I know most people treat WhatsApp like a super-private messaging service, but history tells us that that isn’t always the case.

Adam Catzavelos was outed as a racist after he shared a video to a WhatsApp group. He probably thought it would be safe to be bigoted around friends. It wasn’t.

There are a lot of big changes coming to the app. There are also a couple of new laws and regulations coming to South Africa that could affect the way you use it.

Here’s BusinessTech:

Government is looking to revive the Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity Bill which lapsed automatically when parliament was dissolved on 7 May 2019.

The bill aims to bring South Africa in line with other countries’ cyber laws as well as the ever-growing threat of cybercrime.

While the majority of the bill focuses on criminalising the theft and interference of data, it has also introduced new regulations surrounding any ‘malicious’ electronic communication.

There are three types of messages that the bill would define as “malicious”:

1. Messages that contain intimate pictures of another person distributed without their consent

The bill will align with the Film and Publications Amendment Act, which was recently signed into law, and officially makes revenge porn illegal.

Notably, the act states that any person who knowingly distributes private sexual photographs and films without prior consent and with intention to cause the said individual harm shall be guilty of an offence and liable upon conviction.

This will probably also get you banned from the service.

2. Messages that threaten another person with violence or damage to their property

The act also states that any person who knowingly distributes a message which amounts to propaganda for war, incites imminent violence, or advocates hate speech, shall be guilty of an offence.

This includes a possible fine not exceeding R150,000 and/or imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years.

3. Messages that encourage damage to property or violence

Once again, threatening to damage property or encouraging others to do so will land you with a fine or jail time, or both.

Look, the long and short of it is, when using WhatsApp, don’t be kak. 

Follow that simple rule and everything will be okay.

[source:businesstech]