Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Laws in the SADC Region https://zimbabwe.misa.org Key findings International Legal Frameworks on Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity and the Key Principles The Budapest Convention on Cybercrime The Convention on Cybercrime (also known as the Budapest Convention) is the first international convention set out to pursue a common criminal policy against cybercrime (Keller, 2011). It promotes the harmonisation of national laws, capacity building, and the fostering of international cooperation. The Convention was developed by the Council of Europe and became operational on 1 July 2004. The Convention facilitates the detection, investigation and prosecution of crimes committed via the internet and other computer systems including aiding or abetting the commission of an offence. It criminalises conduct such as illegal access and data interference. It provides the procedural tools for states to follow, this includes search and seizure of computers and other devices used in the criminal activity. It places upon States an obligation for mutual cooperation in assisting with the investigations. The Budapest Convention is further supplemented by an Additional Protocol adopted in 2003, which makes using computer networks to publish xenophobic and racist propaganda, a punishable offence. 14