Location
MACRA has hosted a workshop for Social Media Influencers at BICC in Lilongwe under the theme “The Role of Social Media Influencers During Elections.”
The event brought together influencers from across the country to discuss how they can promote democracy through peaceful dialogue and tolerance ahead of the 16 September elections.
Speaking during the workshop, Dr Jolly Ntaba highlighted that influencers are opinion leaders who set trends and shape public discussions on political and social matters. He stressed the need to base criticism or praise on verified facts, avoid sharing unconfirmed information, and make use of fact-checking tools such as Africa Check to prevent misinformation that could mislead the public and affect election outcomes.
The session also covered the Data Protection Act 2024, presented by Data Protection Enforcement Officer Tamanda Kamundi. The Act, which came into force on 3 June 2024, appointed MACRA as the Data Protection Authority responsible for protecting personal data rights, ensuring compliance by data processors, and promoting lawful, fair, and transparent data handling. It gives individuals key rights, including access, correction, erasure, restriction, portability, objection, and withdrawal of consent.
Influencers were guided on best practices for election periods, such as obtaining consent before collecting personal data, anonymising sensitive information in posts, fact-checking political claims, and avoiding content that could incite violence or discrimination.
They were also briefed on cybersecurity measures, the dangers of misinformation, and the legal consequences of non-compliance under the Electronic Transactions and Cyber Security Act, which include fines and imprisonment.
One of the participants, Jabulani Maseko, noted that while MACRA and other government institutions are willing to support influencers, the absence of a formal association or governing body remains a major challenge. He said this gap leaves many influencers without the necessary knowledge or accountability to use social media responsibly and within the law.
As the elections draw near, influencers were urged to exercise their freedom of speech responsibly by verifying information, maintaining fairness in commentary, and avoiding the spread of false or misleading content. This, they were told, will help create a better-informed public while protecting influencers from legal risks.
