Almost every single thing that we come across in life has two distinct possibilities — either it makes or breaks us.
Fortunately, the Almighty God blessed us with immense wisdom, a gift that empowers us with the ability to see with critical eyes and the ability to manipulate outcomes to our advantage.
The advent of information communication technologies and the World Wide Web ushered in a completely new dispensation for the human race; one that set the wheels of development into faster motion.
There is no denying that ICTs and the Internet are great breakthroughs for man from man.
Today it is almost impossible to function either socially or economically without resorting to use of ICTs and the Internet.
In this global village, geographical boundaries are increasingly getting blurred by ICTs and people can get real time updates on news from different parts of the world right on their cellphones.
However, not all is rosy in this global village.
Increasingly it is becoming a global jungle because of the predators that lurk in the dark waiting to pounce at the slightest opportunity.
The problem emanates when the very tools that are supposed to be used to make us a better society. Instead, some people are increasingly using these tools to break society.
Concerns to do with hacking into personal data, hate speech, bullying, incitement and copyright issues have been raised, especially where social media are concerned.
While self-regulation is the most ideal model to curb such ills, this more often than not does not work.
Our own country is the latest among many to raise alarm and indicate the need for legal regulation.
Zimbabwe is no cry baby; even the more technologically advanced countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States have also been experiencing growing pains through internet abuse.
President Mugabe’s recommendation is for the country to adopt hi-tech systems that engender development instead of abuse. He couldn’t have said it better. This is a serious matter of protecting the country’s citizens from cyber criminals and cyber bullies.
The Internet has virtually revolutionised character assassination and slander, giving those who engage in it the power to attack others with virtual impunity.
The allure of the Internet’s capacity to disseminate information has attracted all the wrong culprits. In essence, the convenience of the Internet has been twisted by people with narrow and seditious agendas.
While freedom of use of the Internet as a tool for the dissemination of information is very welcome, Government has to level the playing field for the safety of the general citizenry.
After all, it is the Government’s primary mandate to protect its citizens. Efforts should be undertaken to expeditiously nip social media abuse in the bud before it gets out of hand.
Therefore, the ball is in the court of Information, Communication, Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister Supa Mandiwanzira.
It is quite encouraging that the minister is aware that his work is cut out and he is moving with speed to address the issue of regulation.
As we report elsewhere in this publication, Minister Mandiwanzira has said his office is already seized with the matter. Understandably, some sections of society feel that the regulation will wipe out their freedom on the Internet. Those are natural instincts considering that social media use is growing in popularity in Zimbabwe.
However, Minister Mandiwanzira has spoken clearly on that. “We have no interests in snooping on people’s communication. That is not our business; our interest is in protecting people.”
Zimbabwe is not the first country to go down this route.
China has gone indigenous when it comes to social media with platforms like Baidu, Sina Weibo and Renren, which have similar services to their American counterparts, and are regulated by their government.
Such platforms have not only created order within Chinese society, but have also created employment.
What we need to keep in mind is that 15 years ago, social networking sites Facebook and Twitter did not exist and therefore current legislation does not account for such technological realities.
It is hoped that Government will consult widely with the citizenry as it goes about coming up with proposals on how best to regulate the sector.
COMMENT:The right tool in the wrong hands
The Sunday Mail
Almost every single thing that we come across in life has two distinct possibilities — either it makes or breaks us.
Fortunately, the Almighty God blessed us with immense wisdom, a gift that empowers us with the ability to see with critical eyes and the ability to manipulate outcomes to our advantage.
The advent of information communication technologies and the World Wide Web ushered in a completely new dispensation for the human race; one that set the wheels of development into faster motion.
There is no denying that ICTs and the Internet are great breakthroughs for man from man.
Today it is almost impossible to function either socially or economically without resorting to use of ICTs and the Internet.
In this global village, geographical boundaries are increasingly getting blurred by ICTs and people can get real time updates on news from different parts of the world right on their cellphones.
However, not all is rosy in this global village.
Increasingly it is becoming a global jungle because of the predators that lurk in the dark waiting to pounce at the slightest opportunity.
The problem emanates when the very tools that are supposed to be used to make us a better society. Instead, some people are increasingly using these tools to break society.
Concerns to do with hacking into personal data, hate speech, bullying, incitement and copyright issues have been raised, especially where social media are concerned.
While self-regulation is the most ideal model to curb such ills, this more often than not does not work.
Our own country is the latest among many to raise alarm and indicate the need for legal regulation.
Zimbabwe is no cry baby; even the more technologically advanced countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States have also been experiencing growing pains through internet abuse.
President Mugabe’s recommendation is for the country to adopt hi-tech systems that engender development instead of abuse. He couldn’t have said it better. This is a serious matter of protecting the country’s citizens from cyber criminals and cyber bullies.
The Internet has virtually revolutionised character assassination and slander, giving those who engage in it the power to attack others with virtual impunity.
The allure of the Internet’s capacity to disseminate information has attracted all the wrong culprits. In essence, the convenience of the Internet has been twisted by people with narrow and seditious agendas.
While freedom of use of the Internet as a tool for the dissemination of information is very welcome, Government has to level the playing field for the safety of the general citizenry.
After all, it is the Government’s primary mandate to protect its citizens. Efforts should be undertaken to expeditiously nip social media abuse in the bud before it gets out of hand.
Therefore, the ball is in the court of Information, Communication, Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister Supa Mandiwanzira.
It is quite encouraging that the minister is aware that his work is cut out and he is moving with speed to address the issue of regulation.
As we report elsewhere in this publication, Minister Mandiwanzira has said his office is already seized with the matter. Understandably, some sections of society feel that the regulation will wipe out their freedom on the Internet. Those are natural instincts considering that social media use is growing in popularity in Zimbabwe.
However, Minister Mandiwanzira has spoken clearly on that. “We have no interests in snooping on people’s communication. That is not our business; our interest is in protecting people.”
Zimbabwe is not the first country to go down this route.
China has gone indigenous when it comes to social media with platforms like Baidu, Sina Weibo and Renren, which have similar services to their American counterparts, and are regulated by their government.
Such platforms have not only created order within Chinese society, but have also created employment.
What we need to keep in mind is that 15 years ago, social networking sites Facebook and Twitter did not exist and therefore current legislation does not account for such technological realities.
It is hoped that Government will consult widely with the citizenry as it goes about coming up with proposals on how best to regulate the sector.
CARTOON
Share This:
More Stories: