Eswatini Newsrooms Watchdog Role and Legal Compliance Fact-Check
“The Legal and Ethical Framework: Balancing the “Watchdog” Role In the current media environment of Eswatini, a modern newsroom must act as a “watchdog” for the public while operating within a complex legal system. To maintain credibility and avoid legal action, the newsroom’s strategy must align with the Constitution of Eswatini, the Computer Crime and Cybercrime Act (2022), and the Data Protection Act (2022). These laws create a framework that allows journalists to report the truth while avoiding public instability and protecting individual rights (Masters, 2024). Navigating the Computer Crime and Cybercrime Act (2022) The Computer Crime and Cybercrime Act introduces specific risks for digital newsrooms, especially regarding the spread of false information and unauthorized access to data. To continue serving as a “watchdog” without violating this Act, our newsroom follows a “Verify-First” protocol. According to Constantino (2023), the criminalization of digital misinformation means that reporters must treat every viral social media story from platforms such as TikTok or WhatsApp as unverified until it is confirmed by a human editor using at least two independent sources. This process helps the newsroom avoid the legal risk of spreading false digital information, which is a punishable offence under the 2022 Act. Ethical Standards and SNAJ Compliance Ethical integrity is guided by the Swaziland National Association of Journalists (SNAJ) Code of Ethics. According to Moyo (2021), truthfulness and accountability are what separate professional journalism from misleading social media “spin.” Ethical framework focuses on the following principles: • Source Protection: The newsroom uses encrypted communication tools to protect whistleblowers. This allows journalists to expose corruption without placing sources at legal or personal risk. • The Right of Reply: To avoid defamation claims under common law and other legal provisions, any person or official accused of wrongdoing is given a fair opportunity to respond before publication (Times of Eswatini, 2023). • Protection of Vulnerable People: Special care is taken to protect the privacy of children and victims of violence, as required by the Data Protection Act (Digital Watch Observatory, 2022). AI Ethics and Transparency As AI-generated “deepfakes” become more common, the newsroom’s watchdog role also includes protecting the public from digital deception. Jelassi (2024) argues that human oversight is essential for all AI-assisted content. Our newsroom policy states that although AI may assist with tasks such as data analysis, the final ethical decision must always be made by a human journalist. This reduces the risk of publishing manipulated content that could mislead the public during elections or create threats to national security (EBC, 2023). By combining legal compliance with strong ethical standards, the newsroom remains a trusted voice for the people while operating within the laws of Eswatini. Please check if these are facts”
Summary
The Computer Crime and Cybercrime Act 2022 and the Data Protection Act 2022 do exist in Eswatini, but the cyber law does not criminalise “fake news” or digital misinformation, contrary to the claim. Defamation in Eswatini is pursued through privacy‑related provisions rather than a statutory “right of reply,” and there is no evidence that the cited ethical codes or AI policies are mandated by law. Consequently, several key assertions in the passage are not supported by current sources.
Sources 80 searched
- 2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Eswatini
The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content, and there were no credible reports that the government monitored private online communications without appropriate legal authority.
- 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Eswatini
Libel/Slander Laws: Although the country had no formal criminal libel or slander laws and no laws forbidding criticism of the monarchy, the courts entertained defamation lawsuits through other legal provisions such as the right to privacy. Media outlets were often taken to court for defaming powerful leaders and charged large fines if found guilty. The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content. The government limited the freedom of peaceful assembly.
- نظام مكافحة جرائم المعلوماتية
تم تعديل هذه المادة بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم (م/54) بتاريخ 22/ 7/ 1436 هـ، وذلك بإضافة النص الآتي إلى نهايتها: "ويجوز تضمين الحكم الصادر بتحديد العقوبة النص على نشر ملخصه على نفقة المحكوم عليه في صحيفة أو أكثر من الصحف المحلية أو في أي وسيلة أخرى مناسبة، وذلك بحسب نوع الجريمة المرتكبة، وجسامتها، وتأثيرها، على أن يكون النشر بعد اكتساب الحكم الصفة النهائية".
- تشريعات الإمارات العربية المتحدة | مرسوم بقانون بشأن مكافحة الشائعات والجرائم الإلكترونية
التشريع وفقاً لآخر تحديث في 04 أبريل 2024 · التشريعات ذات الصلة
- 1 م رسوم بقانون اتحادي لسنة2021 في شأن مكافحة الشائعات والجرائم اإللكترونية
باتخاذ اسم كاذب أو انتحال صفة غير صحيحة عن طريق الشبكة املعلوماتية أو نظام معلومات إلكتروني أو
- Eswatini - Lexota
N.B. The Computer and Cyber Crime ... was signed into law in March 2022, meaning that the Computer and Cyber Crime Act 2022 does not contain any restriction on fake news.” · N.B. Previously, eSwatini’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) ...
- Eswatini passes cyber laws under dark clouds | Association for Progressive Communications
The creation of the Eswatini Communications Commission has been the catalyst for and instrumental in the enactment of the latest batch of cyber laws. [3] These new laws are the Computer Crime and Cyber Crime Act, 2022, the Data Protection Act, 2022, and the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, 2022.
- Eswatini strives for digital sovereignty amid technological advancements | Association for Progressive Communications
In Eswatini, two key legislative measures impact internet governance: the Computer Crime and Cyber Crime Act of 2022 and the Data Protection Act of 2022. Concerns loom over potential implications of these statutes, particularly in terms of press freedom and freedom of expression on social media.
- PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY ESWATINI GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY [No. 42
The Computer Crime and Cybercrime Act, 2022 ....................................................... S1 ... ENACTED by the King and the Parliament of the Kingdom of Eswatini.
- Legislation – NCSIRT
Eswatini Computer Incidence Response Team · Computer Crime & Cybercrime Act, 2022 ·
- CHAPTER 7: ESWATINI
36 “Freedom in the World 2022: Eswatini”, Freedom House, section D1. ... The Act creates the technical offences listed in the table below. Most of these · offences are actionable only if committed “intentionally, without lawful excuse or · justification”, which helps to narrow them and avoid capturing good faith conduct in · the public interest – such as testing a computer system’s vulnerabilities. 37 Computer Crime & Cybercrime ...
- Cybercrimes - sub-Saharan Africa - Media Defence
Other common problematic clauses in cybercrimes legislation include those that criminalise the “creation of sites with a view to disseminating ideas and programmes contrary to public order or morality”, “broadcasting information to mislead security forces”, “publication of false information,” and more.61 Recently, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda, Rwanda, and Malawi have recently passed cybercrimes legislation.62 Zambia’s Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act is currently being challenged at the Constitutional Court by a group of civil society organisations alleging that it contains provisions that threaten the right to protection of the law and the right to freedom of expression.63
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