Niël Terblanché
Namibia’s national security strategy has come under scrutiny for prioritising state security over the security of its people, a stance that has significant implications for human rights and privacy.
Research associate with the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), Frederico Links, has voiced concerns about this approach, describing it as problematic and infringing on individual rights.
During the launch of a report titled “Problematic Influences: African National Security Narratives in Namibian Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Law Framing and Enforcement” Links pointed out that this national security narrative forces individuals to surrender their rights for the sake of safety
He indicated that the situation was clearly demonstrated by the recent mandatory registration of SIM cards in Namibia.
“This measure allows the state to retain data, making citizens trackable and traceable, ostensibly for national security purposes,” he said.
According to Links, such practices undermine transparency and conceal potential human rights violations and corruption.
He also stressed that cyber laws in Southern Africa often undermine freedom of expression and media freedom.
“The need for focused policy advocacy and ongoing activism to raise awareness about the government’s narrative in cyberspace and digital technology laws and regulations is critical,” Links stated.
The IPPR’s report outlines several problematic narratives that drive Namibia’s cybersecurity and cybercrime legislation.
According to Links, the narrative of State Information Security, promotes state information security as an overriding priority, often at the expense of media freedom and public access to information.
“This approach tends to view any demand for information transparency as a security threat,” he stated.
He said that the current global insecurity narrative of Security Outweighs Privacy often justifies invasive state surveillance.
“This narrative forces citizens to accept that their right to privacy must be compromised for the sake of security, leading to bulk surveillance practices,” he added.
According to Links, mandatory SIM card registration and data retention are portrayed as essential for cybersecurity.
“There is little empirical evidence to support the effectiveness of these measures in reducing crime, and they primarily serve to enable mass state surveillance,” he said.
He said that the justification for expanding state surveillance often hinges on the perceived threats of radicalisation and terrorism.
“These threats are frequently exaggerated to stifle legitimate political expression and dissent, he said.
According to Links the so-called ‘Nothing-to-Hide Argument’ suggests that those opposing state surveillance have something to hide, thus normalising mass surveillance and the erosion of digital rights.
Namibia is yet to finalise substantive cybercrime and data protection legislation.
Links stressed that civil society and media must counter state narratives that could enable human rights violations and undermine digital democracy.
He called for targeted policy advocacy and sustained activism to address these issues and promote a more balanced approach to cybersecurity that respects human rights and privacy.
According to Links, the need for a legislation framework that ensures both national security and the protection of individual rights remains paramount.
The IPPR’s report casts new light on the delicate balance that must be struck to create a safe, inclusive, and transparent digital environment for all Namibians.
