The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have circulated a statement to the local media which include Criminalizing journalists and social media activists if they insult or underestimate safe or publish any misinformation.
According to the statement, the punishments seemed to be very harsh as it may reach 20 years imprisonment. The statement said that procedures were launched against a number of journalists and social media activists who tried to tarnish the image of the SAF. This new development will make freedom of speech and freedom of express at stake.
Cybercrime law identifies standards of acceptable behaviour for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) users; establishes socio-legal sanctions for cybercrime; protects ICT users in general, and mitigates and/or prevents harm to people, data, systems, services, and infrastructure, in particular; protects human.
I personally believe that there is no absolute freedom through which we can violate others privacy; but the punishments must not be like a revenge considering that excessive measures will led to more turmoil and chaos. Naturally, human being rebel and resist any laws enforced without consultations.
In Sudan we are still too far from imposing cybercrime law due to long absence of freedom which create hopeless situation; so in the post revolution era many people think it is a chance to express their opinion freely and in a democratic way.
For sure before stipulating laws we need charters of honor – or say code of ethics – to preserve each and every institutions its rights and legal obligation.
Renaissance of conscious and awareness should be before any laws and mutual respect. We need to cultivate culture of respecting each other; people respect their army; and SAF respect the people and other state’s institutions. This the only sure way to prevent offensive of cybercrime and gradually can be implemented without mercy for those who insist to commit such crimes intentionally
