Tunisia has revised parts of its controversial cybercrime legislation, reducing some of the prison sentences that had drawn criticism from human rights and press freedom organisations.
President Kais Saied approved changes to the country’s cybercrime decree on Wednesday, September 30, introducing lighter punishments for certain offences involving the publication or distribution of false information through communication networks.
The amendment changes the penalty structure under Article 24 of Decree-Law 54, which was introduced in 2022. Under the revised provisions, first-time offenders can face financial penalties instead of imprisonment, while repeat offenders may still be sentenced to jail.
New Penalties Introduced
Under the amended rules, a person convicted of a covered offence for the first time can be fined between 10,000 and 20,000 Tunisian dinars, equivalent to roughly $3,370 to $6,740.
For repeat offences, the punishment can include six months in prison as well as a fine of 50,000 dinars.
The changes represent a significant reduction from some of the penalties contained in the previous version of the law. In certain circumstances, the earlier provisions allowed prison sentences of as much as 10 years, particularly when the alleged offence involved a public official. Fines could also reach 100,000 dinars.
The revised legislation continues to cover the use of information and communication systems to produce, publish, distribute or transmit false news, information or rumours, according to a review of the amended legal text.
Rights Groups Had Opposed the Law
The cybercrime decree has been a major source of concern among Tunisian and international rights organisations since it came into effect.
Critics have argued that the legislation has been used against journalists, activists and political opponents, with several individuals facing imprisonment in cases brought under the decree. Press freedom groups have particularly questioned the use of criminal penalties in cases involving speech and information published online.
Reporters Without Borders welcomed the removal of the five-year prison provision for first-time offences but said further changes would be needed for the legislation to meet international standards on press freedom.
The debate over the law comes amid wider concerns about political and civil liberties in Tunisia following President Saied’s expansion of executive powers since 2021.
Government Defends Cybercrime Measures
Tunisian authorities have maintained that the legislation is intended to address cybercrime, false information and attacks against individuals and public order.
Saied has also repeatedly rejected claims that his government is seeking to eliminate political freedoms, saying that rights remain guaranteed under his leadership.
However, the amendment comes at a politically sensitive time. Civil society organisations, including the country’s powerful UGTT trade union, had announced plans for a national demonstration over what they describe as restrictions on rights and freedoms.
The timing of the legal changes has therefore attracted attention, particularly because the government has generally maintained a firm position on the legal framework introduced after Saied’s 2021 power grab.
What the Changes Mean
The revised rules do not completely remove criminal penalties from Tunisia’s cybercrime framework. Instead, they alter the punishment structure for offences covered by the relevant article.
First-time offenders now face financial sanctions rather than imprisonment under the revised provision, while repeat offenders remain exposed to a six-month jail term and a substantial fine. The law also retains provisions concerning offences involving public officials.
The changes are likely to remain an important issue for journalists, activists and civil society organisations as Tunisia continues to debate the balance between combating online misinformation and protecting freedom of expression.
For the government, the revised law maintains legal tools for dealing with harmful or false online content. For rights advocates, the changes address some of the harshest provisions but do not settle broader concerns about how Tunisia’s cybercrime legislation is applied.
