Online safety & content laws in Vanuatu (2026)

Legal framework

Harmful Digital Communications Act No. 14 of 2024 and Digital Safety Authority Act No. 15 of 2024 (establishing the Digital Safety Authority/Commission and a Commissioner of Harmful Digital Communications), supported by the Cybercrime Act No. 22 of 2021 and Data Protection and Privacy Act No. 13 of 2024.

Key points: internet & online safety in Vanuatu

1. 01Dedicated online-safety statute

   The Harmful Digital Communications Act No. 14 of 2024 establishes communication principles for online conduct, creates offences for causing harm by posting digital communications and for non-consensual intimate visual recordings, and allows complaints to a Commissioner and the Magistrates' Court, closely modelled on New Zealand's HDCA.

   parliament.gov.vu lawgratis.com

2. 02Online-safety regulator established

   The Digital Safety Authority Act No. 15 of 2024 (assented 5 Dec 2024, commenced 2 Jan 2025) creates the Digital Safety Authority and a Digital Safety Commission to set and approve standards for digital safety, communications and content, and provides for a Commissioner of Harmful Digital Communications.

   paclii.org

3. 03Platform liability & content blocking

   The Harmful Digital Communications (Amendment) Act 2025 broadened offences (online impersonation, ID fraud, expanded pornography offences) and empowered the Magistrates' Court to order ISPs to block adult websites and impose requirements on social-media platforms.

   lawgratis.com

4. 04Minors / school internet controls

   In October 2025 Parliament passed (45 votes) an amendment introduced by PM Jotham Napat requiring schools to set internet policies and restrict access to pornographic and inappropriate material for students, strengthening online controls for under-16s on school grounds.

   pina.com.fj

5. 05Cybercrime backbone

   The Cybercrime Act No. 22 of 2021 (in force 22 Sep 2021), developed with Council of Europe GLACY+ support and aligned with the Budapest Convention, criminalises illegal access, interception, data/system interference, and online conduct such as cyber harassment, stalking and libel.

   paclii.org cert.gov.vu

6. 06Free-expression concerns

   Civil-society monitors and Amnesty International flag that the Cybercrime Act has been used to prosecute online critics, e.g., 2022 arrests over Facebook posts about politicians, raising concerns the online-harm regime can chill legitimate expression.

   monitor.civicus.org amnesty.org

Sources

1. 1.paclii.org/vu/legis/num_act/dsaa2024274.pdf
2. 2.parliament.gov.vu/images/Bill_of_Harmful_Digital_Communication_Act_No._of_2024.pdf
3. 3.parliament.gov.vu/images/Bill_for_the_Digital_Safety_Authority_Act_No._of_2024.pdf
4. 4.paclii.org/vu/legis/num_act/ca2021112.pdf
5. 5.cert.gov.vu/images/ressources/Cybercrime_Act_n_of_2021.pdf
6. 6.digital.gov.vu/images/Docs/legislation/Data_Protection_and_Privacy_Act_No13_of_2024-
7. 7.pina.com.fj/2025/10/28/vanuatu-parliament-passes-bill-to-protect-students-from-on
8. 8.monitor.civicus.org/explore/freedom-expression-risk-cybercrime-legislation-used-prosecute
9. 9.lawgratis.com/blog-detail/cyber-law-at-vanuatu-1
10. 10.amnesty.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ASA4472652023ENGLISH.pdf