Tunisia amends cybercrime law to replace prison terms with fines

Decree 54 cybercrime law press freedom Kais Saied Tunisia

Tunisian President Kais Saied has amended Decree 54, a cybercrime law originally enacted in 2022 that has been widely criticized by human rights and press freedom organizations for being used to silence dissent.

The amendment, published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Tunisia on September 30, 2026, removes the five-year prison sentence for first-time offenders accused of spreading false news or disinformation via digital networks. Instead, first-time offenders will face financial penalties ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 Tunisian dinars.

However, the law maintains strict penalties for repeat offenders, who may face six months in prison and a fine of 50,000 dinars. Additionally, penalties are doubled if the target of the alleged disinformation is a public official.

While Reporters Without Borders described the move as a step in the right direction, the organization noted it is insufficient to bring the legal framework in line with international press freedom standards. The amendment follows recent pressure from civil society groups, including the UGTT union, which have organized protests against perceived restrictions on rights and freedoms.

Entities

Kais Saied · Reporters Without Borders · Tunisia · Tunisian Journal of Official Records · UGTT

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 11 SOURCES] The amendment to Decree 54 replaces prison sentences for first-time offenders with fines. alkuwaitnews.net · trinidadtribune.com · newscentraltv.com · nationalcybersecurity.com · www.tunisie-tribune.com · +6 more
[● 9 SOURCES] Repeat offenders face six months in prison and a 50,000 dinar fine. alkuwaitnews.net · newscentraltv.com · nationalcybersecurity.com · www.tunisie-tribune.com · arabic.euronews.com · +4 more
[● 2 SOURCES] The government maintains that the decree is necessary to combat cybercrime, disinformation, and threats to public order. trinidadtribune.com · nationalcybersecurity.com
[● 4 SOURCES] Penalties are doubled if the target is a public official. alkuwaitnews.net · arabic.euronews.com · kapitalis.com · www.webdo.tn
[● 3 SOURCES] Reporters Without Borders stated the revision is a step in the right direction but insufficient to meet international press freedom standards. newscentraltv.com · arabic.euronews.com · www.pressafrik.com
[● 11 SOURCES] First-time offenders face fines between 10,000 and 20,000 Tunisian dinars. alkuwaitnews.net · trinidadtribune.com · newscentraltv.com · nationalcybersecurity.com · www.tunisie-tribune.com · +6 more