#INVASION: South African government aims to kill entrepreneurship, creativity and privacy

IT has been reported that the South African National Assembly, combined of 189 members, voted in favor of the regulation of the distribution of online content.

No abstentions were forthcoming, however, a total of 35 members voted against the bill.

The regulation and the distribution of digital online content seems now set to become a reality after the Film and Publications Amendment Bill was quietly approved last week.

The South African government has claimed that this is a move apparently made to help protect children from sexually explicit content, curb hate speech as well as revenge porn.

The legislation has been widely criticised by the opposing Members of Parliament, who have called this bill and attempt to regulate the internet.

National Council of Provinces is yet to review the bill before it can be handed to President Cyril Ramaphosa whom will sign the bill into law.

No formal statement has as yet been issued by the National Assembly or the Film and Publications Board of South Africa.

The bill, which will essentially create a policy in which the internet is regulated, will see streaming services and social media platform such as YouTube, Netflix, Showmax and Facebook affected.

The above services are not the only ones which will be affected.

If passed entirely, internet will be under the control of The Film and Publications Board, which will be able to dictate what people can and cannot post.

Companies and people who generate an income will also be affected, as these would be required to register, pay a fee as well as have their content approved before it may be published.

South African government seems set to follow in the footsteps of a few other countries which have taken to internet censorship.