By Anthony Henry

The Government is proposing new accountability rules for digital investigations and tougher penalties for those who knowingly facilitate cybercrime, as debate continues on the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act, 2026, in Parliament.

Opening the debate, Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister (Science, Technology and Special Projects), Dr Andrew Wheatley, said the Bill includes strengthened procedural safeguards governing how digital evidence is handled during police operations.

Under the proposed amendments, the commissioner of police will be required to develop and implement a Code of Standard Procedures to guide search and seizure activities involving computers and electronic data. The measure is intended to ensure proper documentation, preservation and oversight in cybercrime investigations, an area where cases often hinge on the integrity of digital evidence.

The legislation also creates a new offence targeting individuals responsible for premises used in cybercrime operations. Property owners, occupiers or managers who knowingly allow their premises to be used to commit offences under the Act could face up to 15 years’ imprisonment on conviction in the Circuit Court.

The Bill further repeals a compensation provision in the existing Cybercrimes Act. Victims of cyber offences would instead access remedies under the broader compensation framework in the Criminal Justice (Administration) Act, which the Government says offers more comprehensive redress.

Other procedural updates include expanding the category of officials who may apply for the forfeiture of seized computer materials and updating legal definitions, including those relating to digital “keys,” to reflect modern authentication and encryption practices.

Dr Wheatley told the House that the reforms aim to ensure Jamaica’s cybercrime laws keep pace with rapidly evolving technology while maintaining safeguards that protect citizens’ rights and public confidence in law enforcement.