A review of the legislative framework for social media records in Botswana

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper to review the legislative framework for social media records in Botswana. The goal is to determine the extent to which the current legislation in Botswana covers the management of social media records. Design/methodology/approach This paper applied a qualitative research methodology and used documentary review method to collect data for analysis. The data collected was reviewed and organised into themes that cut across all the data sources to answer the main research objective. Findings The findings of this paper show that the Botswana Government has made strides in reforming some legislation to address issues that rise with the continued use of the internet and cloud services in the country. However, a review of the legislation established that the reforms were not comprehensive enough for records generated on social media. The relevant subsidiary legislation also fell shot in filing this gap in the country’s legislative framework. Research limitations/implications Research into the legislative framework for records generated on social media platforms in Botswana still needs more insights, specifically guidelines in the implementation of the current legislation in the country. Practical implications The findings of this paper can be used by both Botswana and other governments, especially in Africa where there is limited research in the area, to better manage records generated through the use of social media with respect to relevant legislative frameworks. Originality/value This paper is one of the first research contributions to review the legislative framework for records generated on social media in Botswana.