TANZANIA
Since August 2017
Pillar Domestic data policies |
Indicator Requirement to allow the government to access personal data collected
Electronic and Postal Communications (Investigation) Regulations, 2017
Pursuant to Regulations 4 and 5 of the Electronic and Postal Communications (Investigation) Regulations, any individual's communications may be intercepted by the Director General of the Tanzania Intelligence and Security Service or the Director of Criminal Investigations for purposes including, but not limited to, the preservation or protection of national security, and the safeguarding of public safety, economic well-being, or the interests of the country. In accordance with Regulations 8 and 12, where the Director of Criminal Investigations intends to intercept communications, they are required to apply for a warrant from the Inspector General of Police, but not from a judge.
Coverage Horizontal
TANZANIA
Since May 2015
Pillar Intermediary liability |
Indicator Safe harbour for intermediaries for copyright infringement
Cybercrime Act, 2015
The Cybercrimes Act (2015) establishes a safe harbour regime for intermediaries for copyright infringements. Pursuant to Sections 39-44 of the Act, service providers are exempt from liability for information stored, transmitted, hyperlinked on their networks, or accessed through their search engines, provided they comply with certain conditions. These conditions require that the service provider neither initiates the transmission nor selects or modifies the information. Furthermore, if a service provider becomes aware of illegal content on their platform through means other than an order from a public authority, they are obligated to promptly notify the relevant authority. Additionally, upon becoming aware of such illicit content or receiving a takedown notice, the provider must take immediate action to remove or restrict access to the information. These provisions aim to protect intermediaries while encouraging the responsible management of illegal content on their platforms.
Coverage Internet intermediaries
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20221006144603/https://www.parliament.go.tz/polis/uploads/bills/acts/1452061463-ActNo-14-2015-Book-11-20.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20230327033403/https://cipesa.org/2017/04/tanzania-court-deals-a-blow-to-intermediary-liability-rules/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20221012150652/https://cipesa.org/?wpfb_dl=254
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TANZANIA
Since May 2015
Pillar Intermediary liability |
Indicator Safe harbour for intermediaries for any activity other than copyright infringement
Cybercrime Act, 2015
The Cybercrimes Act (2015) establishes a safe harbour regime for intermediaries beyond copyright infringements. Pursuant to Sections 39-44 of the Act, service providers are exempt from liability for information stored, transmitted, hyperlinked on their networks, or accessed through their search engines, provided they comply with certain conditions. These conditions require that the service provider neither initiates the transmission nor selects or modifies the information. Furthermore, if a service provider becomes aware of illegal content on their platform through means other than an order from a public authority, they are obligated to promptly notify the relevant authority. Additionally, upon becoming aware of such illicit content or receiving a takedown notice, the provider must take immediate action to remove or restrict access to the information. These provisions aim to protect intermediaries while encouraging the responsible management of illegal content on their platforms.
Coverage Internet intermediaries
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20221006144603/https://www.parliament.go.tz/polis/uploads/bills/acts/1452061463-ActNo-14-2015-Book-11-20.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20230327033403/https://cipesa.org/2017/04/tanzania-court-deals-a-blow-to-intermediary-liability-rules/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20221012150652/https://cipesa.org/?wpfb_dl=254
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TANZANIA
Since March 2010, last amended in 2022
Pillar Intermediary liability |
Indicator User identity requirement
Electronic and Postal Communications Act, 2010
Pursuant to Sections 93 and 94 of the Electronic and Postal Communications Act, individuals wishing to acquire and use a mobile telephone with either a detachable or embedded SIM card must provide identity verification documentation before purchase.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
TANZANIA
Since January 2018
Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition |
Indicator Licensing restrictions to operate in the telecom market
Electronic and Postal Communications (Licensing) Regulations, 2018
Section 20 (b) of the Electronic and Postal Communications (Licensing) Regulations, 2018, establishes that an applicant for the individual license shall submit to the Authority a business plan together with other documents as provided for under the Licensing Regulations.
