THE CONFERENCE ONLINE MISA ZIMBABWE INTERNET GOVERNANCE ONLINE DISCUSSION FORUM http://www.misazim.com/index.php/forum Q Social media platforms should be regulated and government should oversee private conversations. Would you agree? including electronic and telephonic communication infringed…' .If social media platforms are to be regulated and the government overseeing private conversation, l think the right to privacy will be violated. Overseeing of private conversations by the government exposes citizens to victimization. Constitution-wise, no, it shouldn't but people need to take a look at the situation realistically. The government might get BILLIONS and TRILLIONS of texts, emails, and IMs every day and logically chances are low, if not none, that the government may be able to manually sift through loads of information, as such it would be mainly automated. So people should not be bothered as long as their conversations don’t threaten national security. I think we should observe online ethics, respect other people's privacy on social platforms. Lately in Zimbabwe social media is characterized by too much pornography, gruesome murder pictures, vulgar language and hate speech. However, I feel that we should be allowed to have open conversations on our national political, economic and social issues without restriction and fear. Well if government is now "overseeing" private conversations then where is the privacy there?? It’s a tricky one but one way or the other government should be able to strike a balance between safeguarding people's right to privacy and state security which is one of the reasons why governments push for the regulation of social media and other online platforms Regulation of social media is already there in a sense. In order to use certain apps you have to abide by certain rules. And obviously there is the ethics that have to be observed. But Government overseeing people’s communication in general is a violation of their privacy. I don't think that they should be regulated. Why? Because it is simply too much censorship on the part of the government and it is, in a way, tyrannical. Section 57 of Zimbabwe’s constitution says 'everyone has the right not to have their privacy which includes the right to have their communication, INTERNET GOVERNANCE MULTISTAKEHOLDER CONFERENCE REPORT 2015 034 www.misazim.com @misazimbabwe MISA Zimbabwe