Internet censorship in Tunisia decreased in January 2011 following the ousting of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. The successor acting government removed filters on social networking sites, such as YouTube and Facebook.

The success of the Tunisian Revolution led to increased freedom of expression in Tunisia, a country previously subject to strict censorship, especially online. In March 2011, Reporters Without Borders removed Tunisia and Egypt from its "Internet enemies" list to its list of countries "under surveillance". However, there are also warnings that Internet censorship in other countries might increase following the events of the Arab Spring.

Censorship during the Ben Ali regime

Prior to the Tunisian revolution, Internet censorship in Tunisia was extensive. Tunisia was on Reporters Without Borders' "Internet enemies" list. The OpenNet Initiative classified Internet filtering as pervasive in the political, social, and Internet tools areas and as selective in the conflict/security area in August 2009.

Ben Ali promised, "a removal of internet restrictions," among several other promises in a speech shortly before he was forced out.

In addition to filtering Web content, the government of Tunisia utilized laws, regulations, and surveillance to achieve strict control over the Internet. For example, journalists were prosecuted by Tunisia's press code, which bans offending the president, disturbing order, and publishing what the government perceives as false news. The government also restricted the media by controlling the registration of print media and licensing of broadcasters, refusing permission to critical outlets, and controlling the distribution public sector advertisement. Journalists are also charged in courts with vague violations of the penal code.

The OpenNet Initiative carried out tests in Tunisia using the ISPs Planet Tunisie and TopNet. Similar to 2006-2007 test results, 2008-2009 testing revealed pervasive filtering of Web sites of political opposition groups such as:

  • Democratic Forum for Labor and Liberty (www.fdtl.org)
  • Al-Nadha Movement (www.nahdha.info)
  • Tunisian Workers' Communist Party (www.albadil.org)
  • Democratic Progressive Party (pdpinfo.org)
  • In 2011 Reporters Without Borders listed Tunisia as "Under Surveillance".

The provisional government of national unity succeeded the government of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. The national unity government immediately proclaimed complete freedom of information and expression as a fundamental principle. On January 17, 2011, Internet censorship was immediately lifted, as President Ben Ali promised in his January 13 address. Some online controls remained in early February.

In May, the Permanent Military Tribunal of Tunis ordered four Facebook pages blocked for attempting "to damage the reputation of the military institution and its leaders". The Tribunal charged that publishing of video clips, the circulation of comments, and articles attempted to destabilize the trust of citizens in the national army, and to spread disorder and chaos in the country. Resurgence of Internet censorship lead to the resignation of blogger and political activist Slim Amamou from his post as Secretary of State for Youth and Sport on May 23.

On May 26, a court order forced the Tunisian Internet Agency (ATI) to block porn sites on the grounds that they pose a threat to minors and Muslim values. The ATI filed in opposition to block the order. ATI's application was rejected on June 13. The ATI began compliance in stages on June 15. On August 15, a Tunisian appeals court upheld the previous decisions requiring the ATI to block access to pornographic websites. The ATI appeal is undergoing an appeals process at the country's highest court, The ATI in opposition claimed that it cannot uphold the ruling because it lacks the financial and technical means to implement a sufficient filtering and censorship system.

Reporters Without Borders suggests that porn-site filtering could exacerbate reversals in recently lifted censorship policies. They contend that the provisional government's generalized and unspecific filtering infringes the principles of Network neutrality and violate promises made by the Tunisian High Commission for the Realization of Revolutionary Goals, Political Reforms, and Democratic Transition after the Revolution. The ATI's appeal is not yet complete.

Tunisia held elections on October 23, 2011, to create a post-revolution Constituent Assembly. Mongi Marzouk was appointed as Tunisia's Minister of Communication Technologies to the newly formed Jebali Cabinet on December 20, 2011. Marzouk's early political career demonstrated his will to maintain the provisional government's proclamation to freedom of information and expression. On September 4, 2012, at the National Forum on Internet Governance, Marzouk formally lifted Internet censorship in Tunisia and announced that Tunisia has seen the “end of Ammar 404,” a slang term referring to Tunisian Internet censorship at large. Two days later Tunisia attended the Freedom Online Conference in Nairobi, a platform for coalition members to further the agenda of Internet governance. During the conference, Tunisia officially became the third African member in the international coalition. Tunisia continued its promotion of uncensored Internet at the 2012 ICT4ALL Forum, September 17–20th in Hammamet. There, Marzouk declared that bilateral and multilateral discussions would resume in lieu of ICT4ALL's Forum policy recommendations for Tunisia's socio-economic development.

Cyber activists are skeptical of the new regime's policies. Sleh Edine Kchouk, President of the Tunisian Pirate Party, believes that continuous Internet monitoring and Ben Ali-era practices are still present. Following Marzouk's announcement to lift Internet censorship, Kchouk notes, “Tunisia has always embraced advanced technologies when it comes to the virtual world, in theory. But in practice, it’s completely different.” In September, the United Nations appealed to Tunisia to operationalize its freedom of expression and information policies with respect to the media. Despite the country's latest Internet policy reforms, censorship is allegedly enacted upon media activists that fail to comply with Jebali Cabinet member's ideals of Tunisian “tradition” and “culture.”

See also

  • Decree Law 54 (Tunisia)
  • Tunisia Monitoring Group of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX-TMG)
  • Internet censorship
  • Freedom of Expression

References

  • Tunisia Monitoring Group (TMG) of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX)