Skip to content
World Watch

Online safety & content laws in Marshall Islands (2026)

Online safety rules in Marshall Islands: partial.

The Marshall Islands enacted a foundational cluster of digital laws in 2025, including a Cybercrimes Act, Cybersecurity Act, and a public-sector Personal Data Protection Act, replacing near-total reliance on the Criminal Code 2011. However, there is no comprehensive online safety regime governing platform content moderation, platform liability, or age verification; a harmful digital communications law remains a planned future measure targeted by 2028.

Last verified Official sources first · MethodologyCompare Marshall Islands with other countries

Legal framework

Cybercrimes Act 2025 (PL 2025-40); Cybersecurity Act 2025 (PL 2025-27); Personal Data Protection Act 2025 (PL 2025-43, public-sector only); Ministry of Transportation and Communication (national cybersecurity authority)

Key points: internet & online safety in Marshall Islands

  1. 2025 Digital Legislation Package

    In 2025 the Nitijela (parliament) passed a cluster of digital laws in a single legislative session: Cybercrimes Act 2025, Cybersecurity Act 2025, Personal Data Protection Act 2025, Electronic Transactions Act 2025, and Digital Transformation and Identity Verification Act 2025, representing the country's first comprehensive digital legal framework.

    rmiparliament.org dig.watch

  2. Cybercrimes Act 2025

    The Cybercrimes Act 2025 (PL 2025-40) introduces substantive cybercrime offences where previously only limited provisions existed under Criminal Code 2011 Articles 224 (forgery) and 250 (illegal interception/surveillance). No dedicated cybercrime law had been in force since the authorities began drafting such legislation in 2019.

    rminitijela.com coe.int

  3. Personal Data Protection Act 2025, Public Sector Only

    PL 2025-43 applies solely to core government ministries and agencies collecting, using, or processing personal data of natural persons, and takes effect 12 months after certification. Private-sector data processing remains unregulated by this Act.

    rmiparliament.org dataguidance.com

  4. No Platform Liability or Content Moderation Law

    There is no online safety statute equivalent to the EU Digital Services Act or UK Online Safety Act. No platform liability framework, no mandatory content moderation duties, and no age-verification requirements for online services have been enacted.

    dig.watch digitalrmi.com

  5. Harmful Digital Communications Law, Planned by 2028

    A harmful digital communications law is identified in the Marshall Islands' digital development roadmap as a future legislative priority, with planning documents referencing an August 2028 target alongside broader cybersecurity programme development.

    digitalrmi.com

  6. Open Internet; No State Censorship

    The Marshall Islands operates an open internet without government censorship or content-blocking infrastructure. The Telecommunications (Reform) Act 2025 further liberalised the telecoms market, and Starlink launched local services in June 2025, expanding broadband access.

    dig.watch rmiparliament.org

Sources

  1. rmiparliament.org/cms/library/public-laws-by-years/60-2025.html
  2. rmiparliament.org/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINCIPAL/2025/2025-0043/2025-0043_1.pdf
  3. rmiparliament.org/cms/images/LEGISLATION/BILLS/2025/2025-0041/2025-0041.pdf
  4. dig.watch/countries/marshall-islands
  5. coe.int/en/web/octopus/-/marshall-islands
  6. digitalrmi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/legislative-framework-assessment-digital-r
  7. dataguidance.com/jurisdiction/marshall-islands
  8. rminitijela.com/public-law-communication/

Next for Marshall Islands: CybersecurityComprehensive law

Next topic

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