Set-top boxes will not be encrypted
The Department of Communications has confirmed that state-sponsored set-top boxes will not be encrypted, despite a long-standing ANC policy position that supports encryption, says a Business Day report. ‘The current government policy is non-encryption. Thus far, 1.5m set-top boxes have been ordered and approximately 850 000 were delivered,’ said Ireen Magwai, on behalf of Communications Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, axed in last night's Cabinet shake-up.
The Minister’s position effectively reverses previous Communications Minister Ayanda Dlodlo’s policy position, which sought to ensure that set-top boxes are encrypted – as per ANC resolution.
Kubayi-Ngubane told Parliament recently that her department had requested a legal opinion on the Constitutional Court ruling on the set-top box matter, which was handed down late in 2017. The ruling made it clear that policy making was the government’s prerogative.
Kubayi-Ngubane pointed out that the court had cautioned the government not to utilise public funds to the benefit of private commercial interests.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
