The development of information and communications technologies (ICTs) enables businesses and individuals to communicate and engage in transactions with other parties electronically, instantaneously and internationally. This gives rise to a variety of legal and regulatory issuesfor policymakers, from the validity of electronic methods of contracting and the security risks associated with them, to concerns over cybercrime and the ability to protect intellectual property rights online. ICT policymakers are constantly facing challenges in dealing withthese issues. The promotion of harmonized law reforms, which would facilitate the sound development of eCommerce and related activities, that citizens have appropriate protection against harmful behaviour, is a way to address these challenges. The guide examines the legal issues raised in the areas of legal infrastructure, certainty, security, protection and deterrence and highlights relevant developments and best practice initiatives at an international level and regional level; aswell as within the seven SPECA member countries: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The guide concludes by making recommendations to the SPECA member countries about how to facilitate the law reform process with respect to ICT issues. In English and Russian.
