{"id":97566,"date":"2016-07-09T13:22:48","date_gmt":"2016-07-09T11:22:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/?p=97566"},"modified":"2016-07-11T13:51:49","modified_gmt":"2016-07-11T11:51:49","slug":"south-africa-voted-against-internet-freedom-this-is-why","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/broadband\/97566-south-africa-voted-against-internet-freedom-this-is-why","title":{"rendered":"South Africa voted against Internet freedom: this is why"},"content":{"rendered":"

South Africa recently voted<\/a><\/strong> with countries like China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar to weaken a United Nations resolution that aims to protect Internet freedom.<\/p>\n

The draft resolution was titled \u201cThe promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the Internet\u201d.<\/p>\n

Following the passing of the resolution, freedom of expression organisation Article 19 expressed disappointment with South Africa.<\/p>\n

\u201cDemocracies like South Africa, Indonesia, and India voted in favour of these hostile amendments to weaken protections for freedom of expression online\u201d, said Article 19.<\/p>\n

Under the resolution, states are bound to refrain from \u201cmeasures to intentionally prevent or disrupt access to or dissemination of information online\u201d.<\/p>\n

This includes measures to shut down the Internet or part of the Internet at any time, such as during an election or in the aftermath of a terrorist attack, said Article 19.<\/p>\n

South Africa votes against Internet for all<\/h3>\n

A\u00a0\u201chuman rights-based approach\u201d was also included in the resolution, to provide and expand access to the Internet.<\/p>\n

South Africa was one of 15 countries that voted in favour of an amendment led by China and Russia to have this section removed.<\/p>\n

Other countries which voted with South Africa included Burundi, Cuba, India, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela.<\/p>\n

South Africa votes against human rights online<\/h3>\n

Another amendment aimed to remove references to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and language on freedom of expression from the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.<\/p>\n

States voting in favour of the amendment included South Africa,\u00a0Bolivia, China, Cuba, India, Indonesia, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela.<\/p>\n

While the resolution technically passed without a vote, South\u00a0Africa explained why we\u00a0would have voted against it before Russia announced that they\u00a0would not be calling for a vote to\u00a0oppose\u00a0it.<\/p>\n

Deputy Permanent Representative for the South African Permanent Mission to the UN and other International Organisations in Geneva, Ncumisa Pamella Notutela, delivered the explanation.<\/p>\n

South Africa would like to make an Explanation of Vote before the vote on this draft resolution.<\/p>\n

The South African constitution guarantees the exercise of the right of freedom of opinion and expression.<\/p>\n

However, incitement to hatred is problematic in the context where we are having our domestic debates on racism and the criminalisation thereof.<\/p>\n

The exercise of the right to freedom of opinion and expression is not absolute, and carries with it duties and responsibilities for right-holders.<\/p>\n

The draft resolution does not make reference to acts of hatred propagated through the cyberspace, including cyberbullying, despite having extensive focus on Internet and information and communication technologies.<\/p>\n

In this context, the main sponsors are certain that the exercise of the freedom of opinion and expression, on and offline, is not subject to limitations, is a false notion.<\/p>\n

The draft resolution omits key provisions on the permissible limitations and prohibition of hate speech under international human rights law.<\/p>\n

Finally, Mr President, we would like to implore the main sponsors to align their draft resolution with international law.<\/p>\n

I thank you.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Notutela\u2019s objections to the resolution are curious considering it contains wording which deals with\u00a0hate speech and cyberbullying, such as:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • \u201cAffirms that the same rights that people have offline must also be protected\u00a0online, in particular freedom of expression.\u201d<\/li>\n
  • \u201cStresses the importance of combating advocacy of hatred that constitutes\u00a0incitement to discrimination or violence on the Internet.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    A video of Notutela\u2019s explanation is embedded below.<\/p>\n