WhatsApp Group Administrator To Obtain Operators Licence.
Zimbabwe’s ICT Minister Announces new Licensing Requirements for WhatsApp group Admins.
Zimbabwe’s Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Hon Tatenda Mavetera has announced that all WhatsApp group administrators will soon be required to register and obtain a license from the Post and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) to operate their groups, the new licensing requirements, outlined at a recent (POTRAZ) breakfast meeting set the minimum cost for a license at $50 US with fees varying depending on the nature of the group.
In addition to obtaining a license, WhatsApp group admin will be required to appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO) trained and certified by POTRAZ .This move is intended to ensure compliance with Zimbabwe’s Data Protection Act, which governs the Handling of personal information, under the act, personal data is defined as any information that can be used to directly or indirectly identify a person since WhatsApp group Admins have access to members phone number, the government argue that these groups fully under data protection regulation.
Minister Mavetera emphasized that this requirements would apply not only to businesses but also to community organizations, churches and any other groups that collect data personal data. Even churches who collect personal data ought to have such a lessons appoint DPO and she stated noting that the government aims to tighten data security and privacy for all citizens.
The announcements has sparked widespread debate, with many questioning the impact of these new regulations on free communication and privacy in online spaces. Critics argue that such licensing requirements could place an undue burden on informal groups admins, while supporters claim it is a necessary step to protect personal information in the digital age.
Failure to comply with these regulations, including both licenses and data protection measures, may attract penalties, according to Minister Mavetera. POTRAZ encourages any group with questions or concerns to reach out to them directly for further guidance on compliance.
This new police places Zimbabwe among a growing number of countries aiming to regulate digital spaces and data privacy, though the specific focus on social media groups admin remains unique. As the rollout of these requirements continuous, many will be watching closely to see how many they impact digital Communications and data protection practices in Zimbabwe.
Finally, a government thinking ahead. Data privacy is serious and many people don’t realize how risky it is to share personal information in unregulated groups. If you’re running a big group, especially for business or community outreach, having a trained DPO makes sense. It protects people and builds trust.
So if my church group shares Bible verses, I need a license and a certified DPO? This is beyond ridiculous. They want to regulate prayer groups now? What happened to digital transformation? This will kill innovation and scare people from using tech. Small businesses, students, and activists will suffer. This is surveillance in disguise. POTRAZ should be regulating poor network service, not WhatsApp groups. This is a desperate government running out of things to control. They can’t fix the country, so they’re fixing conversations.