Tanzania is an African country which mostly practices Christianity and to a certain extent, Islam.
Since 1977, the left-wing party Chama Cha Mapinduzi has dominated Tanzanian politics.
General censorship[]
The constitution provides for freedom of speech, but does not explicitly provide for freedom of the press. A permit is required for reporting on police or prison activities, and journalists need special permission to attend meetings in the Zanzibar House of Representatives. Anyone publishing information accusing a Zanzibari representative of involvement in illegal activities is liable to a fine of not less than 250,000/= (~US$110), three years' imprisonment, or both. Nothing in the law specifies whether this penalty stands if the allegation is proven true. Media outlets often practice self-censorship to avoid conflict with the government.
The law generally prohibits arbitrary interference with privacy, family, home, or correspondence without a search warrant, but the government does not consistently respect these prohibitions. It is widely believed that security forces monitor telephones and correspondence of some citizens and foreign residents. The actual nature and extent of this practice is unknown.
Under the Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations 2018, blogs, online forums, and internet radio and television operations, must register with the government as an online content provider, and pay an annual fee. The fee is roughly equivalent to the annual income in Tanzania. Online content providers may not post obscene or explicit content, hate speech, content that "causes annoyance", incites harm or crime, or threatens national security and public safety. Violators may be fined or have their licences revoked.
Book censorship[]
- The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie was banned for blasphemy against Islam.
Film censorship[]
- The Route - this documentary documentary about human trafficking and sex slavery in Africa was banned in Tanzania in 2014 for because it "showed too much sex and nudity" and thus was a "threat to Tanzanian culture".
Television censorship[]
Internet censorship[]
There are no government restrictions on access to the Internet; however, the government monitors websites that criticise the government. Police also monitor the Internet to combat illegal activities.
The use of social media was restricted during the general election period which took place on October 28, 2020.
Video game censorship[]
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