Niger: the Maison de la presse welcomes the modification of the law on cybercrime
In Niger, the law on cybercrime will be amended.
The decriminalization of the offenses of defamation and insult should make journalists less vulnerable.
RFI
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
The Nigerien government announced, at the end of a Council of Ministers on Wednesday April 27, its decision to modify the law on cybercrime.
The offenses of defamation and insult will be decriminalised.
The House of the press, which had denounced a law harmful to the freedom of the press, approves this choice.
Advertisement
Read more
Mohamed Bazoum
, the President of Niger, confirmed it himself on Twitter: during the Council of Ministers held on Wednesday April 27, it was decided to modify the law on cybercrime.
With these changes, "
the offenses of defamation and insult (on electronic means of communication such as social networks, editor's note) no longer lead to prison but expose to fines
", indicated the head of state.
With the amendments made to the law relating to cybercrime yesterday in the Council of Ministers, the offenses of defamation and insult no longer lead to prison but expose to fines.#MB
— Mohamed Bazoum (@mohamedbazoum) April 28, 2022
The bill must now be sent to the National Assembly.
The cybercrime law, adopted in 2019, was heavily criticized by several human rights and press freedom organizations.
Several journalists and bloggers have already been prosecuted.
Souleymane Brah, communication secretary of the Maison de la presse du Niger, welcomes a step forward for press freedom.
He intends to ensure that these changes are applied: “
We have always denounced this law (…) as a draconian law.
It does not promote press safety in Niger.
Many colleagues were arrested, such as Moussa Aksar
.
The government has understood that there is a need to move towards promoting freedom of the press in Niger
,” he explains.
"
We must still ensure that there is full application of these texts
", also warns Souleymane Brah, who is in favor of better training for journalists in the use of social networks.
“
Journalists need to do their job in the most professional way, and they need to be responsible
,” he insists.
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_EN
Niger
Freedom of press
mohamed bazoum