Regulation of Cybercafés in Nigeria

Background

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).

Regulation according to the Hornby, (2000) is an official rule made by a government or some other authority. The rules, laws and acts enacted by government in order to regulate the behaviour and activities of individuals and organizations are regulations.

Cyber crime has to do with unlawful conduct carried out with the use of computers, electronic and ancillary devices. It involves disruption of network traffic: denial of service attacks/e-mail bombing, creation/distribution of viruses, identity theft, cyber stalking, cyber squatting, pornography, extortion, fraud and impersonation. (Adomi & Igun, 2007).