WhatsApp messages to friends and business partners that could land people in jail in South Africa

• The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) has upheld a High Court decision finding an individual guilty of hate speech for using racial slurs in private WhatsApp conversations.
• The SCA cited the Constitutional Court judgment in Qwelane v South African Human Rights Commission in its ruling, and rejected the defendant's argument that the private messages were between business associates and that their constitutional right to privacy should have protected them.
• President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Act into law on 9 May 2024, which criminalised hate speech on social media.