Censorship is crucial in the creative realm in terms of monitoring harmful content and making sure that people make informed decisions in what they consume. It is also important in protecting children from overexposure to disturbing and harmful content. But times have changed and with digital running the space, censorship has got itself new challenges. In Malawi, the Censorship Board has been at the helm of censorship. Leading Censorship Board now is Director of Arts responsible for Censorship in the Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture Anganile Nthako.
NTHAKOMWA—The rise of digital media and technology has certainly posed new challenges
How are the operations for Censorship Board as regards censorship?
The operations of the Censorship Board have evolved significantly over the years. In the past, the Board focused on censoring and banning materials, especially during the one-party era. However, in the present democratic dispensation, we have shifted our emphasis from censorship to classification. Our focus is on categorising and classifying films, publications, and other forms of entertainment into appropriate age groups. The classification process is not aimed at stifling creativity, but rather to be used by content creators as a guide which helps and ensure that adults are able to make informed viewing choices for themselves and also protect children under their care from over exposure to disturbing and harmful content, and from premature introduction to adult experiences. We also ensure compliance with international standards for classification, which further helps us maintain a balance between protecting our moral l values as a nation and respecting individual freedoms.
In this modern world where digital has taken over, how are you coping with digital in terms of censorship?
The rise of digital media and technology has certainly posed new challenges for the Censorship Board. The shift to digital platforms presents an entirely new landscape for censorship and classification. It is an ongoing challenge to ensure that our regulatory framework aligns with these changes. We recognise that digital content can be disseminated rapidly, sometimes beyond our national borders, making it difficult to regulate and control. However, this has not deterred us; rather, it has prompted us to focus more on adapting our methods and expanding our reach.
For example, we have developed stronger working partnerships with other regulatory bodies like Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) that directly enforces the recently passed Electronic Transactions and Cyber Security Act to ensure that digital content that is accessible to Malawians adheres to the moral standards set out in our laws. Additionally, we are also focusing on educating the public about the risks associated with online content, in
