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Online safety & content laws in Antigua and Barbuda (2026)

Online safety rules in Antigua and Barbuda: partial.

Antigua and Barbuda regulates online conduct primarily through its Electronic Crimes Act 2013 and its 2018 amendment, which criminalise harassment, fraud, identity theft, CSAM, and unauthorised computer access. There is no comprehensive platform-liability or online-safety regime equivalent to the EU DSA or UK Online Safety Act; internet access is open and the country is rated 'Free' by Freedom House. No dedicated age-verification framework or mandatory content-moderation obligations on platforms have been enacted.

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Legal framework

Electronic Crimes Act 2013 (No. 14 of 2013), as amended by the Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act 2018 (No. 25 of 2018); Data Protection Act 2013 (No. 10 of 2013); Libel and Slander Act

Key points: internet & online safety in Antigua and Barbuda

  1. Electronic Crimes Act 2013

    The primary cybercrime statute criminalises a broad range of online offences including unauthorised access, electronic fraud, identity theft, privacy violations, harassment via electronic systems, CSAM, and electronic terrorism. It also provides law-enforcement powers for data preservation and search-and-seizure of electronic evidence.

    laws.gov.ag dig.watch

  2. 2018 Amendment

    The Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act 2018 (No. 25 of 2018) expanded the definition of child sexual abuse material beyond its original narrow scope and formally authorised police to seek judicial search warrants to extract data from electronic devices as evidence.

    laws.gov.ag legalaffairs.gov.ag

  3. Data Protection Act 2013

    The Data Protection Act 2013 establishes privacy and data-processing obligations on public and private bodies and created a Privacy Commissioner role. It operates alongside, but separately from, online-safety regulation and does not impose platform content-moderation duties.

    laws.gov.ag mofo.com

  4. No platform-liability or DSA-equivalent regime

    No legislation imposes positive content-moderation obligations, risk-assessment duties, or transparency requirements on online platforms. Platform liability is not specifically addressed; there is no online safety bill enacted or credibly advanced as of May 2026.

    laws.gov.ag dpocaribbean.com

  5. Criminal defamation remains in force

    Online expression is also constrained by the Libel and Slander Act, under which defamation is a criminal offence carrying fines or imprisonment. Despite past commitments to reform, criminal defamation has not been repealed and applies to online publications.

    lawgratis.com freedomhouse.org

  6. Open internet; Council of Europe engagement

    Antigua and Barbuda does not block or filter internet content, and Freedom House rates it 'Free' in its 2025 Freedom in the World assessment. The country is engaged with the Council of Europe's Octopus cybercrime community, reflecting alignment with international cybercrime norms rather than a restrictive internet policy.

    freedomhouse.org coe.int

Sources

  1. laws.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/a2013-14.pdf
  2. laws.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/No.-25-of-2018-Electronic-Crimes-Amendment
  3. laws.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/a2013-10.pdf
  4. legalaffairs.gov.ag/pdf/bills/ELECTRONIC_CRIMES_AMENDMENT_BILL_2018_PV.pdf
  5. coe.int/en/web/octopus/-/antigua-and-barbuda
  6. freedomhouse.org/country/antigua-and-barbuda/freedom-world/2025
  7. itu.int/en/ITU-D/Cybersecurity/Documents/Country_Profiles/Antigua_Barbuda.pdf
  8. dig.watch/resource/antigua-and-barbudas-electronic-crimes-act-2013
  9. laws.gov.ag/
  10. mofo.com/privacy-library/antigua-and-barbuda
  11. dpocaribbean.com/cybercrime-laws
  12. lawgratis.com/blog-detail/media-laws-at-antigua-and-barbuda

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Orientation, not legal advice: verify against the primary sources linked above. Last verified 24 May 2026. Methodology & how to cite · State of Technology Regulation 2026