Dr Raj Chintaram: “We are under constant threat of cybercrime”

On the occasion of International Youth Day, The Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) is organising a Pan-African Youth Forum on Internet Governance. The Chairperson of ECOSOCC, Infrastructure & Energy Cluster Committee, Dr Raj Chintaram, elaborates on this theme and how Mauritius can benefit from it. He clearly specifies that Mauritius is at the risk of cybercrime. 

The Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) of the African Union is organising the Pan-African Youth Forum on Internet Governance. Why this theme?
On 12th Aug 2018, we will all commemorate the International Youth Day.  The ECOSOCC Pan-African Youth Forum is a new activity whose inaugural edition (at small scale) we are holding in Mauritius. Africa’s prosperity lies in its youth; we have the highest population under the age of 35 years. 

The African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection has been adopted by the 23rd Assembly of Heads of States and Governments held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, in June 2014. The objective of the AU Convention is to get a common approach on the security of the cyberspace in Africa and set up minimum standards and procedures to define a credible digital environment for developing the electronic communications and guarantee the respect of the privacy on line. 

ECOSOCC, as per its mandate, is trying to bring the above AU Convention to the African populace. Cybercrime, Internet Ethics and Cyber Security all pose threats to our youth, which defines this theme for open discussion with academics, industry experts and other specialists were more than ever required; justifying the choice of holding such an event in support to the International Youth Day.

Has the use of Internet known a major evolution in recent years?
Initially started for Research/Military, internet became more popular for communication and entertainment. But now the trend is towards Commerce. This is very obvious, as now there is a wider range from blockchain technology to Fintech. On Saturday, we will be discussing how to harness the untapped potentials of the WWW and also take stock of the dangers and challenges.

What are your expectations regarding the outcome of this forum?
It is a small scale activity primarily aimed at raising awareness and popularizing the AU Convention on Internet Governance. Nonetheless, we look forward to chart out a road map of actions for future interventions. One of the pillars of the forum will look at ethical concerns regarding the internet, which has since long been disregarded. 

Do you believe Mauritius is under the threat of cyber crime?
We are under constant threat. I am not an IT expert though ICT is one of the portfolios falling under my jurisdiction at African Union’s ECOSOCC but yet we are all exposed to cyber threats. 

Should we educate and sensitize our youngsters in relation to the use of Internet?
Why just youngsters? ‘Internet Literacy’ is as important as numeracy today.

Is ECOSOCC having other interesting projects for the Mauritian Youth?
ECOSOCC is an advisory organ of the African Union; so it carries out activities for all the 55 Member States. ECOSOCC has a mandate to popularize and domesticate the AU’s Agenda 2063 in partnership with Government of Member States. We do not work on projects exclusively for Mauritian Youth; rather we provide a medium for our youth to integrate and interact on the continent.

How can Mauritius benefit further from the presence of ECOSOCC?
You need to read over 500 pages of documentation on the role, mechanism modus operandi of ECOSOCC. To cut it short, ECOSOCC is a major organ of the African Union; it works along other organs like Pan African Parliament, African Court, AU Advisory Board on Corruption, just to name a few. Each Member State needs to set up a National Chapter as the Statutes of the ECOSOCC.  Obviously a National Chapter helps to bring the AU to the mass. However, do note that this activity is not being organized by the National Chapter but ECOSOCC (Core) itself.

Otherwise, you are well-known for your environmental projects. How far do you believe that the concept of sustainability is understood in the country?
In the past, I used to lecture and you will be amazed to learn that many people working in media outlets were not aware of the very concept of sustainability. This term is widely misunderstood; even among our policy makers.

When we talk about sustainability, we should not refer solely to ‘physical environment’; everyone has an ‘inner environment’ by extrapolation such as values, culture, traditions and so on. So, any development which is done at the expense of local people’s values, traditions and other customs cannot be considered as sustainable. Well, we have evolved now; the trend is more about inclusive development.

If I understand and limit sustainability to merely environmental issues, then I need to say it’s sad that we claim ourselves to be the ‘Star & Key of the Indian Ocean’. I travel often across the African continent and I am ashamed to say that I am not proud when I witness how far we are lagging behind in terms of environmental initiatives compared to the continent.

I would be blunt on one point: I was invited at an event on the occasion of the Earth Day earlier this year. The theme is to ‘End Plastic Pollution’, but ironically, after the event; guests were handed ‘nasty’ plastic takeaways packed with cakes and other stuff. Can’t We WALK the TALK?

Casting aside my hat as an ECOSOCC official, and wearing that of an advocate for environmental citizenship, I make an appeal to all Governmental bodies and even the corporate sector to ‘Ban Single use Plastics’ at ALL functions. Come with alternatives and show people that there are other options. 

Over a decade now, the Earth Hour campaign brought some changes and now since last year, we are spearheading the ‘Let’s Do It World Cleanup Campaign’. We are planning a massive cleanup campaign in over 150 countries on 15th Sept 2018. Shortly, we will release more trash mapping applications.