Online safety & content laws in Comoros (2026)
Online safety rules in Comoros: partial.
Comoros has enacted a patchwork of partial digital laws, a 2021 cybersecurity/cybercrime law, a 2019 personal data protection law, and a 2014 Communications Act, but has no comprehensive online safety legislation equivalent to the EU DSA or UK Online Safety Act. There is no dedicated content-moderation, platform-liability, or age-verification regime. Authorities have additionally demonstrated willingness to impose internet shutdowns, including a documented shutdown during the January 2024 post-election protests.
Legal framework
Law 21-012/AU on Cybersecurity and the Fight against Cybercrime (2021); Personal Data Protection Law (2019); 2014 Communications Act; regulated by ANRTIC (telecoms) and ANADEN (cybersecurity)
Key points: internet & online safety in Comoros
Cybersecurity & Cybercrime Law
Law 21-012/AU on Cybersecurity and the Fight against Cybercrime was promulgated on 25 June 2021, designating the National Agency for Digital Development (ANADEN) as the competent supervisory authority under Articles 6 and 7. The 2021 Penal Code (Law 20-038) also introduced extensive cybercrime provisions in Chapter VI.
Data Protection Law
A Personal Data Protection Law was enacted in 2019 (with further consolidation in 2021) establishing the National Commission for the Protection of Personal Data as the oversight body. It introduced basic rules on collection, processing, and storage of personal data but lacks comprehensive coverage of cross-border transfers or social-media data practices.
No Comprehensive Online Safety Law
Comoros has no legislation comparable to the EU Digital Services Act or UK Online Safety Act. There is no statutory platform-liability framework, no mandatory content-moderation obligations on online intermediaries, and no age-verification regime for online services.
Internet Shutdown, January 2024
Comoros imposed its first documented internet shutdown on 17 January 2024 from approximately 09:00 UTC, targeting the main ISP Comores Telecom, following protests over the re-election of President Azali Assoumani. Authorities had also briefly suspended telecoms services during the March 2019 elections.
Telecoms Regulator & Market Structure
The National Regulation Authority for Information and Communications Technology (ANRTIC), established under the 2014 Communications Act, oversees licensing, tariffs, and compliance. The market is a duopoly between Comores Telecom and Telma Comores, with internet penetration at approximately 35.7% (about 312,000 users) as of early 2025.
Social Media Monitoring & Self-Censorship
Freedom House and the Internews/ARISA assessment document government monitoring of social media during election periods and widespread self-censorship on political topics. No access-to-information law exists, and journalists and bloggers face harassment; online speech is chilled by the threat of prosecution under broad cybercrime and penal-code provisions.
Sources
- internews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ARISA-IEA-CHAPTER-5-Comoros.pdf
- cyberpolicyportal.org/states/comoros
- dataprotection.africa/comoros/
- techhiveadvisory.africa/insights/review-of-the-comoros-data-protection-law
- freedomhouse.org/country/comoros/freedom-world/2025
- freedomhouse.org/country/comoros/freedom-world/2024
- ncsi.ega.ee/country/km/?allData=1
- globaledge.msu.edu/global-resources/resource/10647
- iclg.com/practice-areas/telecoms-media-and-internet-laws-and-regulations/comor
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Next topicOrientation, not legal advice: verify against the primary sources linked above. Last verified 24 May 2026. Methodology & how to cite · State of Technology Regulation 2026