Tanzania has finally signed into law its new regulation that will govern social media and blogging..
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The regulation known as the Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations 2017, came into effect during March 2018.
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Among some interesting laws as stated in the regulation is a license fee to be charged to Tanzanians operating online radio stations and video (TV) websites. .
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Besides, bloggers too are require to apply for a license (to blog)from the TCRA. Just like what is stipulated for online radio and TV websites, bloggers will be required to pay a license fee upon registration as well as an annual fees.
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Tanzania’s government has said that the law will help to put a stop to the “m0ral decadence” cause by social media and the Internet in the country. The eastern Afrikan country’s policy makers also said that social media is a threat to Tanzania’s national security.
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Another peculiar part of the regulations is that everyone in Tanzania will be required to have a password (PIN) for locking their mobile phones, and failure to have this will result in a fine of approximately $2,000 or even 12 months imprisonment, or both depending on what the court decides. .
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Online content publishers (blogs, podcasts, videos) will apply for a license at a fee of 100,000 Tanzanian Shillings, pay an initial license fee of 1,000,000 Tanzanian Shillings and an annual license fee of 1,000,000 Tanzanian Shillings. .
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This means to run something as simple as a personal blog (text) if you live in Tanzania, you’d have to spend an initial (approximately) $900 in license fees.