The Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Tanzania are now
at the battle ground with the government of the country over the introduction of
Internet regulations, reports ITRealms.
On the Monday of 11th June 2018, ITRealms recalls, the Tanzanian
government tightened its grip on free speech by ordering the immediate
suspension of unregistered blogging sites and other online fora.
Failure to
suspend, ITRealms gathered, would lead to prosecution under Tanzania’s criminal law, forewarned the
Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA). The authority went ahead
to explain that this move was in a bid to solve computer misuses such as hate
speech, pornography, and online bullying.
According to Human and Digital Rights advocates, violators of the regulation will find themselves liable to
paying a fine of at least five million Tanzania Shillings (2200 USD), serving a
12-month jail term or to both.
This is in a bid to enforce the March Electronic
and Postal Communications Regulations 2018 that requires bloggers and any other
Internet-based service to reveal the names of their shareholders, their
details, their approximate cost of investment, tax clearance certifications,
pay slightly more than 900 USD in fees that includes an initial application
fee, a licence fee and a renewable licence fee after 3 years and a lot more.
It is evident that this regulation only aims further stifle
the already tight freedom of expression of the Internet in Tanzania. A popular
site Jamiiforums that is known to be used to expose unethical information on
matters concerning the country continues to fight it out in court on grounds on
infringement of the right to privacy of the freedom of expression. The
appellate court is to rule on the freedom of expression in Tanzania but the
most recent ruling was in the government’s favor.
Tanzania’s civil society organizations have argued that “The
law is part of a crackdown on dissent and free speech by the government of
President John Magufuli, who was elected in 2015."
The government of Tanzania is defying International,
regional and national regulation with the legislation. It is evident that they
have forgotten that, “ the same rights people have offline must also be
protected online," as provided in
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights-In this case the
universal freedom of expression.
The exorbitant fees will only seek to ensure that bloggers
from the lower end of the economic spectrum are off the net, taking away their
source of livelihood and freedom of speech.
We urge that the government of Tanzania and president
Magufuli recall this legislation as it grossly contributes towards the abuse of
numerous human rights. We are calling on Tanzania to keep the Internet open and
free.
Ayo Midele/GEE
