Like seriously, is this really happening in Africa? Just few days ago, we read here that Uganda has passed into law imposing a tax of 200 shillings (N20) on users of social media.
In other news, WhatsApp group administrators in Zambia will now be required to register the groups and set up codes of ethics or risk being arrested if there is a breach.
The new rule was announced by Zambia Information and Communications Technology (ZICTA) boss Mofyta Chisala on Thursday, in a move widely perceived by many as efforts by the Zambian government to control free speech.
In his words,
We are coming up with a law where now every administrator must be registered so that he can put ethics or codes of conduct for anyone who is going to be on that blog because at the end of the day, we are going to arrest that person who created the WhatsApp group or the editor or co-odinator of the blog and that should not be the end game.
Why Should WhatsApp Admin be Arrested Instead of The Member Who Posted The message
If you are an admin of a group, you are the ‘intermediary’ who created the platform (the group). You should be able to regulate what is posted in your group.
WhatsApp next update should be able to give Admin privileges from restricting members from posting in a group.
Can They Really Enforce This Law?
First of all, Zambia is not technologically advanced enough to track the person who generates the questionable message.
So if you are planning to open your own WhatsApp group, you have to think twice otherwise you’ll be held responsible for member’s offensive posts.
This is getting too much, perhaps Idi Amin has resurrected in Uganda. They are in trouble!
This is hilarious. Africans will always be Africans
Okay Noted……
Life of tyranny. Dictatorship’s back in Uganda
Is this a joke or what…
Africa my Africa, this is not funny at all. What these countries are pushing restricting people’s right by the day. I hope our Government won’t adopt such a law because it’s going to face stiff resistance from the Nigerian populace
i don’t know what is wrong with Africa at all
something like this can’t happen in Nigeria
How will they know about the groups created?
that one is not life at all. at this point I’m quite glad I’m a Nigerian
All these news got me praying for Nigeria.
At a time when freedom of expression is needed most, African countries are looking for ways to restrict it… I’m just tired of all this nonsense
My problem now is that the Nigerian government might one day decide to fellow suit.
Nigerians like copying
Omg! This is really disheartening
African countries just love playing copy cat…
Lol, i no fit laugh abeg
This is unbelievable, of all things that needs attention in their country….
Africa ? nawaa
Our leaders in Africa ? are becoming schizophrenic and delusional
I really dnt think dis will work but y is it that in Africa we dnt just think straight.
Registering a whatsapp group is total madness
This is really unfair. It’s a total gross of rights violation
Hahahahahahaha???
There was a country
This cannot happen in Nigeria that I know
#ThisIsAfrica where Yeye tin fil happen at anytim….. still dey behaved lyk 70s