The Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Migration, and Tunisians Abroad has sent a robust message stating it will not tolerate social media platforms being used as venues for deliberately maligning the country. This decisive stance comes in the wake of suspicious attacks and targeted campaigns aimed at tarnishing the ministry and various diplomatic missions on social media.
According to an official statement from the Ministry, social media platforms, which serve as open spaces for media communication, constructive criticism, and positive interactions, should not be exploited for the purpose of perpetually denigrating state officials, ministry executives, and employees. All of whom, it should be noted, are Tunisian citizens entitled to the protection of their dignity under the law while performing their duties.
The Ministry also stressed that individuals who disseminate false information, indulge in character assassination, or slander, subject themselves to legal scrutiny and criminal proceedings. The Ministry further signaled its intention to employ all available legal measures to identify the owners of such online platforms, and proceed to prosecute them in court. In a cautionary note, the Ministry warned that anyone utilizing the official sites of the ministry and its diplomatic and consular missions to post malicious comments aimed at spreading fake news or insults will face legal action.
The rise in online disinformation campaigns has not only been a concern for Tunisia but has been observed globally. Several governments are tightening their cyber laws to protect national interests and maintain social harmony. Tunisia, a nation that sparked the Arab Spring through a social media-fueled revolution in 2011, finds itself at a crossroads, having to balance the freedom of speech with the need to protect its institutions and citizens from digital harm. Today’s statement from the Ministry reflects this precarious balancing act, as Tunisia navigates the complex terrain of governance in the digital age.
