Tunisia


Tunisia uses Smart Filter to block access to sites categorized as Sexual Materials, Nudity, Pornography and Anonymizers. This list is extended to also block access to political parties, Non-Governmental Organizations and websites that provide alternative information on Tunisia, as well as human rights and political opposition content.

Filtering: Pervasive

Open Net Initiative Report


Filtering Technology: Centralized

All Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are routed through an international gateway administered by the Tunisian Internet Agency (ATI), which controls the network backbone and Domain Name Service. Since all wireline bandwidth passes through ATI's servers and network, ATI can filter all content passing to and from ISPs, educational institutions, and government offices.

ATI employs Secure Computing software for filtering, and blocking occurs consistently regardless of the ISP used. Tunisia attempts to mask its filtering - users attempting to access blocked sites receive a spoof "blockpage" that appears as a standard 404 error message of the Internet Explorer web browser.

Media Environment: Repressive

Both the Ministry of Telecommunications and the Ministry of the Interior have responsibility for controlling online content through the use of Internet filtering software. Publinet (Internet caf?owners are required to monitor customer access to prevent access to "banned" content, and are expected to report on activities within their shops.

Tunisia's legal controls on media and the Internet are broad and often vague, inviting arbitrary application. The country's Press Law, most recently amended in 2001, makes defaming a public official a criminal offense, subjecting a reporter to potential penalties of a minimum of one year in prison and a fine of 120 dinars, or approximately US$90. Publication of false reports that "upset public order" can result in up to three years in prison and a fine of about US$1,500.

Filtered Content


Additional Sources

* http://hrw.org/reports/2005/mena1105/7.htm#_Toc119125752

* http://www.ifex.org/download/en/FreedomofExpressionunderSiege.doc

* http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=10768

* http://www.privacyinternational.org/article.shtml?cmd[347]=x-347-103786