Internet & Online Safety · South Sudan
Online safety & content laws in South Sudan (2026)
South Sudan shaded by its internet & online safety status
South Sudan has no comprehensive online-safety or platform-moderation law of the DSA/OSA type. Instead, the state regulates the internet primarily through telecom-sector powers and a broad new cybercrime statute that criminalizes vaguely defined online content, backed by NCA-ordered ISP-level blocking of social media. The combination of compelled provider cooperation, broad content offenses, and repeated shutdowns reflects a restriction-oriented regime rather than a rights-protective safety framework.
Key points
The National Communication Authority (NCA), established under the National Communication Act 2012, regulates ICT, telecoms, broadcasting and internet domain names; it handles licensing and 'online data communication' but there is no dedicated content-moderation or online-safety code for platforms.
President Salva Kiir signed the Cybercrimes and Computer Misuse Act 2026 on 18 February 2026; Section 44 allows up to five years' jail for 'false or misleading' information causing public panic, economic loss or reputational damage, with further offenses for 'offensive communication,' cyber-harassment and 'undesirable content' (Section 42).
The Act empowers an Investigatory Unit to compel internet/service providers to assist criminal investigations by collecting traffic and content data, with the existence of such measures required to remain confidential — rather than transparency or notice-and-takedown duties seen in safety regimes.
On 22 January 2025 the NCA directed all ISPs to block Facebook and TikTok for up to 90 days citing graphic/inflammatory content tied to violence in Sudan; carriers (Zain, MTN) complied and access was restored on 27 January 2025 after domestic and international pressure.
Amnesty International, Access Now and the Internet Society's South Sudan Chapter condemned the 2025 blackout as a disproportionate, rights-violating measure, and press-freedom groups warn the 2026 Act's overbroad definitions threaten journalists and ordinary users.
No South Sudanese law imposes age-verification, age-assurance, child-online-safety duties, or intermediary-liability/safe-harbor rules on platforms; the country is absent from comparative age-verification mappings, leaving such matters unregulated.
South Sudan - other topics
Last verified 5/24/2026 · Orientation, not legal advice - verify against the primary sources linked above. Explore the full world map →