Tunisia
Although Tunisia has actively sought
to develop its information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, the government continues
to pervasively block a range of Web
content and has used nontechnical
means, characteristic of secondgeneration Internet controls, to impede journalists and human rights
activists from doing their work. The
filtering of political content and restrictions on online activity have prompted
frequent criticism from foreign governments and human rights organizations, as
well as online protest campaigns from Tunisian Internet users.
Background
The Tunisian constitution guarantees freedom of the press under ‘‘conditions laid
down by law,’’ but the government closely controls the media. Additionally, the Press
Law criminalizes defamation, and those who violate it can be imprisoned and fined. 1
Tunisia is considered by media watchdog Reporters Without Borders to be ‘‘the region’s
most authoritarian regime’’ in regard to civil liberties. Journalists and human rights
activists have been banned from leaving the country and are subject to arrest and
RESULTS AT A GLANCE
Filtering
No Evidence
of Filtering
Suspected
Filtering
Selective
Filtering
Substantial
Filtering
Pervasive
Filtering
Political
Social
Conflict and security
Internet tools
Other Factors
Low
Medium
High
Not
Applicable
Transparency
Consistency
Although Tunisia has actively sought
to develop its information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, the government continues
to pervasively block a range of Web
content and has used nontechnical
means, characteristic of secondgeneration Internet controls, to impede journalists and human rights
activists from doing their work. The
filtering of political content and restrictions on online activity have prompted
frequent criticism from foreign governments and human rights organizations, as
well as online protest campaigns from Tunisian Internet users.
Background
The Tunisian constitution guarantees freedom of the press under ‘‘conditions laid
down by law,’’ but the government closely controls the media. Additionally, the Press
Law criminalizes defamation, and those who violate it can be imprisoned and fined. 1
Tunisia is considered by media watchdog Reporters Without Borders to be ‘‘the region’s
most authoritarian regime’’ in regard to civil liberties. Journalists and human rights
activists have been banned from leaving the country and are subject to arrest and
RESULTS AT A GLANCE
Filtering
No Evidence
of Filtering
Suspected
Filtering
Selective
Filtering
Substantial
Filtering
Pervasive
Filtering
Political
Social
Conflict and security
Internet tools
Other Factors
Low
Medium
High
Not
Applicable
Transparency
Consistency