Bills to regulate social media on the cards – Mushimba

Tue, 16 May 2017 10:45:58 +0000

By KALOBWE BWALYA

GOVERNMENT is planning to introduce four more bills to take to parliament among them the cyber security bill to control social media abuse and protect people from being exploited.

Transport and Communication minister Brian Mushimba said the other bills are the cybercrime bill, cyber security bill and the data protection bill.

Speaking on the Patriotic Front Interactive forum on Sunday in Lusaka the Minister said the cyber security bill will clearly stipulate the punishment for abusers of social media.

Mr Mushimba said the bills were not meant to track down people anyhow because such planned laws were already there in developed countries like the USA, to give direction on how the internet environment out to be managed.

Mr Mushimba said the cybercrime Bill will criminalize computer –based offences and network related crime, provide for investigation and collection of evidence and also provide for the admission of electronic evidence for such offences.

He explained that Data protection Bill will stipulate data principles that include unauthorized interception and monitoring of communications as well as illegal disclosure of communications records.

“All the four bills are going to enhance the existing tools in terms of making sure there is credibility and protection that needs to be there in the space. We cannot have people insult and abuse others,

“Government will not temper with the freedom of Zambians with regard to social media, but is just asking for responsible behavior from citizens,” Mr Mushimba said.

Mr Mushimba stressed out that Zambia is in a very good position as a third world country because what they are trying to address are things that were done years ago in developed countries, so we have where to look up to.

Mr Mushimba also urged Zambians not to abuse such freedoms which were not in other countries because soon, culprits might have to face the wrath of the law.

“Government has also set up a Computer Incident Response Team (CERT) aimed at addressing cyber security risks, building local cyber security capabilities and capacities, building cyber security awareness amongst public and private sector organizations and national infrastructure and key industries as well general public and ICT user,” he said.