Allan Kigozi Sempala, a lawyer working with Unwanted Witness and a digital rights activist has said that the proposals of the Computer Misuse (Amendment) Bill 2022 by Kampala Central Member of Parliament Muhammad Nsereko are unnecessary.
Sempala says the call to amend the said the bill is meant to suppress a certain group of people and its brought in bad.
“The Computer misuse amendment bill 2022 is brought in bad faith to target a certain group yet currently the only platform that people have to express their opinions without disruption is social media. Therefore, its objective is to suppress one sector of the citizenry yet the only avenue that people have to vent out their dissatisfaction and hold their leaders accountable is social media. If holding you accountable offends you then many people are going to be convicted? No human, body, or government has the infinite wisdom to determine if something is demeaning or not. What you find offensive in your language might be okay with me,” he added.
Sempala added that the hallmark of any democracy is the ability for people to express themselves and the intention of protecting freedom of expression should also protect those who have ideas and opinions that are not favourable.
“The computer misuse (amendment) bill 2022 is not bringing anything new.. all the insertions are already catered for in the Data Protection and Privacy Act, 2019. The only problem with the Data Protection and Privacy Act 2019 is that it isn’t as punitive as it should be. It ought to be made more stringent. If there is anything to amend in the principal Act, it should be section 25 because of its ambiguity.”
The said (Amendment bill) of the Computer Misuse Act on Tuesday was tabled by Nsereko for the first reading in which a new set of offences punishable with lengthy jail terms and fines were introduced.
Clause 2 of the Bill seeks to amend section 12 of the Computer Misuse Act to criminalize hacking of another person’s electronic device and publishing information obtained therefrom. “A person who, without authorization,(a) accesses or intercepts any programme or another person’s data or information; (b) voice or video records another person; or (c) shares any information about or that relates to another person, commits an offence,” reads Clause 2.
While tabling it, Nsereko prescribed Shs15 million, seven years in jail or both such imprisonment and fine.
Sharing of information on children without the consent of persons responsible for them will be an offence if the new Bill succeeds and the punishments remain the same, Shs15 million in fines, seven years in jail or both.
“A person shall not send, share or transmit any information about or relating to a child through a computer unless the person obtains the consent of the child’s parent, guardian or any other person having authority to make decisions on behalf of the child,” reads clause 3.
Also, sharing unsolicited information, or malicious or misleading information, will all earn one seven years in jail, Shs15 million in fines or both stringent punishments.
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