SOUTH SUDAN
Reported in 2017, last reported in 2021
Pillar Content access |
Sub-pillar Blocking or filtering of commercial web content
Blocking of commercial web content
Several cases of web content blocking have been reported in recent years:
- In July 2017, the websites of media outlets Sudan Tribune and Radio Tamazuj and the independent blogs Nyamilepedia and Paanluel Wel were reportedly blocked. One year and six months later, they were still blocked.
- In late June 2020, Sudan's Post announced on its website that access to its content had been blocked by the government.
- In August 2021, it was reported that Facebook and WhatsApp were restricted before planned protests.
- In July 2017, the websites of media outlets Sudan Tribune and Radio Tamazuj and the independent blogs Nyamilepedia and Paanluel Wel were reportedly blocked. One year and six months later, they were still blocked.
- In late June 2020, Sudan's Post announced on its website that access to its content had been blocked by the government.
- In August 2021, it was reported that Facebook and WhatsApp were restricted before planned protests.
Coverage Media outlets, blogs and social media
Sources
- https://ooni.org/post/south-sudan-censorship/#blocked-websites
- https://radiotamazuj.org/en/news/article/opinion-south-sudan-government-should-lift-ban-on-blocked-news-websites
- https://www.nyamile.com/2020/08/17/swedish-group-says-silent-media-blocking-continue-in-south-sudan/
- https://radiotamazuj.org/en/news/article/south-sudan-internet-cut-ahead-of-planned-protests
- Show more...
SOUTH SUDAN
Reported in 2021
Pillar Content access |
Sub-pillar Presence of Internet shutdowns
Presence of internet shutdowns
It is reported that South Sudan has Internet shutdowns. According to the V-dem dataset, for the variable "v2smgovshut_osp" South Sudan showed a 1.189 out of 4, indicating the government shut down domestic access to the Internet numerous times in 2021.
Coverage Horizontal
SOUTH SUDAN
N/A
Pillar Intermediary liability |
Sub-pillar Safe harbor for intermediaries for copyright infringement
Lack of intermediary liability framework in place for copyright infringement.
South Sudan does not have a safe harbour regime in place for intermediaries for copyright infringement.
Coverage Horizontal
SOUTH SUDAN
N/A
Pillar Intermediary liability |
Sub-pillar Safe harbor for intermediaries for any activity other than copyright infringement
Lack of intermediary liability framework in place for any activity other than copyright infringement
South Sudan does not have a safe harbour regime in place for intermediaries for any activity other than copyright infringement.
Coverage Horizontal
Source
- N/A
SOUTH SUDAN
Since May 2021
Pillar Domestic Data policies |
Sub-pillar Minimum period for data retention
Cybercrimes and Computer Misuse Provisional Order, 2021
Section 6 of the Cybercrimes and Computer Misuse Provisional Order imposes an obligation on service providers to store for 180 days information relating to communications, including personal data and traffic data of subscribers. A service provider is defined as a public or private entity that provides to users of its services the means to communicate by use of a computer system, and any other entity that processes or stores computer data on behalf of that entity or its users (Section 5).
Coverage Online service providers
SOUTH SUDAN
N/A
Pillar Cross-border data policies |
Sub-pillar Participation in trade agreements committing to open cross-border data flows
Lack of participation in agreements with binding commitments on data flows
South Sudan has not joined any agreement with binding commitments to open transfers of data across borders. However, South Sudan is a member of the East African Community EAC since 2016 and is an observer to COMESA.
Coverage Horizontal
SOUTH SUDAN
N/A
Pillar Domestic Data policies |
Sub-pillar Framework for data protection
Lack of legal framework for data protection
South Sudan does not have a comprehensive regime of data protection in place.
Coverage Horizontal
SOUTH SUDAN
N/A
Pillar Telecom infrastructure and competition |
Sub-pillar Other restrictions to operate in the telecom market
Restrictions for obtaining a telecom license
It is reported that there are some restrictions for obtaining a telecom license: there are conditions that differ for foreign-controlled operators, there is a legal limit on the number of licences, a minimum capital requirement to obtain a licence, and there are other licensing criteria. However, such restrictions have not been identified in the regulatory texts. The general regime for licensing in the telecom sector can be found in Chapter V of the National Telecommunication Act.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
SOUTH SUDAN
N/A
Pillar Telecom infrastructure and competition |
Sub-pillar Signature of the WTO Telecom Reference Paper
Lack of adoption of the WTO Telecom Reference Paper
South Sudan is not part of the WTO and therefore has not attached the WTO Telecom Reference Paper to its schedule of commitments.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
SOUTH SUDAN
Since June 2012
Pillar Telecom infrastructure and competition |
Sub-pillar Presence of independent telecom authority
National Communication Act
Section 7 of the National Telecommunication Act, provides the establishment of the National Communication Authority. This entity is answerable to the President of the Republic and it is reported that is not autonomous in its decision-making process.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
SOUTH SUDAN
Since February 2012
Pillar Telecom infrastructure and competition |
Sub-pillar Maximum foreign equity share for investment in the telecommunication sector
Companies Act
According to Section 323 of the Companies Act, 2012, small-size private companies shall be the domain of South Sudanese nationals only and medium and large-size private companies shall be open to non-South Sudanese investors on the condition that financially able South Sudanese shall have not less than 31% shareholding in such companies. This applies to all companies, including the telecom sector.
Coverage Horizontal
SOUTH SUDAN
Since 2021
Pillar Telecom infrastructure and competition |
Sub-pillar Presence of shares owned by the government in telecom companies
Presence of shares owned by the government in the telecom sector
It is reported that the state-owned company Digitel Telecommunications was launched in 2021. The information about the shares owned by the government is not available online.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
SOUTH SUDAN
N/A
Pillar Telecom infrastructure and competition |
Sub-pillar Functional/accounting separation for operators with significant market power
Lack of accounting and functional separation requirements
It is reported that in South Sudan both functional and accounting separations for operators with significant market power are not required by law nor practiced in the telecommunications market.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
SOUTH SUDAN
N/A
Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) |
Sub-pillar Effective protection covering trade secrets
Lack of regulatory framework covering trade secrets
There is no law or regulation in South Sudan for protection of trade secrets, however there is a bill on this issue since 2013.
Coverage Horizontal
SOUTH SUDAN
N/A
Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) |
Sub-pillar Signature of the WIPO Copyright Treaty
Lack of signature of the WIPO Treaty on Copyright
South Sudan is not a signatory of the WIPO Treaty on Copyright.
Coverage Horizontal