Type of Legislation and Specific Law or Section Scope of Law Enforcement Burundi (East Africa) Disinformation: The Penal Code, 2009 The Press Law, 2018 Article 625 of the Penal Code prohibits an individual from knowingly spreading false rumors that are likely to alarm the public or incite them against the government. It also prohibits an individual from knowingly publishing or disseminating false news by any means with the intention to disturb public peace. Violation of Article 625 of the Penal Code may result in a fine of between 50,000 and 200,000 Burundian francs, and between one and three years in prison, or both. Article 21 of the Press Law requires the media to “convey information honestly and faithfully” in accordance with constitutional principles and legal and professional ethics. Article 54 further requires journalists to “demonstrate moral integrity and to be guided by facts” and “not to distort the texts and documents used to present the facts or comment on them” and “correct in a timely manner any published information which proves to be false or inaccurate.” Furthermore, Article 62 obliges media houses to avoid publication of any content that is contrary to morality, or that could threaten public order. Article 77 of the Press Law empowers the National Council for Communication (CNC) to “suspend or prohibit the use of a press pass (journalist pass or press card), the distribution or the sale of a printed newspapers, a periodical, or any other information medium, the broadcast of a show, the operation of a radio or television station or a news agency, when they do not comply with the law.” Cameroon (central Africa) Misinformation: Law No. 2016/007 of July 12, 2016 on the Penal Code Cybercrime: Law No. 2010/012 of December 21, 2010, on Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Section 113 of the Penal Code criminalizes the propagation of false information. It covers false information liable to injure public authorities or national unity, while Section 240 of the Penal Code criminalizes false news, covering anyone who publishes or propagates by any means whatever any news without being able to prove either its truth or that he/she had good reason to believe it to be true. Violation of Section 113 may be punished by imprisonment for three months to three years, and a fine of between 100,000 and 2 million CFA francs. Violation of Section 240 may be punished by imprisonment for one to five years, and a fine of between 20,000 and 10 million CFA francs. The penalty for Section 240 shall be doubled for anonymous publication or propagation. Section 78(1) criminalizes the use of electronic communications to publish or propagate a piece of information without being able to attest to its veracity or prove that the said piece of information was true. Violation may result in a fine of between 5 million and 10 million CFA francs, or imprisonment of between six months and two years, or both. These penalties are doubled under Section 78(2) where the offense is committed with the aim of disturbing the peace. Chad (central Africa) Against falsehoods: Law No. 020/PR/2018 on Audiovisual Communication Law No. 014/PR/2014 on e-Communications in Chad Article 81 of Law No. 020/PR/2018 prohibits any false or misleading audiovisual advertising comprising false allegations, indications, or presentations that are likely to mislead. Article 34 further requires that broadcasts not contain indications or presentations that are false or likely to mislead consumers. Article 115 of Law No. 014/PR/2014 prohibits any person from knowingly transmitting false or misleading distress signals or calls on the radio. According to Article 57 of Law No. 020/ PR/2018, the High Authority for Media and Audiovisual (HAMA) may request that the Minister of Communications suspend the functions of a media entity and institute disciplinary proceedings against the perpetrators. Violation of Article 115 of Law No. 014/ PR/2014 may result in imprisonment of between six months to one year, and a fine of between 1 million and 10 million CFA francs, or both. Comoros (southern Africa) Disinformation: The Penal Code, 1995 Under Article 254, the publication, distribution, disclosure, or reproduction of fake news, news which contains fabricated parts, news which is falsified, or news which contains falsehoods attributed to third parties is illegal. I N FO R M ATI O N D I SO R D ER IN THE GLOBA L SOUTH If anyone is found guilty of these acts, they face up to three years in prison and a fine of 750,000 Comorian francs. Sub -Saharan Africa – 1 78