The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has warned Malawians to desist from engaging in a free distribution and transmition of pornographic material.
The warning follows recent sharp rise in leakage of ponographic materials on facebook and WhatsApp with the latest being that of unknown man having sex with a Secondary School pupil from St. Michaels in Mangochi.
In the statement MACRA Acting Director General Henry Silika said the malpractise is against the law.
“MACRA urges all Malawians that while exercising their freedom of online communication, they should be mindful of the laws governing such communication. These laws include the Electronic Transactions and Cyber Security Act, 2016, specifically section 24 (2) and section 85.
“Anyone violating the law is liable to a fine of K10,000,000 (Ten Million Kwacha),” reads in part the statement.
Below is the statement;
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT WARNING AGAINST DISTRIBUTION OF PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL
The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) would like to warn the general public that it is against the law to possess, distribute and transmit pornographic material in the country.
MACRA urges all Malawians that while exercising their freedom of online communication, they should be mindful of the laws governing such communication. These laws include the Electronic Transactions and Cyber Security Act, 2016, specifically section 24 (2) and section 85.
Anyone violating the law is liable to a fine of K10,000,000 (Ten Million Kwacha).
The law also provides for imprisonment for 15 (fifteen) years for committing any of the following acts:
• Production of pornographic material for the purpose of its distribution through a computer system;
• Reproduction of pornographic material for the purpose of itsdistribution through an information system;
• Offering or making available any pornographic material through an information system;
• Distribution or transmission of any pornographic material through an information system; and
• Possession of any child pornographic material in a computer system or on a computer data storage medium.
Related to children, section 85 as read with section 2 of the Act provides that a criminal offence of child pornography is committed if a person depicts, presents or represents a person under the age of
eighteen engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
MACRA is urging the general public to desist from engaging in these prohibited acts or risk prosecution.
The public is further encouraged to report to the nearest Police station any person who is engaged in the above-cited acts.
Henry Silika
ACTING DIRECTOR GENERAL
