Government through the Malawi Communication and Regulatory Authority (MACRA), apparently with Chinese technology, will start monitoring internet and intercept electronic communications, it has been learnt.Minister of Information Leckford Thotho said government is reviewing the1998 Communications Act which will create a new tool of censorship.
Since [the] Communications Act was passed in 1998 a lot of technological advancements have occurred and the number of people having access to modern communications services like cell phones or the internet has increased, said Thotho.
He said ten years of the legislations existence is too long and there is need to continuously review it to allow flexibility so that it is able to tackle challenges faced by the communications sector.
There has been an increase in Internet service providers and broadcasting houses that belong to private institutions and communities and there is need to have proper legal instruments for proper regulation, said the government spokesman.
MACRA acting Director General, Michael Kuntiya told parliamentary committee on media that they are currently working with police to monitor on internet, particularly pornographic materials.
Internet service providers (ISPs ) in Malawi are also pressed by the security intelligence to monitor websites such as Malawi online newspaper Nyasa Times, social networking sites like Malawiana, Facebook, Twitter including the so-called illegal content of e-mails communications by Malawians on Yahoo and Hotmail.
We are in the world of internet technologies; people are easily accessing the internet and able to do anything unlawful they want, Kuntiya told the parliamentary committee.
As MACRA we dont have the equipment yet which can help us monitor internet materials, but let me assure the committee that very soon we are going to have the equipment and start monitoring , Kuntiya told a hearing of a parliamentary committee.
MACRA boss nonetheless appealed to the Parliamentary Committee on Media to support the authority speed up in reviewing of Communication Act to empower it carry its monitoring exercise.
The act was formed in 1998 which is years back; the effect side of it is that some issues are less important and inapplicable into this changed world. There is lenient in penalties that are given to broadcasters that have overlooked the body and the body has no power to monitor print media, cost of service providers among others, said Kuntiya.
The committee chairperson Kondwani Nankhumwa assured the regulatory body that the committee will fight hard and ensure that the Act is reviewed and passed in parliament.
Communication system is changing everyday therefore the Act is old and need to be given new changes to fit the current communication system, this is the right time to do that and as a committee, will make sure that the Act is reviewed said Nankhumwa.
The Minister of tourism, wildlife and culture, Anna Kachikho has also called for the need to censor Digital Satellite Television (DSTV) and the Internet.
Kachikho made the call on 12 August 2009 after visiting offices for the countrys Censorship Board where she pledged to ensure that a piece of legislation be passed to empower the board to take charge.
[The] Censorship Act does not make provision for the board to act on the surfing of pornographic material on the internet, said acting chief censorship officer Humphrey Mpondaminga.
He bemoaned obsolete laws contained in the Censorship Act of 1968 which he described as very archaic and asked the minister to push for better legislation and allow the board to carry out its mandate properly.
The Malawi Law Commission finished drafting a Classification Bill in 2001 which is to replace the Censorship Act but parliament is yet to deliberate and pass it into law
Individuals fear the government will be violating their privacy by reading their e-mails.
Malawians telephone calls are already monitored as President Bingu wa Mutharika government already faces criticism for intimidation tactics by his security forces that curtail free speech.
MACRA is the sole regulatory body in the country mandated to monitor and issue licenses to all broadcasters. The body was formed in 1998.
Post published in: Politics