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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Despite past commitments to reform, criminal defamation has not been repealed and applies to online publications.

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.