Government Senator Christian Tavares-Finson has thrown his support behind amendments to the Cybercrimes Act, which were approved in the Upper House on Friday, describing the legislation as important to manage developments in cyber-space.

The amendments seek to strengthen Jamaica’s cybercrime framework, providing stronger protection for children and sharper tools for law enforcement and prosecutors.

They also update definitions and offences that reflect how harm travels through digital platforms.

Tavares-Finson reasoned that the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act 2026 is fundamentally about protecting Jamaicans in an increasingly borderless digital world.

He told Parliament that the amended act seeks to restore and reinforce a factor which is essential to national progress.

While identifying that factor as trust, Tavares-Finson said the legislation will build confidence in areas such as digital banking, trust in online commerce, trust in our communications and the State’s ability to safeguard its citizens against modern threats.

“This legislation confronts real and growing dangers. It responds to the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, the rise in scams and fraud affecting families and businesses, and the misuse of digital tools to deceive, exploit, and extort. At the same time, it strengthens enforcement while maintaining important safeguards and respecting the broader legal framework that protects individual rights and personal data”, Tavares-Finson commented.

The Government Senator said he wishes to make it clear that the legislation does not take a stand against technology.

“It stands for trust, for safety, and for confidence in Jamaica’s digital future. We cannot build a modern, thriving digital economy if our people feel that the online space is unregulated or unsafe”, he concluded.