The Joint Select Committee reviewing the Cyber Crimes Act is recommending harsher penalties for offences against a child.

Telecommunication Minister Daryl Vaz, who chairs the committee, said the recommendation is that there should be a distinction between, the penalties for offences committed by children, and by adults.

Regarding computer related fraud or forgery, it was recommended that consideration be given to the introduction of an offence, or category of offence, that treats with the possession, creation or reproduction of electronic copies of forged documents.

The minister said the committee expressed concern about the frequent sharing of images of scenes of accidents involving personal injury or death, as this could place the person depicted in the images, their family, and others in distress.