IMANI Africa’s Vice President for Innovation and Strategy, Selorm Branttie, has issued a stern warning that the government’s proposed amendments to the Cybersecurity Act could be weaponised to suppress dissent and violate citizens’ digital rights.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Midday News on Monday, October 27, Mr. Branttie said some of the stipulations in the draft bill, if enacted, could hand excessive control over online communications to the state.

"The core of it is that it is a dangerous thing to have laws like this, or some of the stipulations in laws like this dictating what should be the government's response, or the response to some of these things that happen digitally.

"In the wrong hands, this could be used to abuse the personal rights of many individuals, and could be used to target people perceived as political opponents or people perceived as not liked by anybody who is in authority," he said.

He argued that while cybersecurity is important for national safety, laws designed to protect it must not compromise fundamental freedoms such as free expression and privacy.

The Cybersecurity (Amendment) Bill, 2025 seeks to update the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038) to address emerging online threats, enhance national digital security infrastructure, and strengthen enforcement powers for state agencies.

However, government has come under increasing pressure to withdraw or revise the proposed Cybersecurity (Amendment) Bill after sections of the public, civil society organizations, and members of the Minority in Parliament described it as a threat to free speech.

The bill is currently before Parliament’s Communications Committee for consideration, with public consultations expected to continue in the coming weeks.

The Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, which is sponsoring the bill, says the intent is to safeguard the nation’s cyberspace and prevent online abuses.