Malawi Police PROs Trained to Combat Cybercrime and Protect Public Online

Malawi: The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) is training Malawi Police Public Relations Officers (PROs) to help them detect and report cybercrime as cases of misinformation and fake news, as well as an increase in cybercrimes, are becoming a cause for concern for the nation, writes Gloria Masanza-Kanyang’wa.

The training, according to MACRA, is aimed at police spokespersons because they are the guardians of information about the crime.

The first round of training was for spokespersons from the southern policing region, and a second is scheduled to begin later this weekend in the northern region.

The Lilongwe training is the second round of training.

The training, according to Inspector General of Police Merlyne Yolamu, has come at a good time as the police struggle to deal with new issues related to cybercrime and find its perpetrators.

The Inspector General of Police added that the knowledge gained from the training will assist the police in knowing how to help the public if they become involved in or deceived by cybercrime.

The Director General of MACRA, Daud Suleiman, stated that the training will inform police spokespersons about the implementation of the Cyber Security Act and assist them in protecting the public from such incidents.

Suleiman emphasized the importance of training police spokespersons to combat the spread of misinformation and ensure the security of the public in the online world, as more and more people are using the internet.

Over 50 police spokespersons from the Central, Central West, and Central East Policing Regions have participated in the training.