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IT Expert Slams Zimbabwe’s New WhatsApp Group Licensing Policy

4 months agoSat, 09 Nov 2024 10:49:51 GMT
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IT Expert Slams Zimbabwe’s New WhatsApp Group Licensing Policy

A local Information Technology (IT) expert has criticised Zimbabwe’s new policy requiring WhatsApp group administrators to obtain licenses and appoint data protection officers, describing it as misguided and overly broad.

The licensing scheme, introduced by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), was presented during a recent breakfast meeting hosted by the authority.

Under the new policy, WhatsApp group administrators will be required to pay fees ranging from US$50 to US$2,500, depending on the type of group they manage.

The government has justified the policy, stating that its primary goal is to enhance data security and privacy for all citizens.

However, critics argue that the policy could create unnecessary hurdles for group administrators and hinder free communication on the platform.

Click here: Pindula WhatsApp Channel
wa.me/channel/0029Vb4GVea90x2nCSDImS1b

 

Information Communications Technology, Postal, and Courier Services Minister, Tatenda Mavetera, defended the initiative in a recent LinkedIn post, saying:

The time is ticking for organisations that collect first-party data, as you are required by law to have a data protection licence and the licence fees range from US$50 to US$2500.

Furthermore, a data protection officer (DPO) who is trained and certified by POTRAZ should be appointed by such a licensee and the appointment should be communicated to POTRAZ.

Even churches that collect personal data ought to have such a licensee and appoint a DPO. WhatsApp group admins are not spared too, if your groups are meant for business, you should as well get a licence. Failure to comply attracts penalties.

The policy is based on Zimbabwe’s Cyber and Data Protection Act, which defines personal data as any information that can directly or indirectly identify an individual.

Given that WhatsApp group administrators have access to members’ phone numbers, the government argues that these groups should fall under the scope of data protection regulations.

However, IT expert Christopher Musodza contends that the government’s approach is misguided and lacks clarity. Said Musodza (via CITE):

If we go by what she said, then it is very sad for Zimbabwe to treat WhatsApp group administrators, or WhatsApp group platforms and churches broadly like that.

You can’t put everyone in the same bracket. You can’t say a telecommunication provider that has all the data that they store.

And also talk in the same vein even the hospitals that have sensitive information like people’s health records and including churches in that category it would not make sense. So we need to have those regulations in place first.

Musodza argued that the definitions within the Cyber and Data Protection Act are too broad, which he believes creates significant ambiguity and poses practical challenges. He said:

The definitions in our Cyber and Data Protection Act are broad when it comes to data processors and data controllers.

The definition can indeed stretch to anyone who collects data. Be it for a workshop, data attendance register, be it a church, be it any organisation can fit into that definition.

I had hoped that POTRAZ as the data protection authority as a statutory designated data protection authority would set out guidelines or standards in terms of who fits into that category.

This is in terms of numbers, capacity or type of business. It is not practical for you to have a law that includes everyone.

In other countries or jurisdictions, they would have guidelines to say such and such organisation or such many records and so forth is required to have data protection officer and also required to be licenced by the data protection authority who is POTRAZ in our case.

