A spate of new laws crack down on social justice and environmental activism
Police arrest a water protector protesting the construction of the Line 3 oil pipeline in Minnesota last January. | Photo by Kerem Yucel/AFP/Getty Images
A half-year after Donald Trump’s drubbing at the polls, the right-wing effort to criminalize dissent and protest among environmental and social justice activists continues to gain momentum.
In early May, Montana governor Greg Gianforte signed into law a bill designed to protect “critical infrastructure,” including gas and oil pipelines. The law defines infrastructure broadly, from wireless towers to prisons. Individuals who trespass, or merely “impede or inhibit operations” at these sites could face as much as 18 months in prison and $4,500 fines. Under the new law, protesters who cause more than $1,500 in damage could be faced with a maximum of $150,000 in fines and 30 years in prison. Organizations found to be involved in coordinating with th
Cyber criminals infiltrated a water treatment plant in Florida, United States, last month, trying to alter the chemical composition of the water supply. The real-world consequences of such a cyber attack are frightening. With increased digitisation of critical infrastructure and the ability for those with malicious intent to gain remote access to a plant’s computers, a picture of dystopian proportions emerges.
For developing economies such as South Africa, the knock-on effect from cyber attacks on critical infrastructure is potentially devastating. Imagine cyber criminals disrupting the logistics network for food, energy or vital medical supply chains.
Advertisement
Cyber security is largely absent from the South African Cybercrimes Bill, which is waiting to be signed into law. Concerns about government over-reach have driven the argument favouring a separate future bill on cyber security. Until such time, technology experts warn, best practices should be adopted to secure opera
SA ripe for the picking for political, critical infrast dailymaverick.co.za - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dailymaverick.co.za Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
COPS BUST 79 SUSPECTS FOR VANDALISIM By Tlangelani khosa Seized bakkie and equipment found during the arrest of the suspects at the mine
.
Mpumalanga Police are continuing to clamp down on suspects
who are vandalizing essential infrastructure in the mines and Eskom, which has
left the surrounding community without electricity.
This came after police continued to conduct a sting
operation between Monday, 01 and Thursday, 04 March 2021, at which 79 suspects
were arrested for Contravention of Critical Infrastructure Protection Act and
other related cases.
According to Mpumalanga Police Spokesperson Brigadier
Leonard Hlathi said police issued a warning last month, where 114 suspects were
arrested on various charges, including trespassing, possession of suspected