Rufunsa District Commissioner, Judith Chama has commended the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) for embarking on engagement meetings with stakeholders on the child online protection service.
Speaking during the child online protection stakeholders’ engagement meeting Mrs. Chama said the availability and penetration of electronic platforms has continued to affect social attitudes, community values between individuals, and general interactions.
She said that in as much as social and electronic media platforms provide opportunities for the general public, the growing availability of technologies and new internet services have tremendously exposed children and young people to increased risks.
ZANIS reports that Mrs. Chama explained that while children are exposed to illicit content such as pornography, as well as falling prey to child online dating, hate speech, violent content, and cyberbullying at an early age.
She noted that cyberbullying and other forms of peer-to-peer violence can affect young people, hence the need to have services that protect them from such vices.
The District Commissioner commended ZICTA for enhancing government effort towards mitigating the risks of cybercrimes with a number of interventions, among them, the enactment of three pieces of legislation which ensure that citizens and children are protected online.
She said among the laws are the Cyber Security and Cyber-Crime Act No. 2 of 2021, the Data protection Act No. 3 of 2021 and the Electronic communications and Transaction Act No 4 of 2021 which are all aimed at creating confidence, security and trust in the cyber space, for all internet users.
And ZICTA Manager Consumer Protection and Compliance, Edgar Mlauzi called for consented efforts in the protection of the child, from the use of social and electronic media.
Mr Mlauzi said the child online protection should not be left to ZICTA alone but needs a holistic approach to protect the child in the use of social and electronic media.
He said each one has a part to play in the global effort to protect children online hence the need to safeguard our children from wrong use of the internet.
This is what happens when you appoint cadres in such positions…how many children even use the Internet in Rufunsa?
This is indeed a good thing. Zicta we thank you for keeping us safe. Especially from these upnd diasporans who are bringing these dirty videos to our society
Styupid *****s