More: Pindula News

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106 Comments

263 studio · 3 months ago
kenge aripi amitise munhu
Tangwena's First Cousin · 4 months ago
the way this gvt is introducing taxs be careful soon muchaisirwa tax yemaza.mhu ne.ma.c.h.e.n.d.e munoitiza sei. Vapererwa vakuda kuwana mari nekusiriko
Matemavi · 4 months ago
kaMinister kasingazive zvakanoita
Anonymous · 4 months ago
Pindula - wake up and delete this story: it is fake
dj TECH 🇿🇼 · 4 months ago
iro joki irori iri?😆
disgruntled citizen · 4 months ago
get ready for food tax. each meal you have, you'll be heavily taxed.
Sh!t Zanu Potraz · 4 months ago
next we will need to pay an annual license when we buy a new pair of shoes !! if they catch you walking around in shoes with no license they will confiscate your shoes, fine you, make you pay for a license and then send you home barefoot !! useless z.a.n.o.i.d clown goons
Hhhh · 4 months ago
Hazvishamisi Zanu can do it☹️
🧐 🤔 🤨 🤪 · 4 months ago
Ko ingawani kwayi it was not well dished out to public
🔗 · 4 months ago
They never make rules and laws that benefit and improve our livelihoods. All their laws are antipeople.
Makhobolondo · 4 months ago
Chanogona Mavetera ku ekita muStudio 263, hapana zviripo.
Ediots4Zanu · 4 months ago
I am starting a new whatsapp group called Ediots4Zanu, i have been told by potraz that we dont need to pay anything becoz we are supporting zanu ediots , so for our group its free. then we will have other groups on signal and telegram to tell people how sh!t zanu is ... that will also be free, no license required , thank you
Anonymous · 4 months ago
It is all fake news,
Helter Skelter · 4 months ago
fu
pm · 4 months ago
Ko man city yakatamba sei nedzimwe dzayo ana Chelsea. toto etc
997 · 4 months ago
obvious city yakafumurwaa nesporting Lisbon.. vakarohwaa 4th game nezuro with 10 scored whilst scoring 4
mono · 4 months ago
yakarohwa 2 _1
Makatukura · 4 months ago
Hey musatinyaudza,,Inga minister vakati inhema wani
Mudhibhisi · 4 months ago
Life in this country is very tough, laws that limits the freedom of citizens are being passed daily. We are over regulated, over taxed,over burdened by this repressive gvt
Gegeja · 4 months ago
Chasara kubhadhara contact list rimu4n yako and employ DPO.
Gegeja · 4 months ago
fundraising scheme 🇿🇼
me · 4 months ago
zimbos are so critical fir nothing. this only applies to businesses not povo whatsapp groups
MUKANYAPAZVESE · 4 months ago
Zveku m a m a izvo ais if you own the app
Tsoko · 4 months ago
zvamunofana kuita musaita mati ma admin abhadhare mari ,chekutanga ku bhana whatsapp in zimbabwe uye kuiisawo vanhu vakadzidza pazvigaro apo pama minister 😄 zvinobatsirei kuisa Minister asina chaanoziva pa ICT dzacho this woman is the founder of women for Ed and also a marketing degree holder zvinoindirana hr ne ICT izvi
Drew · 4 months ago
create your own application honourable minister
kwachu · 4 months ago
panoda hwaro pakushara maminister apa hino kana mongoti uyu waitambe madrama ndatora uyuwozve waidhidha ndatore uyuwo mwana ndatore uyuzve muzukuru ndatore yowheee nyikayo irikuhambepi hino mwauraye nyika amwalume
Bhuru · 4 months ago
Dictatorship upgraded, they don't want even people to communicate freely, if you know the masses don't like you bcoz you rigged your way to the top you will always be suspicious of anything, cry my beloved Zimbabwe, FREEDOM WIL COME
Anonymous · 4 months ago
Paranoia! They see opposition politics in every group and it frightens them.
justice McMillan · 4 months ago
This is nonsense. Mere fundraising retoric
Mudhibhisi · 4 months ago
Very soon we will all be required to hv licences for owning cellphones.With a gvt that knows no boundaries anything is possible.
secret life · 4 months ago
full time liva 2 0 villa ****
🧐 🤔 🤨 🤪 · 4 months ago
👍👏Topedzwa 2024 tiri pa torpedo Amen Liverpool
secret life · 4 months ago
usatizivise nhema ba ,bhora mutambo unoziv kt zvinotaurwa papi hr ,,kt bhora mutambo zvinotaurw kan bhor richiri kutambwa ndopanonzi bhora mutambo kana ratoper imwe yarohwa inenge yatorohwa sekurohwa kwaitwa city nebriton
wizzy · 4 months ago
bhora mutambo cit inongo tora trof zvizivei
007 · 4 months ago
which trophy... just watch and see
Fanta · 4 months ago
Liver 1 zero lead
ceekay · 4 months ago
how far liver vs AVL
Pelican Brief · 4 months ago
CITY mamaration
ceekay · 4 months ago
how far livee
Gafa · 4 months ago
how far City vs Brighton
Gafa · 4 months ago
mukongo
Mudhibhisi · 4 months ago
Very soon everyone will be required to hv a licence to own a cellphone.With a gvt that knows no boundaries anything is possible.
