A woman in Swaziland is facing up to three years in jail for allegedly reading her husband’s WhatsApp messages, local authorities have confirmed.

A woman in Eswatini, Dumsile Dludlu, is facing up to three years in prison after she was remanded for allegedly snooping through her husband’s WhatsApp account without his consent.

The act, which contravenes Eswatini’s Computer Crime and Cybercrime Act of 2022, was condemned by Principal Magistrate Fikile Nhlabatsi at the Mbabane Magistrates Court.

Dludlu pleaded not guilty to the charge of unauthorised access but admitted to insulting her husband. She stated in court, “I did insult him, but it wasn’t as severe as what’s in the police statement.”

The case has sparked debate about privacy laws and marital relationships in the kingdom. While some have expressed support for the woman, others have argued that she violated her husband’s trust and privacy.

The outcome of the case is still pending, and it remains to be seen whether the woman will be convicted and sentenced to jail time.

In the meantime, the incident has served as a reminder of the importance of respecting individuals’ privacy and the potential consequences of violating it.

The police statement had described her insults as more severe than Dludlu acknowledged.

Dludlu’s trial is set to resume on March 10, 2025.

It’s worth noting that WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption ensures that only the sender and recipient can read the messages, and not even WhatsApp can access them. However, if someone has access to the device or the account, they may be able to read the messages.

The Computer Crime and Cybercrime Act criminalises the unauthorised access of digital devices, and violators face fines or imprisonment of up to three years.

The Act aims to protect individuals’ digital privacy and prevent unauthorised intrusions into personal communication.

Meanwhile, Eswatini Communications Commission CEO, Prince Mvilawemphi, has warned that accessing a partner’s cellphone is now considered a criminal offence in the country, with fines reaching up to E300,000.