-nudists face jail time
MARTIN MAWAYA
HARARE-The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) will next week roll out a massive awareness campaigns to educate the public on the Cyber and Data Protection Act.
In a statement this morning, POTRAZ Director General Dr Gift Machengete said the Act was promulgated to protect citizen’s personal data from abuse.
“To ensure data is protected from abuse or manipulation, Government has enacted the Cyber and Data Protection Act ( Chapter 12:07). The Act ensures that individuals have better control over their personal information and that this information is processed for a legitimate purpose and in a lawful, fair and transparent manner.
“In this regard, POTRAZ is organizing public sensitization and awareness workshops across the country to educate data subjects, about their rights as enshrined in the Cyber and Data Protection Act, beginning with Harare province from 20-22 June 2023,” he said.
Dr Machengete added that members of the public should be aware that some of their online activities generate a trail of data as some organizations websites and applications collect data from individual behaviors and interests for various purposes.
Meanwhile, Machengete said POTRAZ is concerned by the increase in the distribution and broadcasting of obscene images and videos without the consent of the owner.
The regulatory authority strongly warned the public against engaging in unlawful acts and violating the law by distribution of sensitive personal information.
“POTRAZ as the designated Data Protection Authority of Zimbabwe has noted with concern over the increasing number of incidents of collecting, 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.
“Intimate images and videos form part of personal information which is categorized as sensitive data under Cyber and Data Protection Act,” says POTRAZ
He said the law empowers the citizens to have control over the processing of their personal data in line with the fundamental human rights to privacy as enshrined in the constitution.
