By Obrein Simasiku
WINDHOEK – The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) is set to complete the Electronic Communication and Cybercrime Bill that seeks to protect citizens from defamatory content being posted on social media networks such as Twitter, Facebook and others.
“The Government and Communication Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) are hard at work to finalize a predictable and enabling legal framework for electronic communication and cybercrime, which in this case has already been drafted,” stated the MICT minister, Joël Kaapanda on Monday when he officially opened the two-day Southern African Broadcasting Association (SABA) workshop on information ethics that ended yesterday.
Kaapanda said social media remains a challenge regarding the regulation of ethics evolving around it.
“The strict regulation of social media proved to be challenging as we are guided by constitutional provisions relating to freedom of expression, freedom of the media and privacy,” he stated.
The Bill once it becomes law will enable aggrieved persons to request the service provider to remove any offensive image or information posted on social media.
Kaapanda urged those operating in the information dissemination industry and the media to take the responsibility to act with accountability by reflecting on issues of ethical behaviour in the ongoing transition from analogue to digital.
“Where your right ends that is where other persons’ rights begin,” said the information minister who urged fellow citizens to refrain from causing harm to others.
He said that understanding issues surrounding multimedia broadcasting such as print, online and social media will assist in building a stronger future in the media as academia and policy makers.
He reiterated that advances made in ICT are central to regional developments that have created new opportunities for promoting sustainable development, alleviating poverty, achieving universal services and deepening democratic and good governance.
Kaapanda said Namibia’s ICT infrastructure developments such as its investment in the West African Cable System (WACS) and landing point that became operational in 2011, have seen Namibia creating its own Internet Exchange Point (IXP) and upgrading of the government IT network, which have led to the successful migration to DTT and the introduction of mobile 4G services.
The developments brought by WACS are said to have improved Namibia’s international ICT ranking to 105 among 142 countries.