Cabinet Discusses Law to Regulate Social Media Platforms

Henry Charles Usher

It has been the main discourse for the past couple of weeks – the leverage that social media platforms enjoy over the formal media in terms of legal parameters. Quite often persons, using fake names, use the social media platforms to attack others, sometimes even slandering them. This is what many believe that Hot Off the Press did when the allegations of rape were brought against a popular attorney who is said to be affiliated to that page. Today, Cabinet Minister, Henry Charles Usher told the formal media that while Cabinet can’t influence whether or not charges are brought against the attorney, it certainly can enact laws that discourage personal attacks against persons on social media.

Henry Charles Usher, Cabinet Minister

“Certainly Cabinet cannot influence, in any way, if any charges will be brought against the individual, but I believe the discussion came out of more the social media blogs that are operating as though they are media outlets. That was the more general discussion where they have to be regulated just like any media house is regulated. These sites seem to pop up overnight. There are no regulations. They don’t seem to have any accountability to anyone. They publish articles, blogs, whatever you want to call them, that it seems that they are untouchable and I believe that’s where the discussion came out. Certainly, that blog having to do with showing the video from the night of the incident, talking about the individuals – the persons – the virtual complainants, that borders on witness intimidation. It also creates an environment where other women, other girls may not want to come forward if this happens because they fear that they might be blasted on one of these social media outlets. So that’s where the discussion came out, and that’s where our Cabinet focuses on to make sure that they have some kind of regulations in place. The Belize Broadcasting Authority had created a policy last year, and it spoke about regulating these sites. We hope that the legislation comes soon.”