KAMPALA: Parliament adopted a proposal by Kampala Central MP Muhammad Nsereko on February 15 to introduce a Bill to address insults and damaging material on social media platforms.
Nsereko observed that, although the digital revolution has been beneficial, it has also brought with it the difficulty of many individuals disseminating false and nasty information against others. Many other nations, according to the independent lawmaker, have passed similar laws.
Last week, Nsereko hinted at bringing the Bill, which was backed by Deputy Speaker Anita Among.
Nsereko believes that his bill, dubbed the Computer Misuse Amendment Bill, would be able to address the issue of dangerous material being placed on digital platforms.
“If you distribute my information without my authorization and, for example, use my pictures, videos, or content for your personal gain and to my detriment, you must pay a price,” Hon.Muhammed Nsereko said.
Clause 2 of the Bill seeks to penalise anyone who “access, intercept, voice, or record another person without authorization” with a Sh15 million fine, up to ten years in prison, or both imprisonment and fine.
Should section 3 of the Bill become law, sending and distributing data about minors without the consent of their parents or guardians on a computer and, by implication, social media would become a crime punishable by a seven-year prison sentence, sh15 million in penalties, or both.
The law also intends to prevent anyone who have been convicted of crimes related to the bill from holding public office or from losing them to those who are currently in office.
“A person convicted under this Act shall be unable to hold a public office for ten years.”
Clause 6 of the Bill indicates that if a person is guilty of being a leader or public official under this Act, he or she will be removed or resign office in addition to the specified penalty “Clause 6 of the Bill reads.
According to Nsereko, the law is necessary due to an increase in cyber-harassment and abuse, which he claims goes unpunished.
Without strengthening existing legislation with strong measures to solve loopholes, technological misuse, with its serious consequences for health, human relations, and society as a whole, would continue to grow violations of the right to privacy “He said.