The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists has called on the South African government to revise provisions in the proposed Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity Bill that would limit journalists’ ability to work.
According to reports‚ under the bill‚ journalists and members of the public could be prosecuted for possessing or disclosing state information‚ CPJ said.
“While we appreciate that South Africa must define and proscribe cybercrime‚ it must do so in line with international best practice regarding access to information and with respect to its own constitution‚” said CPJ Africa Program Coordinator Sue Valentine. “The constitution explicitly prioritises the building of a democratic and open society and enshrines privacy rights for citizens.”
The proposed Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity Bill would impose police and intelligence control over the Internet and enable state security ministers to declare certain topics off limits‚ CPJ quoted news reports as saying.
A lack of a public interest defence in the bill‚ which would have allowed state information to be shared in the interests of exposing corruption or wrongdoing‚ has been criticised by local journalists and freedom of speech advocates. The bill is open for public comment until December 14.
CPJ urges SA to revise cybercrime bill that limits press freedom
The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists has called on the South African government to revise provisions in the proposed Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity Bill that would limit journalists’ ability to work.
According to reports‚ under the bill‚ journalists and members of the public could be prosecuted for possessing or disclosing state information‚ CPJ said.
“While we appreciate that South Africa must define and proscribe cybercrime‚ it must do so in line with international best practice regarding access to information and with respect to its own constitution‚” said CPJ Africa Program Coordinator Sue Valentine. “The constitution explicitly prioritises the building of a democratic and open society and enshrines privacy rights for citizens.”
The proposed Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity Bill would impose police and intelligence control over the Internet and enable state security ministers to declare certain topics off limits‚ CPJ quoted news reports as saying.
A lack of a public interest defence in the bill‚ which would have allowed state information to be shared in the interests of exposing corruption or wrongdoing‚ has been criticised by local journalists and freedom of speech advocates. The bill is open for public comment until December 14.
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