Cllr. Johnson Backs Liberia's Cybercrime Law

Monrovia, Liberia: Seasoned Liberian Lawyer, Cllr. Arthur Johnson, has stated that Liberia's Cybercrime Law is not a unique legal practice.

In August 2026, Liberian President Joseph Boakai signed a Cybercrime and Data Protection Act into law.

The legislation criminalizes unauthorized access to computer systems, illegal interception of data, identity theft, publication of fake information on the internet and online harassment, among other offenses.

However, the legal luminary, Cllr. Arthur Johnson, argued that cybercrime laws are practiced in most countries, including developed and developing nations.

According to him, the application of the law in Liberia should not be viewed as a way of suppressing free speech, but as preventing acts that constitute crimes through social media.

Cllr. Johnson furthered that some countries, including the United States, are even enforcing the law at both federal and state levels.

The cybercrime law is enforced in Liberia as a national criminal offense. The law empowers enforcement agencies to investigate digital offenses in conformity with the Criminal Procedure Law of Liberia.

It allows authorities to conduct searches and seizures of computer systems and intercept electronic communications in case of suspected offenses.

The act also provides for the incarceration of individuals where guilt is determined.

In a statement on his official social media handle, Cllr. Arthur Johnson noted that many countries enact the law to prevent citizens from Cyber Terror, Computer crimes, Online banking fraud, Online credit card fraud, and tax fraud, among other concerns.

"The application of Liberia's cybercrime law does not aim to suppress free speech"

"Its goal is to prevent crimes committed through social media. All developed and developing nations have cybercrime laws. Even in the USA, they are enforced at both federal and state levels", he emphasized.

Meanwhile, the Cybercrime Law remains at the center of debate in Liberia. Some prominent citizens, including renowned Human Rights Lawyer Tiawon Gongloe, have criticized the enactment of the law.

Gongloe argued that several provisions of the Act are inconsistent with the Constitution of Liberia.

He specifically pointed out section 19 of the Act, which criminalizes the publication of false or misleading information on the internet.

The Human Rights Lawyer raised concern about the potential impact of the law, saying that criminalizing cyberspace interferes with freedom of expression.

According to him, Freedom of Expression is a constitutional right enshrined in Article 15 of the Liberian 1986 Constitution. He said criminalizing certain online messaging could violate citizens' constitutional free speech right.

As the law remains debated, the government of Liberia has maintained that the decision is meant to protect the cyberspace in Liberia.