Mutabazi calls for regulation of Facebook, Twitter

Jun 22, 2016

Mutabazi said social media usage raises new concerns such as privacy, data protection, hate speech and incitement.

KAMPALA - The executive director of Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), Godfrey Mutabazi, has rooted for strict regulation of social platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp.

According to a statement issued by UCC, Mutabazi argues that there is a need to reform the current laws to factor in the new media advancements that have shaped the media industry.

Speaking during a Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) forum in London, Mutabazi said social media usage raises new concerns such as privacy, data protection, hate speech, incitement; bullying and copyright issues, which are fuelling the need for regulation.

 "Self-regulation is not sufficient and that additional regulatory tools such as public supervision, legislations or even administrative measures are required in the digital and convergent online platform," he said.

"There is need for a better - or at the very least - law reform of the current domestic legal regulation and traditional legal framework to reflect the technological advancement and participatory nature of social media" he added.

However, during the conference, Prof. Ian Walden, who teaches law at Queen Mary University of London cautioned against what he called "building cyber walls".

"Building cyber walls by nations is likely to create the suppression of human rights, but on the one other hand law and regulation protecting public interest is necessary," he said.

On two occasions—during general elections and swearing in of President Yoweri Museveni—government blocked social media platforms, citing national security. During the black-out, Uganda used Virtual Private Network (VPN) to access Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp.

However, Mutabazi argues that to weed out the dangers of social media, strict regulation is needed.

UCC officials said the three day London meeting attracted over 150 participants from the Commonwealth fraternity from the both the private and public sector.

"The meeting discussed a range of issues among others, the developing role of the regulators, broadband development, cybersecurity implementation and benefits and challenges of OTT services," a UCC statement noted.

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