By Dean Chisambo
Malawi Regulatory Authority ( MACRA) has emphasized it’s move to procure $1.5 million equivalent to K 3 billion integrated system which will help to analyse and track Misinformation an Disinformation that is being distributed on public social media platforms.
Speaking during the press briefing on Monday in Lilongwe MACRA Director General Daudi Suleman outlined that the system will help them as a regulator in bringing up strategies to protect the people of Malawi.
He said :” as we develop in this new digital media where the conception of misinformation is large via public social media spaces.
” It is very important for us to ensure that we equip the people of Malawi with necessary capacities for them to be able to decide which one is good information and which is bad information and they can react when they receive such information.”
He explained that the platform will not spy and infringe freedom of expression among the people but it will be monitoring public social media interfaces with Facebook and Twitter.
He stated that it does not go and read Whatsapp messages but only information that has been put in public space where the information is able to read and analyse.
He added that the element of spying which involves intrusion and surveillance is completely outside the scope .
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leader of opposition in Parliament Dr George Chaponda urged MACRA to stop their move of procuring the machine since the country is facing economic hardship.
Last week MACRA announced that they have made an agreement with a certain company from Ghana to procure the machine and to establish it in this country.
