Senate Passes Cyber Crime Act of 2025

The Liberian Senate has officially passed the Cyber Crime Act of 2025, a landmark piece of legislation aimed at strengthening national cyber security and protecting the country’s digital infrastructure. All 25 senators present during Tuesday’s plenary session voted unanimously in favor of the bill, which was sponsored by River Gee County Senator Francis Saidy Dopoh II, the Chair of the Senate Committee on Post and Telecommunications. The passage of the Act marks a significant step toward establishing a comprehensive legal framework to combat cyber-related crimes in Liberia. The passage comes after years of delay and debate. 

The House of Representatives had previously passed a version of the bill several years ago, but it languished in the Senate amid concerns about certain provisions and their potential impact on civil liberties. Senator Dopoh, who has been one of the strongest advocates for the bill, expressed relief and satisfaction that the upper house has finally acted. “Liberia, like many other countries, has transitioned into a digital era. Without the necessary legal framework, our nation remains highly vulnerable to cyberattacks,” he told his colleagues before the vote. 

According to him, the Cyber Crime Act provides a unified framework for regulating online activity, protecting critical data systems, and deterring digital offenses such as hacking, identity theft, online fraud, and data breaches. “If we as Senators concur with the House of Representatives in passing this law, it will be an important milestone,” Dopoh said. “It will be the first of its kind in Liberia, giving law enforcement the legal tools to fight cybercrime.” The River Gee lawmaker revealed that he himself had been a victim of cybercrime, which strengthened his resolve to push for legislative action. 

He warned that the lack of regulation has left individuals, businesses, and government institutions exposed to exploitation. Dopoh noted that the new law will protect essential data stored electronically, including national identification records, biometric voter registration databases, immigration documents, and labor permits, all of which are now managed online. He also raised alarm over the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and deepfake videos, which can manipulate voices and images to spread false information. “We have reached a point where technology can create a video of someone saying something they never said. In a society like ours, where misinformation spreads quickly, that is dangerous,” Dopoh emphasized. 

Despite the overwhelming support for the bill, some senators had earlier expressed concern about the potential misuse of cybercrime laws to target journalists, opposition politicians, or ordinary citizens critical of the government. During earlier deliberations, Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon proposed that senators conduct an in-depth review of the bill to ensure it strikes a balance between security and freedom of expression. 

“We must protect Liberians online, but we must also protect their right to speak freely,” Senator Dillon stated during the Senate’s previous debate on the measure. However, following the review period led by Senate Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, lawmakers agreed that the bill had undergone sufficient revision to safeguard civil liberties while addressing the growing threat of cybercrime. The newly passed Cyber Crime Act of 2025 is designed to achieve three core objectives: 

1. Establish a robust legal and regulatory framework to combat cyber offenses and online criminal activities.
2. Protect critical national information infrastructure, ensuring the security of government and private data systems.
3. Promote cybersecurity awareness and education, empowering institutions and citizens to responsibly navigate the digital space.

The law also empowers law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute cyber offenses, while requiring collaboration between the government, private sector, and international partners. With Senate approval secured, the bill will now be forwarded to the House of Representatives for concurrence, after which it will be sent to the President of Liberia for signing into law. Observers say the passage of the Cyber Crime Act could usher in a new era of digital governance for Liberia, particularly as the nation continues to expand its e-government services, online financial systems, and technology-driven sectors. 

“This legislation is not about controlling people’s opinions it’s about protecting Liberia’s future in a digital world,” Senator Dopoh affirmed. If enacted, the Cyber Crime Act of 2025 would position Liberia among the few West African nations with a dedicated national cybersecurity framework, helping the country better confront modern threats in the digital age.

Author: Zac T. Sherman