HARARE (Zimbabwe): The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) issued a statement on Monday, highlighting the illegality of collecting and disseminating sensitive personal information, pictures, or videos of individuals without their consent.
Perpetrators of such acts risk facing imprisonment for a period of up to five years.
POTRAZ expressed its concern over the escalating incidents involving the unauthorised collection and sharing of intimate images and videos without the consent of the featured individuals.
In recent years, numerous individuals have endured embarrassment and trauma after their former partners allegedly posted their nude pictures and videos on social media without consent.
According to POTRAZ, these actions are in violation of the Cyber and Data Protection Act, a legislation aimed at curbing the humiliation and embarrassment suffered by individuals whose intimate images and videos are shared without permission.
“POTRAZ as the designated Data Protection Authority of Zimbabwe has noted with concern the increasing number of incidents of collection, 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,” Zimbabwe’s news agency, New Ziana reported.
POTRAZ emphasised that this legislation not only safeguards citizens from humiliation but also enables the arrest of those who post unauthorised images or videos of others.
These measures align with the fundamental rights to human dignity and privacy, as enshrined in Sections 51 and 57 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, respectively.
The consequences of posting unflattering images and videos online can have far-reaching effects on the individuals affected and their loved ones. The potential for discrimination stemming from such actions can lead to depression and, tragically, even suicide. – BERNAMA-XINHUA
