News / National
Zimbabwe's IT Minister denies claims that WhatsApp Group Admins will need licenses
09 Nov 2024 at 17:26hrs | Views
Information Technology Minister Tatenda Mavetera has issued a statement rejecting claims circulating on social media that WhatsApp group administrators will soon be required to obtain government licenses or face fines. The minister clarified that the viral LinkedIn post attributed to her, which stated that administrators would face penalties of up to USD 2500, is "malicious fake news."
The statement comes in response to widespread confusion sparked by a post on LinkedIn that claimed the government intended to introduce penalties for administrators of WhatsApp groups and other social media platforms. The post suggested that administrators would face hefty fines unless they were licensed by the government. However, Minister Mavetera emphasized that this claim is unfounded.
"I would like to distance myself from the malicious fake news suggesting that the government intends to license or penalize WhatsApp groups or administrators of any social media platform with USD 2500 fines," the minister stated. "This claim does not apply to players who do not collect or process Personally Identifiable Information (PII) for commercial or business purposes."
Minister Mavetera went on to clarify the legal distinction between social media users and entities that process personal data for commercial use. "Personally Identifiable Information (PII) refers to any data that can be used to identify an individual, such as names, addresses, phone numbers, or identification numbers," she explained.
The minister pointed out that the viral post was inconsistent with the provisions outlined in Statutory Instrument (SI) 155 of the 2024 Cyber and Data Protection (Licensing of Data Controllers and Appointment of Data Protection Officers) Regulations. The regulations, which are part of Zimbabwe's efforts to protect personal data and ensure cyber security, apply only to organizations that process PII for business or commercial purposes, not to casual or non-commercial social media activity.
In her statement, Mavetera reassured the public that the government remains committed to ensuring cyber safety and data protection. "Through the Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, we are dedicated to advancing cyber and data democratisation and security, ensuring that no one and no place is left offline," she said.
She also reiterated the government's constitutional mandate to promote access to information in a safe and secure environment, dismissing the viral claims as misleading and without foundation.
The minister's clarification seeks to alleviate concerns among the public and social media users, particularly WhatsApp group administrators, about potential penalties or licensing requirements.
The statement comes in response to widespread confusion sparked by a post on LinkedIn that claimed the government intended to introduce penalties for administrators of WhatsApp groups and other social media platforms. The post suggested that administrators would face hefty fines unless they were licensed by the government. However, Minister Mavetera emphasized that this claim is unfounded.
"I would like to distance myself from the malicious fake news suggesting that the government intends to license or penalize WhatsApp groups or administrators of any social media platform with USD 2500 fines," the minister stated. "This claim does not apply to players who do not collect or process Personally Identifiable Information (PII) for commercial or business purposes."
Minister Mavetera went on to clarify the legal distinction between social media users and entities that process personal data for commercial use. "Personally Identifiable Information (PII) refers to any data that can be used to identify an individual, such as names, addresses, phone numbers, or identification numbers," she explained.
The minister pointed out that the viral post was inconsistent with the provisions outlined in Statutory Instrument (SI) 155 of the 2024 Cyber and Data Protection (Licensing of Data Controllers and Appointment of Data Protection Officers) Regulations. The regulations, which are part of Zimbabwe's efforts to protect personal data and ensure cyber security, apply only to organizations that process PII for business or commercial purposes, not to casual or non-commercial social media activity.
She also reiterated the government's constitutional mandate to promote access to information in a safe and secure environment, dismissing the viral claims as misleading and without foundation.
The minister's clarification seeks to alleviate concerns among the public and social media users, particularly WhatsApp group administrators, about potential penalties or licensing requirements.
False claim of USD 2500 penalties for WhatsApp Group Administrators
— Hon Tatenda.A. Mavetera (@TateMavetera) November 9, 2024
I would like distance myself from the malicious fake news of intentions by government to licence or penalise WhatsApp Groups or Administrators of any social media platform/s USD 2500.
This claim is not… pic.twitter.com/suL0vjvepS
Source - byo24news
