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    Status regarding Budapest Convention

Status regarding Budapest Convention

Status : Party Declarations and reservations : See legal profile

Cybercrime policies/strategies

The Ministry of research, innovation and digital policy of the Republic of Cyprus published a new “Cybersecurity Strategy” [in Greek] in 2020. This document reviews the previous national strategy (2013) and focuses on 7 areas identified as priorities in the Cypriot response to cyber threats:

  • Organization the different competent State bodies,
  • Creation of an integrated legislative and regulatory framework,
  • Creation and/or adaptation of the necessary structures and mechanisms,
  • Formulating of technical and organizational measures and procedures relating to the preparation, protection, detection and response to cyber threats and other events,
  • Development of the necessary skills and appropriate training,
  • Effective cooperation between the State and the competent bodies of the public/private sectors,
  • Development of research and innovation.

Specialised institutions

The Ministry of Justice and Public Order, together with the Cyprus Police, are the authorities responsible for the prevention and combating of cybercrime.

The Office for Combating Cybercrime (O.C.C.). The specialised body for cybercrime investigation is the Office for Combating Cybercrime of Cyprus Police. The Office was established in September 2007 based on Police Order No. 3/45 in order to implement the Law on the Convention on Cybercrime (Ratifying Law) L.22(III)/2004. This legislation covers hacking, child pornography, racism and fraud committed via electronic communication and the Internet. According to Police Order No. 3/45, the Office is responsible for the investigation of crimes committed via the Internet or via computers and at the same time it is responsible for the investigation of all offences that violate the rules laid down in Law 22(III)/2004.

The Digital Evidence Forensic Laboratory (DEFL). The DEFL was established in 2009 and is responsible for the effective examination of electronic evidence. DEFL is staffed with specialised officers for the collection and forensic analysis of electronic devices. Their mission is the collection and forensic analysis of digital devices as well as the presentation of expert scientific evidence to the courts.

The Digital Security Authority (DSA) (https://dsa.cy/)

National Computer Security Incident Response Team of Cyprus (CSIRT-CY) (https://csirt.cy)

Office of the Commissioner for Personal Data Protection (OCPDP) (https://www.dataprotection.gov.cy/dataprotection/dataprotection.nsf/home_el/home_el?opendocument)

Office of the Commissioner of Electronic Communications and Postal Regulation (OCECPR) (https://ocecpr.ee.cy/)

 

Jurisprudence/case law

Sources and links

  • GENVAL – Evaluation report on the seventh round of mutual evaluations "The practical implementation and operation of European policies on prevention and combating Cybercrime" – Report on Cyprus
  • Other GENVAL 7th round evaluation reports
  • The Digital Security Authority (DSA) (https://dsa.cy/)