starcon · 4 months ago
vakadaro zvobatsira hurumende kutenga zvisimo munyika let's support
Gamarieri · 4 months ago
Kapechembudzi tseke
Gafa · 4 months ago
how far City vs Brighton for now
The 7 Sages · 4 months ago
1 nil in favour of city
wischigonero · 4 months ago
tibvirepo iwe kugona chii ipapa **** rizere shenyang mwana vaed baba vakaenda kubotswana vakadzoka vasina kudya
Mcmillan · 4 months ago
Hapamihwe mihwee
maHuni · 4 months ago
ndoo uya wekunetsa ne aidz na Kenke (masamba).kune vaive nema TV makore iwayo
Taribo West · 4 months ago
False claim of USD 2500 penalties for WhatsApp Group Administrators I would like distance myself from the malicious fake news of intentions by government to ****nce or penalise WhatsApp Groups or Administrators of any social media platform/s USD 2500. This claim is not applicable especially to players who do not collect and process Personally Identifiable Information (PII) for commercial or business use. Personally identifiable information (PII) is any type of data that can be used to identify someone, from their name and address to their phone number, passport information and I.d number. The public is encouraged to disregard this notice with the uttermost discontent it deserves as it is inconsistent with our legal provisions as espoused in Statutory Instrument (SI) 155 of the 2024 Cyber and Data Protection (****ncing of Data controllers and Appointment of Data Protection Officers) Regulations. On my LinkedIn post I never expressed any intentions to ****nce or penalise WhatsApp groups or Administrators of any social media platform/s which do not collect and process (Personally Identifiable Information (PII) for commercial or business use. I wish to assure the public of government's commitment through the Ministry of Information Communication Technology Postal and Courier Services to accelerate cyber and data democratisation and security to ensure that No One and No Place is Left Offline. This is in line with our overarching mandate to the constitution to promote access to information for all in a safe and secure environment.
zrp · 4 months ago
minister vedu yooo.. ve women for ED vano zivei .Ibiza iro rino simudza mumwe pa.....
Enchanter · 4 months ago
Isu maadmin edu havagare muZimbabwe tirikuda kuona kuti vachaita sei
Patz · 4 months ago
Nhai ko Zanu gvt zvayakungosimbirira kutsvaga kuti yotorera sei vanhu mari iyo pasina kana zvairikuita nhai. Vanhu varikutambura mari haisikushanda. Tongotaridzwa maroad pa tv. Inga nyika dzimwe dzinawo wani maroad but havaiti bembera coz having good roads is just normal for any gvt collecting and properly using tax payers money
The Erudite · 4 months ago
exactly,l share your sentiments there...Erudite out
The Erudite · 4 months ago
Stop being an imposter...The real Erudite does not simp for lowest denominator sentiments especially by the ones expressed above....This desperate conflation of issues by patz is desperate and the real Erudite does not agree with him one bit.... Erudite out
The Erudite · 4 months ago
The real Erudite does not agree with the emesis being spewed by the entity known as Patz....This new law is only targeting those that have been profiteering off the data of unsuspecting masses....Unless you are a scam artist with a nefarious WhatsApp group you should be happy that the ministry is trying to curb the scourge of scam artists on WhatsApp.... Erudite out
Private Investigator · 4 months ago
Inga PORTRAZ has clarified kuti hakuna zvakadaro. Whatsaap admin haana data raano kolekta in a group.He only has access to phone numbers which every member in the Whatsaap group also has.Whatsaap admins do not collect any private data from members. Nonsense mhani, musatinyaudze 🤣🤣🤣
brother · 4 months ago
why didn't they advertise their law before putting it to the public? it show that the Minister has personal interest in this issue because he made a decision at his home 🏠 alone...
.. · 4 months ago
She/Ms
🗣️ · 4 months ago
chasara kubhadhariswa kudziya zuva/mushana,chaiko muno mu zimbabwe tikaita zvekutamba🤔
Anonymous · 4 months ago
Killing two birds with one stone. On the one hand the government by way of their security aparatus can lean on admins and keep tabs on groups of all nature. On the other hand they have another source of revenue to continue fueling the insatiable appetite of the patronage system. Another misdirected step by a government driving itself ever closer to the precipice. Its decisions like these that tend to break the camels back. All around us our neighbours are moving towards true democracy and zanu is running scared, their divisive mentality and methods of politicking are fast becoming archaic. The clock is ticking and pf is digging in.