Coverage Telecommunication sector
TANZANIA
N/A
Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition |
Indicator Signature of the WTO Telecom Reference Paper
Lack of appendment of WTO Telecom Reference Paper to schedule of commitments
Tanzania has not appended the World Trade Organization (WTO) Telecom Reference Paper to its schedule of commitments.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
TANZANIA
N/A
Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition |
Indicator Presence of an independent telecom authority
Presence of independent telecom authority
It is reported that the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), the executive authority for the supervision and administration of services in the telecommunications sector, is independent from the government in the decision-making process.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
TANZANIA
Since May 2015, last amended in June 2023
Pillar Cross-border data policies |
Indicator Local storage requirement
Tax Administration Act
According to Section 35 of the Tax Administration Act, every person who is taxable or otherwise liable under any tax legislation is required to maintain records, either in paper or electronic format, within the territory of the Tanzania. These records must contain information that is to be submitted to the Commissioner General in accordance with any applicable tax law, support the accurate determination of tax liabilities, and comply with any requirements prescribed by the Commissioner General or relevant regulations. Additionally, any person who maintains records in electronic form must ensure that a primary data server for storing such documents is located within the country. This server must be accessible to the Commissioner General for the purposes of tax administration. The term "primary data server" refers to any physical, virtual, or other type of server that stores data generated or collected by the taxable or liable person in the ordinary course of business.
Coverage Horizontal
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20240719024756/https://procedures.tic.go.tz/media/Tax%20Administration%20Act%202015%20English%20Version.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20230126101935/https://www.tcra.go.tz/uploads/documents/sw-1636619115-FINANCE%20ACT-%202021.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20250619230351/https://www.tra.go.tz/images/uploads/acts/ACT_NO_7_THE_FINANCE_ACT_2023.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20240503073436/https://www.gsma.com/solutions-and-impact/connectivity-for-good/mobile-for-development/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/GSMA_Oriel_DLR-Report.pdf
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TANZANIA
Since June 2021
Since 2015
Since 2015
Pillar Cross-border data policies |
Indicator Infrastructure requirement
Outsourcing Guidelines for Banks and Financial Institutions, 2021
Payment Systems (Licensing and Approval) Regulations, 2015
Payment Systems (Licensing and Approval) Regulations, 2015
Guideline 10 (g) of the Outsourcing Guidelines for Banks and Financial Institutions stipulates that banks and financial institutions are prohibited from outsourcing their primary data centres to locations outside the country. In addition, Art. 42 of the Payment Systems Licensing and Approval Regulations requires a payment system provider to place its primary data centre in relation to payment system services in Tanzania.
Coverage Financial sector
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20240816034849/https://www.bot.go.tz/Publications/Acts,%20Regulations,%20Circulars,%20Guidelines/Regulations/en/2020030903280842.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20230207080958/https://www.bot.go.tz/Publications/Acts,%20Regulations,%20Circulars,%20Guidelines/Guidelines/en/2021063015241391.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20240503073436/https://www.gsma.com/solutions-and-impact/connectivity-for-good/mobile-for-development/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/GSMA_Oriel_DLR-Report.pdf
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TANZANIA
Since November 2022, entry into force in May 2023
Pillar Cross-border data policies |
Indicator Conditional flow regime
The Personal Data Protection Act 2022, Act No. 11 of 2022
Sections 31 and 32 of the Personal Data Protection Act permit the transfer of personal data outside Tanzania only on the following circumstances: a) to a country with an adequate personal data protection legal system (i.e. essentially equivalent levels of protection to that within Tanzania) provided the recipient has proven (i) such transfer is necessary for important reasons of public interest or any other legitimate purpose or (ii) the importance of the transfer and there is no reason to assume that the transfer or processing in the recipient country may prejudice the subject's legitimate interests. The data collector or processor must carry out a prior data protection impact assessment on the need to transfer personal data and ensure the recipient of the data only processes the relevant information in the data and for the purpose for which the data was transferred; b) to any other country with appropriate safeguards on the security and protection of personal data provided the data is transferred to be processed for a purpose approved by the data subject, unless the data subject has consented to such transfer, or the transfer is necessary:
- For the performance of a contract between the data subject and the data collector or the implementation of pre-contractual measures taken at the request of the data subject.
