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'Oppose internet censorship'
25/07/2001 07:33 - (SA)
Cape Town - Anti-censorship organisations have appealed to South Africans to protest against proposed internet censorship legislation.
According to Adriana Stuijt of the Censorship Bugbear Family, the "draconian censorship law" would severely censor, curtail, eavesdrop on, monitor, intercept and "completely regulate" all internet communications between SA and the rest of the world.
The draft Interception and Monitoring Bill "will allow blocking and snooping on the internet, all in the interest of 'state security'".
"Object to this draconian law today, because the SA government has only given citizens less than three weeks to register a response," the organisation said.
The bill was introduced in Parliament and referred to the Justice and Constitutional Development portfolio committee for consideration last week.
Committee chairperson Johnny de Lange said the measure aims to "regulate the interception and monitoring of communications".
De Lange said it also provides for "interception of postal articles and communications and for the monitoring of communications in the case of a serious offence or if the security or other compelling national interests of the republic are threatened".
The legislation further prohibits the provision of certain telecommunication services which "do not have the capacity to be monitored", and regulates "authorised telecommunications monitoring".
All correspondence should be addressed to: The Secretary to Parliament, PO Box 15, Cape Town, 8000, and marked for the attention of Collette Herzenberg or Zodwa Zenzile (fax (021) 462 2142).
- SAPA
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