The General Command of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM) has established a set of 14 rules aimed at regulating the use of social media by its officers. These guidelines come in response to the unnecessary and inappropriate exposure in photos or videos by some members of the police force.
The document released recently indicates that officers must exercise self-control to avoid conduct that is at odds with the 14 situations mentioned.
The guidelines include, but are not limited to, avoiding sharing content that could harm the reputation and the personal and professional integrity of officers on social media. Officers were also advised not to share events related to the PRM, not to display photographs showing weapons, insignia, uniforms, vehicles or protective equipment, and not to disseminate operational information.
In addition, PRM officers were instructed not to share information of a party-political nature or information disparaging to public bodies, authorities and other State figures.
PRM members are also forbidden to spread unconfirmed and false news, as well as to make verbal attacks on family members, friends, acquaintances, colleagues and public figures. They were also instructed not to share videos, audio and photos that could be harmful to people in contexts of action by the authorities, or to share violent and obscene episodes.
The PRM General Command also insisted on the ban on sharing information that incites prejudice and conflict or that could denigrate the image of a person or an institution.
The directives were released with the intention that they be disseminated during the civic and patriotic classes given to officers. The decision stems from the institution's concern about the conduct of some police officers who, wearing uniforms and striking suggestive poses, made improper use of digital platforms.
