Africa-Press – Eswatini. Prince Mvilawemphi, the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the Eswatini Communications Commission(ESCCOM) has warned couples against threatening to leak sex videos or pictures saying “this remains a criminal offense in terms of the Cyber and Computer Crime Act”.
Responding on Thursday afternoon when asked to share an expert view amid escalating cases where partners or separated couples end-up thretening to leak private sex information in the midst of a misunderstanding, Dlamini consistently maintained that, “sex information between consenting adults remains private and therefore”, anyone who might decide to leak such confidential information risk being arrested and charged under the Cyber Crime Act
Dlamini further noted that, such “normally happens when a person decides to use the information shared to him/her in confidence and based on trust, to blackmail his/her current or ex-lover in demand for money.
“As ESCCOM, we have observed troubling incidents where individuals, previously in romantic relationships, resort to blackmail or sextortion by threatening to release intimate photos/videos. This conduct is not only unethical but also illegal, and it is essential to clarify its implications under the existing Cybercrime legislation. As the Commission, and in our role as the National Cybersecurity Agency, we wish to strongly caution the public against engaging in such behavior,” said the ESCCOM CEO.
On another note, the ESCCOM Chief Executive Officer stated that, under Section 18 of the Computer and Cybercrime Act of 2022, any form of cyber extortion using digital platforms “remains a criminal” offense and offenders face up to five(5) years in prison.
“Under Section 18 of the Computer Crime and Cybercrime Act of 2022, any form of cyber extortion using digital platforms-such as the internet, email, or computer system-is a criminal offence. Upon conviction, offenders may face up to five years of imprisonment or a fine equivalent to ten times the amount they sought to extort. Additionally, this behavior contravenes Section 9 of the Data Protection Act, as the intimate videos in question constitute personal data. Sharing or threatening to share such content amounts to data processing, which must be legally justified-typically through the individual’s explicit consent, which is clearly absent in these scenarios. Sextortion represents a serious violation of privacy and digital safety. It is a serious and increasingly common form of online exploitation”, he said.
Dlamini then urged all citizens to exercise caution privately and online, protect their personal information and, further report any suspicious or coercive activity to their nearest Police Station.
“Before you share nudes and other private info, be mindful that there is a thin line between love and hate. By working together, we can build a safer, more respectful digital environment for all in Eswatini”, said ESCCOM CEO.
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