The Court of Appeal has dismissed an application seeking to suspend sections of the Cybercrimes Act that criminalise publication of fake news related to Covid-19. They wanted the court to suspend enforcement of section on false publication and publication of false information in the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018. The court noted that the application was prompted by the arrest of specific individuals who were said to have disseminated false information on Covid-19 deaths. In the application, LSK had argued that if those provisions were not outlawed, criminal prosecutions would follow and the persons who to be arraigned would possibly be sent to prison. The LSK further argued that the arrest, arraignment and prosecution of Covid-19 related publication under the statute was likely to have a chilling effect.

Source: The Star August 10, 2020 16:52 UTC