Online Content Regulation – OpenNet Africa

Tanzania Entrenches Digital Rights Repression Amidst Covid-19 Denialism and a Looming Election

By Edrine Wanyama |

On July 17, 2020, the Tanzania government issued new Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations, 2020 that apply to online content production, hosting and dissemination. The regulations entrench the licencing and taxation of bloggers, online discussion forums, radio and television webcasters, and repress online speech, privacy and access to information.

The passage of the new regulations raises concerns over free…

Tanzania: 38 NGOs Call on States To Express Concern Over The Human Rights Situation

Press Release |

Today, DefendDefenders and 37 Tanzanian, African and international human rights organisations publish a letter calling on states to use the next session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) to raise concern over Tanzania’s situation in order to prevent a further deterioration.

Since a group of 30 NGOs first wrote a letter on Tanzania, in August 2018, the space for human rights defenders…

13th May 2019 By Alice Aparo Civic Participation, DefendDefenders, East Africa, NGOs, Online Content Regulation, Online Freedom 0 Comments Read more...

Tanzania Orders All Unregistered Bloggers To Take Down Their Sites

Tanzania News |

DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) – Tanzania ordered all unregistered bloggers and online forums on Monday to suspend their websites immediately or face criminal prosecution, as critics accuse the government of tightening control of internet content.

Several sites, including popular online discussion platform Jamiiforums, said on Monday they had temporarily shut down after the state-run Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA)…

11th June 2018 By Alice Aparo Freedom of expression, Internet Freedom, Online Bloggers, Online Content Regulation, Online Platforms, Website 0 Comments Read more...

Tanzania Enacts Regressive Online Content Regulations

By Ashnah Kalemera |

Tanzania has issued online content regulations that oblige bloggers, owners of discussion forums, as well as radio and television streaming services to register with the communications regulator and to pay hefty licensing and annual fees.

There are three types of licences. A license for provision of online content services comes at an initial cost of TZShs 1.1 million…

12th April 2018 By Alice Aparo Cybercrime Act, Online Content Regulation, Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority, Virtual Private Networks 0 Comments Read more...