What the Cybersecurity Bill says about posting offensive comments on WhatsApp

Newsfeed

Newsfeed

MyBroadband Newsfeed
Staff member
Joined
Jun 28, 2017
Messages
6,804
Reaction score
640
What the Cybersecurity Bill says about posting offensive comments on WhatsApp

Legal professionals in South Africa have warned in the past that WhatsApp group admins may be held legally liable for what is said on the chat group – regardless of who has made the statement.

Group admins could be sued for defamation, and the warning followed the arrest of a WhatsApp group admin in India in 2017.
 
Wow thats a real hit on freedom of speech, guess its time we all start using vpns and possibly moving to Tor :/
 
Much ado about nothing, as usual. Politicians exist for one reason only and that's to be the butt of jokes because they're not good for much more.
 
There is a difference between freedom of speech and being hateful.
People run rampant online and it's about time there are consequences to their actions.
 
Beyond.Celsus said:
There is a difference between freedom of speech and being hateful.
People run rampant online and it's about time there are consequences to their actions.
Click to expand...

So it's all love and roses for you ? People get hatefull, it's human.
 
HunterNW said:
So it's all love and roses for you ? People get hatefull, it's human.
Click to expand...

Sure,
But face to face people do not act that way, because then there will be swift justice, either by public shaming or a sharp fist to the face.

There are people who go online with the sole purpose to be as hateful and shocking as they can be, because they can be completely anonymous and there will be no consequences, yet when they need to speak using their real name they will not say a word, because in the real world there will be consequences.
 
Sure, it's distasteful when hurting people's feelings -or vice versa.
If someone hurts your feelings, you're not physically being hurt, though. Ie. It's on you what you do with that.
You can choose to ignore it and guess what? You'll be fine and life will go on.

Things change dramatically, when someone threatens your life -especially in a country (continent) riddled with violence.
 
“However, if you distribute or broadcast a data message that is harmful in terms of the latest version of the Bill, you are guilty of an offence.”

She explained that this means the sender, and only the sender, is responsible for what they send online.

This is in contrast to earlier advice from social media law experts, who warned that the law of South Africa treats a WhatsApp administrator as if they are an editor of a newspaper – and holds them responsible for the content posted.

If someone posted an obscene, controversial, defamatory, or illegal message in a WhatsApp group you are an administrator of, you were advised to immediately dissociate yourself from it.
Click to expand...

Makes more sense.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter