Government is in process of drafting a bill to regulate Social Media use, which will make it punitive for perpetuators who spread fake and illicit information.
This has been disclosed by the Minister of ICT & National Guidance, Chris Baryomunsi during an interface with the parliamentary committee of ICT chaired by Budiope East MP, Moses Magogo.
Minister Baryomunsi disclosed that Government plans to enact a law that will regulate social media use. Baryomunsi decried the wide spread social media abuse in the country which necessitates a strong law.
Baryomunsi noted that the law is going make it punitive for one to publish illicit content and fake information. It will also go for those who forward or share prohibited content.
He explained that the Computer Misuse Act has not helped to reign in on offenders due to soft penalties and gaps in the law.
The bill will be drafted and tabled before parliament before the end of this year.
The minister disclosed after ICT committee members expressed concerns over increased cases of social media misuse which they blamed on regulation vacuum.
However, some MPs are concerned that the law on social media is a ploy to gag the freedom of speech and expression.
Members of parliament also slammed the ministry of ICT and UCC for sleeping on the job as media houses operate below the minimum broadcasting standards. They mentioned programmes which broadcast illicit content without control.
In the eve of January 14th elections, the government shut down Facebook to curb the much-anticipated post-election violence but up to date, it has not been reopened.
