The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) yesterday 13th April, 2021 presented a Position Paper on the proposed Cybercrime Bill 2020 at the Ministry of Information and Communications’ conference room, Youyi Building in Freetown.
SLAJ President, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, noted that the presentation is done in the same spirit of dialogue, cooperation, collaboration, and sincere exchanges that characterised the media’s relationship with the MIC during the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law and the passing of the IMC Bill 2020 into law.
He described the Cybercrime Bill as highly technical and therefore needs expert perspectives from professionals in human rights, media, cyber security, ICT, and the law, to name but a few.
“Our concern is mainly on provisions in the bill that have the potential to interfere with free speech, free media and privacy rights,” said Nasralla, and called on the Parliament of Sierra Leone to ensure these fundamental rights are always protected.
The media’s position is informed through consultative meetings led by SLAJ and the MRCG of all media groups in the country as follows: IMC, RAIC, IRN, GoNE, SLRU, WIMSAL, SWASAL, SLCRA, PPG, SLBC, Mass Communications Dept. FBC- USL, VEJU and photographers union.See page 8 for more.
