We the undersigned demand a withdrawal of the Cybercrimes Bill's proposed regulations on 'malicious communications', which could lead to censorship on social media!

We need to send a message to Minister of State Security David Mahlobo: #HandsOffSocialMedia

State Security Minister David Mahlobo has stated that government is considering regulations for social media, with the aim of dealing with “fake news” and “false narratives”. [1]

That is exactly what the new Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity Bill wants to do. [2]

The Bill will make 'malicious communications' a crime, including publishing anything which is 'inherently false' - but who decides what is false or not?

Social media platforms are the place that millions of South Africans come to access and share information freely. This is where we exercise our freedom of expression. It’s a vital part of democracy.

The Minister of State Security cannot be given the power decide what news is “fake” and which narratives are “false” —democracy is about citizens exercising their own judgement and deciding for themselves!

In fact, we have seen across the world that governments that try to “regulate” social media in the name of “national security” has led directly to internet censorship and a clampdown on freedom of expression [3] . In the last year alone these include Brazil, China, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe. We will not let Mzansi go the same way!

Citizens have spoken: #HandsOffSocialMedia! No spooks regulating the internet!

LINKS:

[1] http://www.r2k.org.za/2017/03/07/state-security-hands-off-the-internet-no-to-spooks-regulating-social-media/

[2] http://www.groundup.org.za/article/cybercrimes-bill-threatens-our-freedom/

[3] http://www.r2k.org.za/2017/03/07/state-security-hands-off-the-internet-no-to-spooks-regulating-social-media/