Cybercrimes and Other Related Crimes Act, 2021 (Act 59 of 2021)

The Cybercrimes and Other Related Crimes Act, 2021 (Act 59 of 2021) is Seychelles's principal cybercrime statute. It was passed by the National Assembly and gazetted in December 2021 and brought into force by the Cybercrimes and Other Related Crimes Act, 2021 (Commencement) Notice (S.I. 15 of 2022); it was subsequently amended by the Cybercrimes and Other Related Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act 23 of 2025). The Act repealed and replaced the Computer Misuse Act 1998, which had been limited to unauthorised access, access with criminal intent and unauthorised modification. The 2021 Act establishes a modern, Budapest Convention-style catalogue of offences. Core computer-integrity offences include illegal access (causing a computer system to perform a function with intent to secure unauthorised access to data, punishable by up to 5 years), illegal access with intent to commit a further offence (up to 20 years), illegal interception, illegal data and system interference, and the misuse of devices. Computer-related offences include computer-related forgery and computer-related fraud. The Act also creates content and conduct offences, including the use of digital platforms to send offensive communications with intent to harass, the non-consensual sharing of private or indecent images, and child pornography. On the procedural side the Act confers powers exercised through the courts, including expedited preservation orders, production orders for stored data, warrants for the search and seizure of computer systems and data, and orders for the real-time collection of traffic and content data, together with provisions on the admissibility of electronic evidence and on international cooperation and mutual legal assistance. Enforcement is carried out by the Seychelles Police Force under the supervision of the courts. The reforms were presented by Government as necessary to address fraud, harassment and abuse committed on social media and digital platforms.

1. 1Repealed and replaced the Computer Misuse Act 1998
2. 2Computer-integrity offences: illegal access (up to 5 years), access with criminal intent (up to 20 years), illegal interception, data and system interference and misuse of devices
3. 3Computer-related forgery and fraud
4. 4Content and conduct offences: offensive communication with intent to harass, non-consensual sharing of private or indecent images and child pornography
5. 5Procedural powers via court order: expedited preservation, production orders, search-and-seizure warrants and real-time collection of traffic and content data
6. 6Provisions on electronic evidence and international cooperation/mutual legal assistance
7. 7Commenced by S.I. 15 of 2022 and amended by the (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act 23 of 2025); enforced by the Seychelles Police Force