Abstract
The purpose of this chapter is to discuss regulation of cybercafés in Nigeria. It describes cyber crime in relation to cybercafé, the incidents of cybercrime as well as crime associated with cyber usage. The chapter reveals why cybercafés are used as havens for cybercrimes in Nigeria and looks at efforts made by Nigerian government to regulate cybercafé as well as challenges of regulating cybercafés in the country.
TopBackground
A cybercafé is a general place where people can access the internet for a fee. A cybercafé is a place where people can get connected to the internet by using publicly accessible computer. It could have 10 or more computers for clients, devices (printers, scanners, routes etc) and a server used for a remote administration and which share common resources. (Ajewole, 2008)
Cybercafé could be described as a virtual market where all kinds of business transactions take place. Adomi, Okiy and Ruteyan, (2003) define cybercafés as places where entrepreneurs provide internet public access services for a fee. They have been variously described as places where people of diverse culture and characters meet and engages in internet surfing and e- communication. There is proliferation of cybercafés especially in developing countries because of two strong drives: because people want to make money by opening/operating cybercafés and many users want to surf the internet which offer easy access to news reports, chat rooms, pornography, gambling, exchange of letters and so forth (Igun, 2008). Cybercafé play an important role in accessing information and communication technology (ICT) particularly in region of economic deprivation or low infrastructural development (Adomi, Okiy & Ruteyan, 2003; Mutala, 2003; Adomi, 2008).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Combat: This means to fight or stop something from getting worse.
Fraudsters: Are individuals that are involved in sending messages to internet users by deceiving them.
Scam: It is a clever and dishonest act/plan for making money.
Cyber Crime: This is referred to as criminal activity committed on the internet.
Pornography: This is a sexual act or pictures on the Net that makes people feel sexually excited or offensive.
Spamming: This is the act of sending unsolicited messages to many users at a time.
Perpetrate: To commit crime or to do something wrong or evil.
Transnational Crime: Are crime committed between countries without being based in a particular country.