The concern expressed by ERCA, as set out in a resolution of the board's plenary session, states that the objective is to sow social disorder, incite violence, and endanger national cohesion.
The agency that regulates the media in Angola also warns the public not to share false information that "can be dangerous, potentially destabilizing, and generate conflict."
On the other hand, it urges social media users to identify false information and avoid sharing data that does not mention the source, "its authors, or the date on which the events occurred."
The ERCA board also noted the need to "consider how to equip national and supranational regulators with instruments that address both the regulatory power of these entities and the oversight capacity of new digital intermediaries, without sacrificing freedom of expression or favoring covert censorship," as decided by the 9th Meeting of the Platform of Regulatory Entities of Portuguese-Speaking Countries and Territories.
This ERCA position comes a week after the country experienced riots and acts of vandalism following the taxi drivers' strike between July 28th and 30th, resulting in 30 deaths, more than 200 injuries, and over 1500 arrests.
Several reports have surfaced on social media about a new taxi drivers' strike next week, but these have been denied by the leadership of the National Association of Angolan Taxi Drivers.
