According to a report by both companies, this joint mechanism will enable more efficient investigation of breaches on issues such as confidentiality, integrity, availability of data and systems.
This group faces child pornography, computer fraud, intellectual property infringement and money laundering related to cybercrime, it said.
The Minister of Security Juan Manuel Pino; and the prosecutor, Javier Caraballo, explained to the press that due to the increase in illegal activities in the digital world, this project is being adopted or facilitated by the internet or other forms of electronic technology.
The agreement includes, among other things, the creation of procedural manuals and the functions that regulate the actions of the members of the group.
It also calls for the development of common priorities and joint deployment plans and the selection of their representatives, as well as the provision of training and technical assistance to improve investigative capacity.
It is also highlighted that this investigative team will be made up of officials from the National Directorate of Judicial Investigations, the Police Intelligence Service and the Prosecutor’s Office.
Last February, MP Kayra Harding, first vice president of the National Assembly (parliament), presented to the plenary session an initiative aimed at amending legislation to prosecute and punish computer or cybercrime.
The proposal, presented jointly with the independent legislator Juan Diego Vásquez, arose from the complaints that became known in the networks and media.
Harding explained that the use of the internet is a tool that makes work easier and has been demonstrated in the time of Covid-19, representing a major global advance; However, activities that are outside the law and classified as “cybercrime or computer crime” are also increasing.
Given this scenario, he stressed that Panamanian legislation is flawed, citing reports of current events affecting women and minors.
The bill provides penalties of up to five to 10 years in prison for anyone who uses violence, intimidation or a serious threat to attempt to benefit or harm a third party.
It also states that anyone who improperly confiscates or uses data stored in a computer or electronic system, in whole or in part, shall be punished with imprisonment for a period of four to six years; and for public or private infrastructure between six and eight years.
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