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To: Adv Bongani Thomas Bongo, Minister of State Security

Tell Bongo: #HandsOffSocialMedia!

We the undersigned demand a withdrawal of the Cybercrimes Bill's proposed regulations on 'malicious communications', which could lead to censorship on social media!

Why is this important?

We need to send a message to Minister of State Security David Mahlobo: #HandsOffSocialMedia

State Security Minister David Mahlobo has stated that government is considering regulations for social media, with the aim of dealing with “fake news” and “false narratives”. [1]

That is exactly what the new Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity Bill wants to do. [2]

The Bill will make 'malicious communications' a crime, including publishing anything which is 'inherently false' - but who decides what is false or not?

Social media platforms are the place that millions of South Africans come to access and share information freely. This is where we exercise our freedom of expression. It’s a vital part of democracy.

The Minister of State Security cannot be given the power decide what news is “fake” and which narratives are “false” —democracy is about citizens exercising their own judgement and deciding for themselves!

In fact, we have seen across the world that governments that try to “regulate” social media in the name of “national security” has led directly to internet censorship and a clampdown on freedom of expression [3] . In the last year alone these include Brazil, China, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe. We will not let Mzansi go the same way!

Citizens have spoken: #HandsOffSocialMedia! No spooks regulating the internet!

LINKS:
[1] http://www.r2k.org.za/2017/03/07/state-security-hands-off-the-internet-no-to-spooks-regulating-social-media/
[2] http://www.groundup.org.za/article/cybercrimes-bill-threatens-our-freedom/
[3] http://www.r2k.org.za/2017/03/07/state-security-hands-off-the-internet-no-to-spooks-regulating-social-media/

Updates

2017-10-17 11:39:23 +0200

President Jacob Zuma announced a cabinet reshuffle. The new campaign target is Adv Bongani Thomas Bongo who is now the new Minister of State Security.

http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2017/10/17/president-jacob-zuma-announces-cabinet-reshuffle

2017-03-29 10:14:51 +0200

1,000 signatures reached

2017-03-28 11:22:31 +0200

500 signatures reached

2017-03-16 10:18:34 +0200

We've already got hundreds of people behind the #HandsOffSocialMedia demands.
Help us get to 500 signatures! Please send this petition to 10 people by Facebook, email, WhatsApp etc

2017-03-10 07:15:04 +0200

100 signatures reached

2017-03-09 16:06:02 +0200

50 signatures reached

2017-03-09 14:22:22 +0200

25 signatures reached

2017-03-08 21:43:48 +0200

10 signatures reached