CYBER SECURITY LAW WELL WITHIN BOUNDARIES, INSISTS STATE

By GRACE CHAILE LESOETSA THE Ministry of Transport and Communications has contended that the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act is within the confines of the constitution. In this matter, five NGOs have petitioned the Lusaka High Court alleging that the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act threatens the right to privacy and the freedom …

By GRACE CHAILE LESOETSA THE Ministry of Transport and Communications has contended that the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act is within the confines of the constitution. In this matter, five NGOs have petitioned the Lusaka High Court alleging that the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act threatens the right to privacy and the freedom of the press. They also allege that the Act seeks to facilitate wide scale and interception of private communications with insufficient safeguards for constitutionally guaranteed rights and freedoms. The five are Chapter One Foundation Limited, Bloggers of Zambia Limited, Alliance for Community Action, Governance, Elections, Advocacy, Research Services (GEARS) Initiative and People’s Action for Accountability and Good Governance. Director of Communications at the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Yese Bwalya, in an affidavit in opposing the petition submitted that the Act does not contravene the constitution in any way. Mr Bwalya said that the provisions of the Act were within the confines of the law and the limitations to the rights and freedoms provided by the constitution.