By Rahim Abdul
The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA), through its designated Data Protection Authority (DPA), has expressed deep concern over the growing trend of people sharing Malawi National Examinations Board (MANEB) results of other candidates on social media platforms without their knowledge or consent.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, MACRA emphasized that examination results are classified as personal data under the Data Protection Act of 2024, as they relate to an identified individual and form part of their private academic record.
The authority stressed that the processing, disclosure or publication of such data must only be done lawfully and with the explicit consent of the individual concerned.
MACRA has warned that publishing other people’s examination results without consent is not only unethical but also a clear violation of the law.
The act of sharing these results unlawfully can lead to both civil and criminal consequences, including fines, compensation claims and prosecution.
The regulatory body has urged the public to respect the privacy of examination candidates and desist from engaging in this behavior.
The authority further stated that any reported violations will be thoroughly investigated and strict enforcement actions will be taken in line with the Data Protection Act.
MACRA has therefore called on all Malawians to act responsibly and protect the privacy and dignity of examination candidates.
