Public encouraged to report to Police any person distributing pornographic material

* Anyone violating the law is liable to a fine of K10 million or 15 years imprisonment

Maravi Express

Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) is reminding  the general public to desist from distribution and transmit of pornographic material as this is against the law punishable to a fine of K10 million or 15 years imprisonment.

Thus MACRA encourages to report to the Police any person they discover to possess, who is engaged in the illegal distribution and transmission of pornographic.

In a statement from MACRA’s acting Director General, Henry Silika urges Malawians that “while exercising their freedom of online communication, they should be mindful of the laws governing such communication”.

“These laws include the Electronic Transactions and Cyber Security Act, 2016, specifically section 24 (2) and section 85,” says the statement.

“Anyone violating the law is liable to a fine of K10 million. The law also provides for imprisonment for 15 years for committing any of the following acts:

• Production of pornographic material for the purpose of its distribution through a computer system;

  • Reproduction of pornographic material for the purpose of its distribution through an information system;

  • Offering or making available any pornographic material through an information system;

  • Distribution or transmission of any pornographic material through an information system; and

  • Possession of any child pornographic material in a computer system or on a computer data storage medium.

“Related to children, section 85 as read with section 2 of the Act provides that a criminal offence of child pornography is committed if a person depicts, presents or represents a person under the age of eighteen engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

“MACRA is urging the general public to desist from engaging in these prohibited acts or risk prosecution.”