Website and strict internet rules planned for South Africa

The dotZA Domain Name Authority (Zadna) has released draft rules to further regulate the registration and operation of websites in South Africa.

Registrars are the organizations that help users purchase and set up their domains. If you wanted to set up a website on a .co.za domain, you would go to one of the many hosting companies in South Africa, who also offer registrar services, My Broadband reports.

Some of the key proposals include:

• Registrars must collect and store identity documents, physical addresses, and contact information of individuals wishing to register dotZA domains;
• License and registration fees payable through the registry – yet to be determined;
• Registrars must apply for a license, which will be valid for 10 years;
• If non-commercial registrars cease to operate, they must provide customer registration data to Zadna;
• Registrars must provide general Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) information with their license application, particularly details of BEE ownership.

The Films and Publications Act (FPA)

The Films and Publications Act (FPA), which came into force on March 1, 2022, is also expected to further regulate websites in the country.

The Amendment Act comes into force at a time when governments around the world are grappling with the escalation of potentially harmful content on digital platforms. It grants the Film and Publications Board (FPB) significant powers to regulate online content in the country, including:

Some of the key changes introduced by the new legislation include:

• The law will give the FPB the power to regulate almost all online content published in South Africa – not just the films and TV it previously regulated;

• All online distributors will be required to register and submit all content to FPB for classification;

• Alternatively, online distributors will need to apply to the FPB Board for self-classification accreditation or approval to use classification scores issued by a foreign or international classification authority;

• No one may expose, by any means whatsoever, including the Internet and social networks, a private photograph of a sexual nature (revenge pornography);

• Anyone who knowingly disseminates “hate speech” in any medium that amounts to propaganda for war, incites imminent violence or advocates hate speech, will be guilty of an offence;

• If an Internet service provider has knowledge that its services are being used for the hosting or distribution of child pornography, propaganda for war, incitement to imminent violence or incitement to hatred based on an identifiable characteristic of group, they will immediately remove that content, or face a fine.

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