South Africa - ECT Act-2002: Electronic Comms & Transactions

The Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 intends:

• to provide for the facilitation and regulation of electronic communications and transactions;
• to provide for the development of a national e-strategy for the Republic;
• to promote universal access to electronic communications and transactions and the use of electronic transactions by SMMEs;
• to provide for human resource development in electronic transactions;
• to prevent abuse of information systems;
• to encourage the use of e-government services; and
• to provide for matters connected therewith

The objects of this Act are to enable and facilitate electronic communications and transactions in the public interest, and for that purpose to-

• recognise the-importance of the information-economy for the economic and social prosperity of the Republic;
• promote universal access primarily in underserviced areas;
• promote the undcrstanding and, acceptance of and growth in the number of electronic transactions in the Republic;
• remove and prevent barriers to electronic communications and transactions in the Republic;
• promote legal certainty and confidence in respect of electronic communications and transactions;
• promote technology neutrality in the application of legislation to electronic communications and transactions;
• promote e-government services and electronic communications and transactions with public and private bodies, institutions and citizens;
• ensure that electronictransactions i n the Republic conform to the highest international standards:
• encourage investment and innovation in respect of electronic transactions in the Republic;
• develop a safe, secure and effective environment for the consumer. business and the Government to conduct and use electronic transactions;
• promote the development of electronic transactions services which are responsive to the needs of users andconsumers;
• ensure that, in relation to the provision of electronic transactions services,the special needs of particular communities and, areas and the disabled are duly taken into account;
• ensure compliance with accepted International technical standards in the provision and development of electronic communications and transactions;
• promote the stability of electronic transactions in the Republic;
• promote the development of human resources in the electronic transactions
• promote SMMEs within the electronic transactions environment;
• ensure efficient use and management of the .za domain name space; and
• ensure that the national interest of the Republic is not compromised through provision and development of electronic communications and transactions;