This archive report was first published on 4 August 2020.
On August 4, 2020, Tanzanian President John Magufuli's administration introduced new laws that severely restrict online content, effectively banning the sharing of information about COVID-19 without government permission.
The laws also make it a crime to organize, plan, or support any form of demonstration on social media platforms, further limiting freedom of expression in the country.
Magufuli's administration has been criticized for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the president downplaying the existence of the virus and imposing strict measures to control the flow of information.
Activists have condemned the new laws as archaic and infringing on people's freedom of expression, citing the possibility of prosecution for what people write or post on messaging platforms like WhatsApp groups.
Under the new laws, the authorities have also abolished rules governing hate speech on the basis of sexuality and gender, sparking concerns about the protection of marginalized communities.
President Magufuli's administration has been accused of cracking down on the media, civil society organizations, and critics of his government since he rose to power in 2015.
Magufuli's reputation as a 'bulldozer' who took on corruption and wasteful spending as the minister for works under Ex-President Jakaya Kikwete has given way to concerns about his authoritarian tendencies and threat to freedom of expression and business.
