Close This website uses modern features that are not supported by your browser. Click here for more information.
Please upgrade to a modern browser to view this website properly. Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Opera Safari
your legal news hub
Sub Menu
Search

Search

Filter
Filter
Filter
A A A

Tanzania imposes licence fees to curb ‘decadent’ bloggers

Publish date: 16 April 2018
Issue Number: 4439
Diary: Legalbrief Today
Category: Labour

Tanzania has finally signed into law a new regulation that will govern social media and blogging. The Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations 2017, was initially published by the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority. A report on The Next Web site notes that it provides for a licence fee to be charged to Tanzanians operating online radio stations and video websites. Bloggers are also required to apply for a licence to blog from the authority and they will be required to pay a licence fee as well as annual fees. The government said the move would help to put a stop to the ‘moral decadence’ caused by social media and the Internet in the country.

Full report on The Next Web site

And neighbouring Uganda plans to impose a daily tax on social media users from July in a bid to raise revenue, Finance Minister Matia Kasaija has confirmed. The move has been criticised by rights activist Rosebell Kagumire who said it was part of a wider attempt to curtail freedom of expression. BBC News reports that President Yoweri Museveni was quoted as telling Kasaija that a tax should be introduced on people who used social media for ‘gossip’. ‘I am not going to propose a tax on Internet use for educational, research or reference purposes … these must remain free,’ he reportedly said. The proposed tax will see each mobile phone subscriber who uses platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter being charged.

Full BBC News report

We use cookies to give you a personalised experience that suits your online behaviour on our websites. Otherwise, you may click here to learn more, or learn how to block or disable cookies. Disabling cookies might cause you to experience difficulties on our website as some functionality relies on cookie information. You can change your mind at any time by visiting “Cookie Preferences”. Any personal data about you will be used as described in our Privacy Policy.