No government kill switch for South African Internet in a cyber emergency

[Newsfeed]

No government kill switch for South African Internet in a cyber emergency

Communications minister Solly Malatsi told Parliament there was no regulatory framework allowing government to take control of networks during a national security emergency — or for any other reason.

 

[Heisenborg]

No government kill switch for South African Internet in a cyber emergency

Communications minister Solly Malatsi told Parliament there was no regulatory framework allowing government to take control of networks during a national security emergency — or for any other reason.

 

[neoprema]

Yeah no thanks don't need any intervention from them.

 

[saor]

And we have a defence force of potatoes. Let's not pretend we've got the muscle or the means to do a whole lot against anything really.

 

[Justanotherguybythesea]

Can you imagine if it was there, it would be pressed every time HA goes offline, and also when it is tea time, lunch time, and when it is leave early time.

 

[Number Six]

Hmm a tender for 'The Great Firewall' soon?

 

[Hemi300c]

They wouldn't even realize it unless the USA informed them they have been hacked, as in the past.

 

[EmmanuelGoldstein]

LEAVE IT ALONE ANC... don't get any stupid ideas...

 

[Bad Ballie]

I seriously doubt this is the case and believe they could shut down a large portion of the net if they wanted too. The interception of communications act itself requires all providers to maintain interception infrastructure, even if it does not tell us who actually controls that infrastructure. Even if the infrastructure itself did not include a kill switch mechanism, Government could still issue an instruction to providers to shut down their networks referencing some or other emergency regulation. Government doesn't need a physical kill switch to achieve a shutdown, but that doesn't mean they cannot shut down the net if they needed to.

 

[Sargeant]

Don't be fooled, this is a good thing! Giving that much power to the idiots running this country is a sure fire way to see it abused!

 

[My_King]

Yeah, me and my clients don't need this, thanks.