Public shaming or public safety?

Marina Antonio
  • 2 Days Ago

Imagine scrolling through TikTok or Instagram and suddenly seeing your neighbour’s face in a viral post accusing them of being a convicted sex offender.

In an age when social media posts and group chats can damage reputations overnight, a campaign by Ian Cameron, chairperson of South Africa’s Police Portfolio Committee, involving the alleged public naming of convicted offenders using court records, has reignited debate across Southern Africa about public access to information on sex offenders.

Unlike in the United States, where some sex offender registries are publicly accessible, access to such information in our region is generally restricted. Yet sexual violence remains a serious concern, prompting young people and parents to ask a difficult question: shouldn’t we have the right to know who poses a potential risk to our communities?

Opening an unrestricted database or circulating names on social media, however, is not the answer. In close-knit communities across Namibia, unverified lists can lead to online harassment, mistaken identity and even vigilante attacks. They can also expose survivors of sexual violence, compromising their privacy and forcing them to relive traumatic experiences.

But keeping the public entirely in the dark is not necessarily the solution either. Namibia needs a balanced, regulated system that allows people to request relevant background checks for legitimate safety reasons.

Rather than creating an unrestricted online database, authorities could introduce a formal application process through which individuals can request clearance when hiring a babysitter or home tutor, for example, or recruiting staff for a youth camp. Applications would need to be assessed against clear criteria, with appropriate safeguards to protect personal information and prevent misuse.

As Namibia continues to develop its systems for managing information on convicted sex offenders, public safety and the protection of individual rights must go hand in hand. A lawful, documented process for requesting background checks could help people make informed decisions about safeguarding children and other vulnerable groups without turning social media feeds into platforms for public shaming and vigilante justice.