Cybercrime costs more than R1 billion each year and is escalating‚ the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development said on Friday.

The Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity Bill has been drafted to limit harm to individuals‚ business and the government. It aims to:

Define offences and prescribe penalties;

Regulate jurisdiction and powers to investigate‚ search and gain access to or seize items;

Regulate aspects of evidence; regulate aspects of international co-operation regarding investigations;

Identify and declare national critical information infrastructures and ways to protect these; and

Create obligations for electronic communications service providers regarding issues that affect cybersecurity.

The department has invited the public to comment on the Bill before November 30. Visit http://www.justice.gov.za/legislation/invitations/invites.htm.