- For the conclusion or performance of a contract concluded or to be concluded in the interest of the data subject between the collector and another person.
- For any public interest or the establishment, exercise or defence of a legal claim.
- To protect the vital interests of the data subject.
- In accordance with a law aimed at giving information to the public, which affords an opportunity for public consultation in general or anyone with a legitimate interest to submit their comments in accordance with a procedure laid down by law.
- For the performance of a contract between the data subject and the data collector or the implementation of pre-contractual measures taken at the request of the data subject.
- For the conclusion or performance of a contract concluded or to be concluded in the interest of the data subject between the collector and another person.
- For any public interest or the establishment, exercise or defence of a legal claim.
- To protect the vital interests of the data subject.
- In accordance with a law aimed at giving information to the public, which affords an opportunity for public consultation in general or anyone with a legitimate interest to submit their comments in accordance with a procedure laid down by law.
Coverage Horizontal
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20230801103752/https://abcattorneys.co.tz/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Personal-Data-Protection-Act-of-Tanzania-Sheria-ya-Ulinzi-wa-Taarifa-Binafsi-Tanzania-2022-ABC-Attorney...
- https://web.archive.org/web/20230528172155/https://www.dlapiperdataprotection.com/index.html?t=transfer&c=TZ
- https://www.dataguidance.com/notes/tanzania-data-protection-overview
- https://web.archive.org/web/20230511174813/https://altadvisory.africa/2023/05/10/tanzania-data-protection-act-comes-into-effect/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20230511174813/https://altadvisory.africa/2023/05/10/tanzania-data-protection-act-comes-into-effect/
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TANZANIA
N/A
Pillar Cross-border data policies |
Indicator Participation in trade agreements committing to open cross-border data flows
Lack of participation in agreements with binding commitments on data flows
Tanzania has not joined any free trade agreement committing to open transfers of cross-border data flows.
Coverage Horizontal
TANZANIA
Since November 2022, entry into force in May 2023
Pillar Domestic data policies |
Indicator Framework for data protection
The Personal Data Protection Act 2022, Act No. 11 of 2022
The Personal Data Protection Act provides a comprehensive regime of data protection in Tanzania. It contains detailed provisions imposing obligations on data controllers and data processors, including requirements associated with data security and international data transfers, and establishes the Personal Data Protection Commission.
Coverage Horizontal
TANZANIA
N/A
Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) |
Indicator Adoption of the WIPO Copyright Treaty
Lack of signature of the WIPO Copyright Treaty
Tanzania has not signed the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty.
Coverage Horizontal
TANZANIA
Since March 2018, as amended in July 2020
Pillar Domestic data policies |
Indicator Minimum period for data retention
Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations (2020)
Section 13 of the Online Content Regulations (2020) requires internet cafe operators to:
- keep a proper service user register and ensure every person using internet service is registered upon showing a recognised identity card;
- install surveillance cameras to record and archive activities inside the cafe.
The images recorded by a surveillance camera and the register of users recorded shall be kept for a period of 12 months.
- keep a proper service user register and ensure every person using internet service is registered upon showing a recognised identity card;
- install surveillance cameras to record and archive activities inside the cafe.
The images recorded by a surveillance camera and the register of users recorded shall be kept for a period of 12 months.
Coverage Internet cafe operators
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20230328145454/https://www.tcra.go.tz/uploads/documents/sw-1619088125-The%20Electronic%20and%20Postal%20Communications%20(Online%20Content)%20Regulations,%202020.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20230324075153/https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/6/17536686/tanzania-internet-laws-censorship-uganda-social-media-tax
TANZANIA
N/A
Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) |
Indicator Adoption of the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty
Lack of signature of the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty
Tanzania has not signed the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Performances and Phonograms Treaty.
Coverage Horizontal
