Computer Crimes Act 1997

Group Blueberry

Referred to as CCA97. Provide for offences relating to the misuse of computers. Users can protect their rights to privacy and build trust in the computer system. Government can have control at a certain level over cyberspace to reduce cyber crime activities.

Protect the victims of computer misuse.

Criminalizing associated activities : eavesdropping, unauthorized access to program or data in computer.

In this act, computer is defined broadly to include data storage facility or communications facility and also to include computer network. This act enforcement gives a police officer of or above the rank of Inspector wide powers of search. These powers extending from cooperation of suspect to arrest without warrant The act were criticized for:
lack of safeguards to check abusing of police power. infringement of the right to privacy. infringement of the right against self-incrimination.

Section 3 Unauthorized access to computer material Section 4 Unauthorized access with intent to commit or facilitate commission of further offence Section 5 Unauthorized modification (temporary or permanent) of the contents of any computer

Section 6 Wrongful communication Section 7 Abetments and attempts punishable as offences Section 8 A person is deemed to have obtained unauthorized access to any program, data or information (unless proved otherwise) if he is found to have custody or control of such program, data, or other information in any computer or storage media which he is not authorized to have.

Gaining unauthorized access with intent to commit or facilitate commission of further offence (which may involve fraud or dishonesty or which causes injury as defined in the Penal Code). Fine not exceeding one hundred and fifty thousand ringgit or, To imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years.

Gaining unauthorized access to computer material (such as by hacking) : Fine not exceeding fifty thousand ringgit or, To imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both.

Unauthorized modification such as change the prescription for a particular treatment or to change the records of a patient such that his allergy to certain medication is erased. Serious harm could be done to the patient concerned. Fine not exceeding one hundred thousand ringgit or, To imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years or both.

if the act is done intentionally to cause injury as defined in the penal code then the penalty is stiffer with: fine not exceeding one hundred and fifty thousand ringgit or, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years or to both.