Cook Islands Introduces Cybercrime Legislation Amendment Bill
The Cook Islands government has introduced the Cybercrime Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 to Parliament, aiming to modernize the nation's criminal laws to address digital-age threats. The bill proposes amendments to five existing statutes: the Crimes Act 1969, the Criminal Procedure Act 1980-81, the Evidence Act 1968, the Police Act 2012, and the Telecommunications Act 2019. These changes seek to protect citizens from online harms and equip law enforcement with necessary tools to combat cybercrime.
Key Provisions of the Bill
- New Cybercrime Offenses: The bill introduces offenses such as unauthorized access to computer systems, damaging or interfering with computer systems, and unauthorized interception of private communications.
- Online Harm Offenses: It criminalizes actions like intentionally causing serious emotional harm through digital communications and sharing intimate visual recordings without consent.
- Child Protection Measures: The legislation targets the production, distribution, and access to child sexual exploitation material, empowering telecommunications service providers to block access to such content with approval from the Attorney-General.
- Enhanced Law Enforcement Capabilities: The bill clarifies that police can seek search warrants for computer systems and electronic devices and modernizes evidence rules to admit electronic records in court proceedings.
Government's Commitment to Digital Safety
Minister of Foreign Affairs & Immigration, Hon. Tingika Elikana, emphasized the government's duty to ensure laws keep pace with technological advancements, stating, "This Bill is about protecting Cook Islanders, our families, our children, our businesses, and our institutions, from harms that simply did not exist when our Crimes Act was written in 1969." Prime Minister Hon. Mark Brown highlighted the bill as a crucial step in strengthening the nation's security framework, with plans for future legislation on national security and privacy.
Alignment with National and International Standards
The bill aligns with the Cook Islands' National Sustainable Development Agenda 2020+, the National Security Policy, and the Cyber Security Policy. It also adheres to international best practices, including the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime. The development involved consultations with various government agencies, ensuring a comprehensive approach to addressing cyber threats.
For more details, visit the official announcement: Government Tables Cybercrime Legislation Amendment Bill
