The Government of Zimbabwe has introduced new regulations that mandate fees and licensing for WhatsApp group administrators to tighten control over social media use.
Under the new guidelines, WhatsApp group administrators are required to pay a $50 fee and obtain a formal license from the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe. This measure was announced as Zimbabwe seeks to enhance the regulation of online platforms and curb the dissemination of misleading information through social media.
Tatenda Mavetera, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting, spearheaded the introduction of these rules, highlighting their intention to mitigate the risks of social unrest and violence that can arise from the spread of misinformation.
The regulations also aim to harmonize with the provisions of Zimbabwe’s Data Protection Act, which enforces stringent oversight of personal data that could be used for identification. Given that WhatsApp group administrators have access to the phone numbers of all participants, this data management falls under the Act’s jurisdiction.
Moreover, the Act facilitates legal actions against deceptive practices masked as business marketing or customer communications, safeguarding consumers and preventing the spread of fraudulent and misleading information across social media platforms.
