Technical

Computer System

Digital devices and networks, including cloud and IoT.

How the laws define this

Legislation consistently defines a computer system around the shared core of using single or interconnected computing devices to process or store data. However, these instruments diverge primarily in their breadth and explicit inclusion of modern technological layers. The Cyber Security Act, 2023 (সাইবার নিরাপত্তা আইন, ২০২৩) takes an expansive approach by explicitly bringing cloud services, IoT infrastructure, networks, and technical control requirements under its scope for protections and offences. By contrast, the Digital Security Act, 2018 targets operating collections of devices, programs, applications, networks, and associated data specifically to address unauthorised access, interference, and sabotage. Standing apart from both, the Computer Crime Proclamation No. 958/2016 offers a strictly functional definition restricted to any device or group of interconnected or related devices where at least one performs automatic processing of data pursuant to a program, without detailing specific modern components like cloud or IoT infrastructure.

Synthesised from the 3 statutory definitions below. Each one is quoted in full, with its source.

How jurisdictions differ

What is distinctive in each definition, binding law in force first. Showing 2 of the 3 instruments that define this term; all are listed under Definitions below.

Jurisdiction	Instrument	Status	What is distinctive
Bangladesh	Cyber Security Act, 2023	Repealed	Expands the term to explicitly encompass digital devices, systems, networks, components, cloud services and IoT infrastructure used to store, process or transmit data within the Act's scope for offences and protections.
Bangladesh	Digital Security Act, 2018	Repealed	Specifies the term as a collection of computing devices, programs, applications, associated data and networks targeted specifically for unauthorised access, interference and sabotage offences.

What it triggers

In Ethiopia, it triggers criminalization of cybercrimes and establishes procedural rules for digital evidence and law enforcement.source
Under Bangladesh's Cyber Security Act, 2023, it triggered offences, protections and technical control requirements until it was repealed.source
Under Bangladesh's Digital Security Act, 2018, it triggered offences and penalties related to unauthorised access, interference, sabotage, hacking, digital espionage until it was repealed.source

Definitions (3)

An expansive concept covering digital devices, systems, networks and components (including cloud services and IoT infrastructure) used to store, process or transmit data, and which fall within the Act's scope for offences, protections and technical control requirements.

Cyber Security Act, 2023 (সাইবার নিরাপত্তা আইন, ২০২৩)Definition 1 of 3

A collection of computing devices, programs, applications and associated data and networks operating together to process or store information; the Act targets unauthorised access, interference and sabotage of such systems and prescribes offences and penalties related to their compromise.

Digital Security Act, 2018Definition 2 of 3

Any device or a group of interconnected or related devices, one or more of which, pursuant to a program, performs automatic processing of data.

Computer Crime Proclamation No. 958/2016Definition 3 of 3

Not to be confused with

digital device

A digital device is a single electronic equipment capable of storing or processing digital data, whereas computer system definitions cover collections, groups or expansive networks of such devices.

Computer data

Computer data refers to data itself in digital form that is stored, processed or transmitted, while computer system encompasses the devices, networks or infrastructure handling that data.

protected systems

Protected systems are those subject to specific technical or administrative security measures, unlike computer system which is a broader term for data-processing devices or networks without requiring protection status.

Questions and answers

What makes Ethiopia's computer system definition different from Bangladesh's?

Ethiopia's definition focuses narrowly on devices performing automatic data processing under a program. Bangladesh's repealed laws broaden it to include networks, cloud, IoT and target specific cyber harms.

Does a computer system under these laws include IoT or cloud?

Ethiopia's definition does not explicitly mention IoT or cloud. Bangladesh's Cyber Security Act, 2023 explicitly included cloud services and IoT infrastructure until repealed.

What offences apply to computer systems in these instruments?

Ethiopia's law criminalizes cybercrimes generally. Bangladesh's repealed Digital Security Act targeted unauthorised access, interference, sabotage, hacking and digital espionage.