The Zimbabwean Cabinet has finally approved the Cyber Crime, Security and Data Protection Bill that was drafted in 2016. The bill will now be passed down to parliament for debate before being passed into law.
The Cyber Crime, Security and Data Protection Bill aims to combat cybercrime and increase cybersecurity in the country. It will address incessant data breaches and secure the use of information technology in the country. The bill also provides codes of conduct and ethics for data controllers under the Postal, Telecommunication and Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe.
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The cybercrime bill will establish a secure security centre and Data Protection Authority to investigate issues that pertain to cybercrime and unauthorized data breaches. It will penalize the transmission of data messages that incite violence because it may lead to damaged property, cyberbullying and harassment. Measures will be taken to address the spread of racism and xenophobic conduct in Zimbabwe.
Also worthy of note is the fact that the bill will deal with the spread of fake news in Zimbabwe. The use of social media has been used recently to spread fake news in some parts of Africa. This incites conflicts and leads to political violence. The bill will provide penalties for the distribution of fake news when passed.
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