I am impressed with Cyberlaw@SA– it is one of the surest signs of judicial proactivity in South Africa. Using their expertise, but lacking sure and clear precedents, the authors have stretched themselves to determine direction in law and to guide the uninformed in a variety of legal dispensations. The contents of the book are evidence of great dedication and proactive legal writing.
Adv. Willem Heath SC
Chief Executive Officer – Heath Specialist Consultants, Corporate and Specialist Legislation Advisory Consultant
The government has made enormous strides towards securing e-commerce in South Africa. Having set the legal framework, it has embarked on several new initiatives, among them, the e-government initiative. It is in this context that the promise of the Internet has been the subject of keen scrutiny by SARS. Cyberlaw@SA II was not only long overdue, but has also become a necessity in casting light on various unresolved issues.
Pravin Gordhan
Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service
Computer viruses, interception of personal email, online tax filing, hacking into local bank accounts, illegal music downloads, email scams, identity theft, online contracts, digital disclaimers … cyberlaw has arrived in South Africa!
Equipped with laptops and cellphones, a new breed of cyber lawyers, accountants and academics has pioneered the e-enablement of South African law. The sixteen chapters of this, second edition of Cyberlaw@SA– The law of the Internet in South Africa, were written by these experts, creating the most comprehensive South African authority on a variety of topics that include:
– the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002
– IT risk management, cyber liability and dispute resolution
– online credit card payments
– the taxation of e-commerce
– telecommunication licences and regulation
– crimes such as hacking, computer viruses and online harassment
– Internet defamation, pornography and hate speech
– privacy and the interception of online communications
– online consumer protection and spamming
– electronic signatures, encryption and authentication
– online contracts and software patents
– trademarks and domain names
– digital copyright and online infringement.
The borderless nature of the Internet conflicts with the local application of laws. Cyberlaw@SA II addresses this conflict; although the focus is South African, reference is made to international precedents. The informal and accessible nature of the Internet is replicated in this book, which readers will find practical and easy to understand, yet academically sound – a must read for students, lawyers, auditors, IT managers, company directors and all those using technology “legally” to make life easier.
Visit the official web site www.cyberlawsa.co.za for regular updates, court cases, legislation and more.
Practical “IT Risk Check List” for company directors and compliance officers is included in the book.