Zimbabwe passes net bugging law
It’s a pretty insulting piece of legislation, although not unexpected from a government that violates human rights left, right and center. ISPs will undoubtedly lose business as a result of this, as I suspect most people don’t like being snooped on and having their privacy violated no matter what they’re doing or talking about. I’m wondering how, with business down even further, ISPs will manage to pay for it?
Or maybe that’s the plan?
Putting ISPs totally out of business is probably the best form of censorship there is. And as the next post after this one shows, Mugabe doesn’t care about the negative consequences of his actions - he’s prepared to destroy an entire nation just to control dissent. He’d rather be king of a dunghill than not be king at all.
This via the BBC.
Zimbabwe’s MPs have passed a law to allow the government to monitor e-mails, telephone calls, the internet and postal communications.
Opposition MP David Coltart called it a “fascist piece of legislation” aimed at cracking down on political dissent.
But Communications Minister Christopher Mushowe defended it, saying it was similar to anti-terror laws elsewhere such as in the UK, US and South Africa.
“These are countries which are regarded as the beacons of democracy,” he said.
The Interception of Communications Bill now passes to the Senate, where it is expected to face little opposition, Reuters news agency reports.
President Robert Mugabe’s government already faces criticism for laws that curtail free speech and movement.
Web records
The bill obliges internet service providers (ISPs) to install equipment, at their own expense, which will allow a monitoring service to intercept e-mails.
The communications minister will be able to issue warrants for interception.
And senior police, security and revenue service officials will be able to apply to the minister to issue a warrant.
Critics say the law does not make provision for such decisions to be reviewed by the judiciary.
“This law is about the interception of fundamental rights of our citizens and this house should refuse such frivolous and out rightly undemocratic laws,” Nelson Chamisa, an MP for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), said during the parliamentary debate.
“Most provisions are injurious and the law will be used as an arrow aimed against trade unions, civil society, media and political parties involved in genuine political engagements,” he said.
The MDC accuses President Robert Mugabe’s government of using all parts of the state to block its challenge to his rule.
Mr Mushowe said the need for such legislation was “indisputable”.
“We are aware, however, that it is always going to be a delicate balancing act to find equilibrium between the need for individual rights of citizens while ensuring that both the national security and public interest are protected,” Zimbabwean television quoted him as saying.
July 1st, 2008 21:48
Am I missing something here? What MP’s? I wasn’t aware that Parliament had reconvened yet.
July 1st, 2008 23:41
Stranger things can happen, but this entry was written 14th June 2007.
I must admit that sometimes I too happen across an old item, and get pretty riled up about ‘news’ happening that I’d been ‘missing’
July 2nd, 2008 00:36
There seemed to be a glitch on Bloglines which suddenly fetched about 200 old entries from Sok (same with Kubatana.net) via its feed which I monitor.
Just one of those technical things..or someone trying to run interference? Who knows, these days…
Thanks for answering!