New Ziana (Harare)-THE Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) has said it is illegal to collect and share sensitive personal information, pictures or videos of other citizens without their permission and perpetrators risk being jailed for up to five years.
In a statement on Monday, POTRAZ said it is concerned at the growing incidences of unauthorized collection and sharing of intimate images or videos without the consent of the featured persons.
Over the years a number of individuals have been embarrassed and traumatised after their former partners allegedly posted their nude pictures and videos on social media without their consent.
POTRAZ said such acts are illegal in terms of the Cyber and Data Protection Act, which seeks to curb the humiliation and embarrassment of persons whose intimate images and or videos would have been shared.
“POTRAZ as the designated Data Protection Authority of Zimbabwe has noted with concern the increasing number of incidents of collection, sharing, distribution and or broadcasting of intimate images and or videos without the consent of the person whose intimate images and or videos would have been shared,” it said.
“The purpose of this Notice is to advice members of the public that intimate images and videos form part of personal information which is categorised as sensitive data under the Cyber and Data Protection Act [Chapter 12:07]. The Cyber and Data Protection Act [Chapter 12:07] as read with Section 164E of Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act [Chapter 9:07] prohibits the collection, transfer, sharing and or broadcasting of intimate images and or videos without the consent of the person concerned.”
POTRAZ said the law shields citizens from humiliation and allows the arrest of those who post unauthorized images or videos of other individuals.
“This is in line with the fundamental rights to human dignity and the right to privacy as enshrined in the Constitution of Zimbabwe in Sections 51 & 57 respectively,” it said.
Unflattering images and videos posted online can have far-reaching effects on the affected persons and their loved ones, while the potential for discrimination can lead to depression and, tragically, even suicide.
New Ziana.
