Examining the Significance of the Phelemero Digital Platform Concept of Community Policing on Use of Technology for Investigation of Crime in Malawi

By 2029 Africa anticipates to have about 1, 1 billion projected internet users. Technology integrates Africans on formal informal and non-formal initiated digital surveillance projects for socialization and interaction promoting collaboration and coordination rallying wide participatory successful transaction. The storage replication and dissemination of data in online transactions, data is often processed and stored in unsecured online storage areas, leading to the leaking of both personally identifiable information and data promoting cybercrimes. Protection of data is integral to the digital economy, ensuring ethical use. This study examines the significance of the Phelemero Digital Platform concept of community policing on advanced technology use for prevention and detection of crime in Malawi through literature survey and local observation. Findings reveal that the Phelemero Digital platform concept of community policing shows multiplicity technology perceptions (a) store, replicate, and disseminate information (b) facilitate citizens’ integrate formal informal and non-formal on initiated digital surveillance projects (c) anticipated challenges on the use of technology for security (d) enhanced citizens’ engagement to digital monitoring and surveillance (e) provide improved channels of communication, alternative ways to gain transparency, revolutionize transform and amplify the customary bureaucratic procedures providing real-time evidence analysis (f) Portrays willingness to digital Literacy empowerment (g) Shows the spirit of citizen participation (h) Shows technology integration can facilitate collaborative leadership (i) Overcoming Traditional Policing Challenges (j) Reveals Contextual Relevance in Malawi. Right of privacy in use of advanced technology for national security is guided by Section 21 (c) of Malawi Constitution through enforcement of Malawi Data Protection Act which promotes (1) Protection of Citizens’ Privacy & Rights (2) Fair, Transparent, and Accountable Data Handling (3) Legal & Institutional Oversight (4) Promoting Trust and Confidence (5) Supporting Digital Economy & International Alignment (6) Human Rights Dimension and (7) Mitigating Risks of Data Breaches & Abuse. The Possible Challenges of enforcing the Malawi Data Protection Act are (i) awareness and capacity (ii) resources for Enforcement (iii) balancing with other rights and needs (iv) and cross-border data flows. Value contribution to body of knowledge is that the Phelemero Digital platform concept of community policing gives the interpretation that technology has capacity to integrate citizen at formal informal and non-formal initiated digital surveillance projects defeating the cynical withdrawal due to formal customary bureaucratic procedures as outlined in Participatory Democracy and Social Disorganization Theories. Technology promotes wide citizen participation promoting transparency and accountability in public matters hence reducing corruption.