Cybercrime Preparedness A Critical Snapshot of BRICS Countries

Abstract

As the global stage prepares for the many benefits and new opportunities brought about by the advances in information and communications technology (ICT), particularly in the context of the fourth industrial revolution, there is little doubt that these new opportunities will usher in new challenges and threats deriving from the growing misuse of ICTs for criminal activities and the increasing malicious use of ICTs by state and non-state actors. Against this backdrop this paper provides a snapshot of cybersecurity ‘preparedness’ on the part of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, (BRICS) countries, to mitigate these challenges. This has been obtained through discussion of literature and media reports written on the topic and through content analysis of some critical policy documents that govern cybersecurity frameworks in the BRICS countries. The paper makes recommendations for the BRICS Think Tanks Council (BTTC) to play a more significant role in shaping policy initiatives collectively, while maintaining sovereignty, should it see a role for itself in shaping a new world order.