded

• Police officers have been given the power to search and seize devices or computer systems where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that they may be used as evidence in proving an offence. The law also allows for the extension of searches to other systems where necessary.
• This provision enables law enforcement agencies to gather evidence and prevent the destruction of digital evidence.

The new law is aimed at protecting Tanzania’s critical information infrastructure from cyber threats and bringing perpetrators to justice. It is a significant step forward in the country’s efforts to combat cybercrime and ensure the safety and security of its citizens online.