Senator the Hon. Angelica O'Donoghue has thrown her support behind the Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill, 2026, declaring that Antigua and Barbuda must modernise its laws to confront the growing threat of cybercrime and other technology-driven offences.
Making her maiden contribution in the Senate, O'Donoghue argued that criminal activity has evolved significantly in recent years and that lawmakers bear a responsibility to ensure legislation keeps pace with technological change while protecting citizens, businesses and public institutions.
She described cybercrime as one of the most significant criminal challenges facing modern societies and called for updated legal powers to allow law enforcement agencies to investigate increasingly sophisticated electronic offences, subject to judicial oversight.
Drawing on personal experience, O'Donoghue disclosed that she had been the victim of a major cyberattack that compromised both her personal and business digital platforms, which were subsequently sold to third parties. The incident, she said, illustrated the serious financial and emotional toll cybercrime can inflict on victims.
"Crime in 2026 is no longer limited to housebreaking or physical assault," she told the Upper House. "The crime that we now face is increasingly electronic in nature, and our legislation must keep pace with that reality."
The senator outlined how the amendment strengthens the country's capacity to investigate electronic crimes. Key provisions include expanded cooperation among law enforcement agencies, updated investigative powers to reflect modern digital storage systems, court-authorised production orders for access to electronic information, and increased penalties for those who fail to comply with lawful requests during criminal investigations.
O'Donoghue noted that electronic crimes frequently involve complex digital networks spanning multiple jurisdictions, making closer collaboration among investigative agencies essential.
She also defended the bill's proposed penalties as proportionate to the losses suffered by victims of online fraud, identity theft, cyberbullying and other electronic offences. Specifically, she pointed to the proposed daily fine of $5,000 for failing to comply with a lawful production order, arguing it is modest when weighed against the hundreds of thousands of dollars victims can lose through online scams and financial fraud.
The senator cited the increasing number of public awareness campaigns by financial institutions and the Antigua and Barbuda Bankers Association as further evidence of cybercrime's growing prevalence and the need for stronger legislative protections.
O'Donoghue commended the Ministry of Legal Affairs and Members of Parliament for advancing the legislation, and pledged to support continued efforts to modernise the nation's laws and make legislation more accessible to the public.
"Every generation of Parliament has a responsibility to leave our laws better than how we met them," she said. "It is our responsibility to ensure our legislation prepares our citizens for the future."
The Senate subsequently approved the Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill, 2026, completing its parliamentary passage as part of the government's broader efforts to strengthen Antigua and Barbuda's legal response to cybercrime.
