Situation of Press Freedom in Tunisia

In September 2022, Tunisia adopted its first cybercrime law, which diverges significantly from international standards due to its inclusion of content-based offenses and disproportionate sanctions. Article 24 of the law criminalizes the sharing, sending, or publishing of false information, defamatory content, or other forms of expression using vague and overly broad language. It imposes severe penalties ranging from 5 to 10 years in prison, raising serious concerns about its impact on freedom of expression.  

Article 24 has been widely used as a legal tool to prosecute journalists, lawyers, and human rights defenders, contributing to the suppression of media diversity, encouraging self-censorship, and discouraging public engagement in democratic debate.  

One panel will focus on the recent legislative proposal to amend the cybercrime decree, exploring how to align it with international standards and instruments such as the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime and the UN Cybercrime Treaty, which is expected to open for signatures later this year.  

Another panel will examine the opportunities and challenges posed by artificial intelligence, with a focus on how journalists and media outlets can leverage AI tools while safeguarding journalistic ethics, copyright protections, and other fundamental rights.