New South African laws for sending intimate images without permission or threatening or inciting damage or violence will be criminal offences

Parliament recently passed the Cybercrimes Bill, which includes a bevvy of new laws around the sending of messages and electronic communications in South Africa. The bill was passed by Parliament on 2 December and now only awaits the President’s signature to take effect.

Nothing really out of the ordinary as many such utterances would have been criminal offences before but the law has described more specifically "forwarding" and "private groups" and other online messaging type scenarios. This will be welcomed by those who have been on the receiving end of being victimised, discriminated, bullied, etc.

Of course, it's a slippery slope still as messaging apps evolve with prevention of screenshots, E2EE, and disappearance of messages after being read. It does not infringe on opposing opinions at all but it is high time there is more accountability online.

See New laws for sending “intimate images” on WhatsApp in South Africa – How you will be affected

#technology #southafrica #instantmessengers

Parliament recently passed the Cybercrimes Bill, which includes a bevvy of new laws around the sending of messages and electronic communications in South Africa.

source https://gadgeteer.co.za/new-south-african-laws-sending-intimate-images-without-permission-or-threatening-or-inciting-damage