UPND Opposes New Cyber Bill

The United Party for National Development (UPND) has criticised the government’s upcoming cyber security bill, describing it as a danger to democratic norms. 

The bill, which was approved by the cabinet on February 1, is intended to promote the “responsible use of social media platforms”. However, critics point out that the legislation will give the government the ability to listen to private conversations without a court order.

In a statement on Facebook, UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema described the proposed law as though “Big Brother will not only be watching but listening to all your conversations from wherever you are including your private spaces”. 

Under the terms of the bill, all electronic communications providers - including internet messaging platforms - will have to provide services that are “capable of rendering realtime and full-time monitoring facilities for the interception of communications”.

In effect this would allow the government to listen to private conversations in full at any time, with this information fed back to the Central Monitoring and Coordination Centre.

HH went on to describe the bill as an “oppressive piece of legislation” which would infringe citizens’ dignities and civil liberties. 

The bill, which is due to be voted on during the current parliamentary session, has also attracted criticism from a raft of civil society organisations.

In a joint statement last week, representatives from the Chapter One Foundation, ActionAid Zambia, the Alliance for Community Action, CiSCA and others, condemned the Cyber Crimes Bill as dangerous and in need of serious review.

On Twitter, Alliance for Community Action director Laura Miti described the provisions of the bill as “draconian” as well as “evil & self-interested in intent”.