hakumihwemihwe kubatswana · 4 months ago
this gavhuumendi thinks Duma Gideon Book won with the help of WhatsApp admns
Gafa · 4 months ago
Aa mafia rangu ko Man City vs Brighton inguvai
GM · 4 months ago
7.30pm
shurushuru · 4 months ago
Madrid 4 up
??? · 4 months ago
Hello just been contacted by PR Director from Potraz. The issue is the Minister concerned did not put the issue to the public well. The whole thing is focused on organizations like Universities, medical aid societies, mobile telephone companies and any organization that stores a lot data involving members of the public. That data must be protected. Private family and social groups are not included. Hospitals are included. It’s meant to protect data of customers. That’s the explanation I got. @All Group Admins ndadzifambira nyaya dzenyu hamupo palist feel free to operate as normal
Anonymous · 4 months ago
This so called list is not explicit, there are deliberate grey areas that render this matter open to interpretation. Instead of been used to enforce privacy it can be twisted to instead violate that very same privacy. Furthermore, whatsapp has a robust encryption model, the chances of data leakages are slim but thats just the point isn't it, the government can not manipulate whatsapp and so it seeks to go after the administrators.
sad emoji1
Anonymous · 4 months ago
And you think that CID/CIO and police can't read your WhatsApp messages???? Think again.
NGWENDEZA · 4 months ago
Ndezvekupenga izvo
🌄🧱🍓🎊💞🎂🏆🍑🌽🍕👙 · 4 months ago
those are crazy ideas.we don't want crazy people in the ministries.the other thing which people does not no is that, this people from it want to try to track group messages because the current government think that group messages causes demonstration/strikes,so they want to destroy before it started.
Ediots · 4 months ago
This is censorship & has nothing to do with data protection. This is what happens when the donkeys go before the cart. Not that im denegrating donkeys by comparing them to some ediots.
laugh emoji1
mculi nthube · 4 months ago
Hanzi musaite zvemagroups. But that new policy is absurd, because the admins only have cellphone numbers, and no other personal details
Red eye · 4 months ago
ko wangu mazodze yadii
Dambudzo · 4 months ago
Kana muri kuenhancer data security and privacy for all citizens mari yacho ipai ini chivhayo
nherera · 4 months ago
interpreter in shona handzi na minister tichakupayi mubayiro ye us 50 ne 2500 mukayita magroup. se Chifambi for ED mbava for ED varoyi for ED. 2030 for ED Saka kasirai mupinde mu magroup aya
Dollarboy · 4 months ago
Mavetera wenyu uyu.Actors will never be ministers
👀👀 · 4 months ago
and vaakuda kudya mari thru watsap futi,and havapererwe
👀👀 · 4 months ago
l have 5 active grps ,so how much do l have to pay????
C+C+C · 4 months ago
Ndo ma Minister enyu ekupinda mabasa nemusana. Kuverenga policy chaiko haagoni, busy kufunga zvekukwigwa nemashefu. Fokofo mhani☹️
The Erudite · 4 months ago
S..e.x.ist much???...That woman is suitably qualified for her role and I can say with certainty that she is a better human than you and all your descendants....She is the epitome of black excellence who worked her way to the top while bottom of the barrel vermin like you were busy majoring on minors.... Erudite out
ndungezh · 4 months ago
paneakamunyepera hanakunge awana advic
(@) · 4 months ago
Mavetera rega kuwetera vamwe pirizi!
Patz · 4 months ago
Ana Mavetera wenyu awa nhaka tinoonerera. Some Ministries are too technical so they neen technocratic Ministers. Izvi zveku qualifier nekuti Wmen4ED izvi hazvibude
Kkk · 4 months ago
Lula4ED
dswaad · 4 months ago
Hello just been contacted by PR Director from Potraz. The issue is the Minister concerned did not put the issue to the public well. The whole thing is focused on organizations like Universities, medical aid societies, mobile telephone companies and any organization that stores a lot data involving members of the public. That data must be protected. Private family and social groups are not included. Hospitals are included. It’s meant to protect data of customers. That’s the explanation I got. @All Group Admins ndadzifambira nyaya dzenyu hamupo palist feel free to operate as normal
🧐 🤔 🤨 · 4 months ago
Better now zvakunzwisisika
🧐 🤔 🤨 · 4 months ago
Hazvina kuhwikwa izvi
Martin · 4 months ago
next time musaburitsa maminister muma whatsapp group.

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