Internet privacy: A survey of cyber abuses and policy improvements in Ghana

Abstract

The exponential growth of the Internet and its ability for instantaneous communication anywhere and anytime has already revolutionized the individuals’ ways of life, organizations and businesses activities. Simultaneously, the internet has equally provided us with advanced tools and techniques to carryout unlawful activity. It is often common of late to hear of privacy infringement, identity theft and internet fraud that would never have materialized without the internet. This research employed mixed method approach to investigate the current level of knowledge the internet users in Ghana have on internet privacy and the abuses that can occur, understand the current policies as well as Ghanaians perceptions and finally to propose a policy recommendation to help curb and or eliminate the growing occurrences. This information will help to expose the loopholes and also act as a necessary tool to draw attention to the Government on the need for effective policy reforms on internet privacy abuse. It was realized that too much time has been wasted and so much damage has been done but to avoid further occurrence of the abuse and also to ensure the security of internet users in Ghana, the issue of internet privacy abuse has to be addressed urgently