CYBERCRIMINALS, FAKE NEWS PROPAGANDISTS WARNED
….we will fish you out, warns Mushimba
ZAMBIANS should not be worried about the fake news propaganda that has rocked the continent because the newly commissioned cyber crack squad will be able to effectively tackle the vice, Minister of Transport and Communications Brian Mushimba has said. Two African leaders, Alpha Conde of Guinea and Vice President Inonge Wina observed on Sunday that the use of social media to peddle lies would derail development and prodded the Africa Union to be concerned. The two leaders, who spoke after their informal meeting in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, also called on African governments to be alert to the threat posed by lies being peddled through social media. When asked whether Zambians should be worried about the scourge as pointed out by the two leaders, Mr Mushimba said that the crack squad was equal to the task and that there was no need for panic. "Propaganda will also be tackled by that specialized team," he said. Recently, Mr Mushimba announced that Government had set up a crack squad comprising officers from Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) and other investigative wings to tackle cybercrime and fake news. Mr Mushimba said that following the formation of the crack team, the nation would witness a more concerted and enhanced presence online to track down and fish out people using cyber space for criminal activities. He warned that individuals bent on using social media to spread fake news and other criminality would be arrested and prosecuted. He said once the crack squad became fully operational, its activities to curb fake news and cybercrime would immediately become visible. Mr Mushimba disclosed that the squad was finalizing a few things before it could start operating and ensure that perpetrators of cybercrime and fake news were brought to book. “ZICTA has tried its best. There are people who are serving time right now, they have been prosecuted and sentenced based on ZICTA’s ability to trace and track them. We sat with ZICTA and directed them to enhance their methodologies, they have now created a crack squad to curb cybercrime and fake news,” he said.