The US Embassy in Zambia has warned its citizens to be careful about a new “obsessive” cybersecurity law introduced in the South African country.
The Embassy issued a signal, telling Americans “in or planning to visit Zambia from a new law that requires the interception and monitoring of all electronic communications in the country.”
This includes calls, emails, texts and streaming content “in the country to evaluate whether they include any transmission of” critical information “, a term that the law determines so widely that it can be applied to almost any activity,” the embassy said.
The Zambia government has said the law is necessary to deal with online fraud and child pornography, as well as distribution of misinformation.
Following a signal from the US Embassy, the Zambia Foreign Ministry has released a statement stating that the new Cybersecurity Act is not intended to invade any person's privacy – whether Zambians or foreigners.
“The law does not allow a mass or accidental monitoring. Any offsetting or request for data requires an order issued by the court,” the statement said.
The statement added that “the classification of” critical information “concerning national security” and all evaluations or actions taken are carried out by authorized institutions in accordance with a proper process. “
There is concern that the law can be used against anyone who criticizes the government, especially with the elections that should appear next year.
Some Zambians have expressed concern that a new cybersecurity department is being set up in the president's office.
Joan Chirva, founder of the FREE Press Zambia campaign group, told the BBC “This was a sad day for Zambia.”
She said the law would not “affect the journalists or organizations of civil society. It will affect everyone in Zambia.”
The new measure enables an employee of the order to introduce any premises for searching and seizing a computer or computer system containing a material that is either proof necessary to prove a crime or acquired by a person as a result of a crime.
It also allows the government to extradite the Zambians, who are considered to have committed any crime under the law, with a number of prescribed prisons.
Violators can be fined or closed for five and 15 years, depending on the crime they committed.
Among other provisions, legislation requires information and communication technologies (ICT) companies that actively capture all electronic communications.
He was signed in the law by President Hakainde on April 8 with very little publicity and the first many Zambians knew about this when the US Embassy posted his Facebook signal.
“As this new law introduces an obsessive observation ecosystem significantly different from the Privacy Protection Provisions, which are prevalent in many countries, the United States Embassy encourages Americans living in Zambia or considering visiting the country for careful evaluation of the consequences of this law and adapting accordingly.”
The signal came as a surprise to many, as the United States is evident that they are enjoying a warm connection with the administration -led administration, although the ambassador has recently been critical of the suspected corruption in the government.
Zambia enjoyed frosty relations with the United States after the former government expelled its Ambassador to Gay Fut's rights in 2019, but relations improved after Hihillema was elected in 2021.
Social commentator and civil rights activist Laura Mitty accused the US Embassy of Hypocrisy, while marking the new tyrannical law.
“While Edward Snowden has not revealed the issue, the United States has been secretly exploring its citizens for years. He remains in exile and one of the most sought after people in US law enforcement agencies,” she wrote on Facebook. “This raises the eyebrow for this from the US Embassy. Really hypocritical.”
However, she also condemned the new law.
“This … is a very tyrannical law that the government needs only because it feels insecure.”
In 2021, while he was still in opposition, Hihillema opposed such a law when the former government wanted to accept it, it was written: “The bill on cybersecurity and crimes is not to prevent cyber harassment. This is to tighten the freedom of expression and spying on citizens.”
Opposition legislator Miles Sampa accuses the hychillem of turning a turn now when he is president.
“My question is when you changed this position to sign now a law that almost 100% prohibits US citizens from expressing ourselves on Facebook, X, Instagram, Tiktok, etc., without being imprisoned for 25 years or life imprisonment,” he wrote on Facebook.
“In the current state of cyber the laws you have agreed to, the president, you can also sign martial law (state of state) to throw away democracy so that we all stop talking and leave it to your good yourself to express yourself.”