The East African Legislative Assembly is calling for a sweeping regional regulations to govern social media use, warning that online misinformation, hate speech and cross-border digital abuse are outpacing existing national laws in East Africa.
Falhada Dekow Iman EALA law maker on Tuesday tabled a motion urging the Council of Ministers and EAC partner states to create a harmonised policy and legal framework that promotes responsible online behaviour without undermining freedom of expression. The motion argues that fragmented national approaches are weakening protections for citizens and complicating enforcement efforts across borders.
“Our region cannot afford a digital space where misinformation, hate speech and cyberbullying thrive unchecked,” Iman said while moving the motion. “Social media has become essential for communication and civic engagement, but its misuse threatens peace, national security and social cohesion.”
The legislator said the EAC must align regulations with the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which guarantees freedom of expression but also emphasises responsible communication. She noted that the African Commission’s 2019 Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression already provides guidance on balancing regulation with rights protections.
Iman argued that the lack of a unified regional approach has left gaps that bad actors exploit. “Divergent legal and policy approaches among partner states have resulted in inconsistencies that undermine both the protection of digital rights and effective cross-border enforcement,” she said.
The motion which was passed by the regional parliament urges the Council of Ministers to fast-track a regional framework that upholds media independence and free speech while tightening measures against online disinformation. It proposes harmonised laws, joint public-education initiatives, and coordinated action among regulators across the EAC.
It also calls for the establishment of an EAC Multi-Stakeholder Digital Governance Forum bringing together policymakers, civil society, academia and the private sector to provide ongoing guidance on digital-rights issues. The Secretariat would additionally be tasked with conducting a comprehensive study on the socio-economic impact of social media in East Africa.
The passed motion emphasises the importance of empowering young people with digital-literacy skills as online platforms continue to shape political discourse and economic activity in the region. Her motion calls on partner states to “invest in digital literacy and awareness campaigns, particularly targeting youth and vulnerable communities, to promote responsible digital citizenship and media literacy.”
During debate on the motion, several lawmakers underscored both the opportunities and dangers posed by social media. Kadogo Babirye Veronica EALA member from Uganda said that social media platforms are important but come with serious challenges including misinformation, cyberbullying and rising addiction. “There is also social media addiction and very many people especially the young generation are on a level some are taken to rehabilitation because of the addiction with the social media,” she said.
Shahbal Said Suleiman EALA Mp from Kenya acknowledged the positive impact of social media on business, civic mobilisation and social change but warned that regulatory interventions must avoid suppressing legitimate speech. “Interaction with people is declining parliamentarians instead of participating in the plenary are on their phones,” he said. “I think it is important to control the negatives of social media, but the instruments we are trying to use may result in censorship… Let us be vigilant and ensure that while trying to initiate these laws we do not turn up to be instruments of censorship.”
Siranda Blacks Gerald added that poorly regulated online spaces have already contributed to unrest in parts of the region. “There is one country that almost got burnt down by social media,” he said. “Whatever they want to say becomes news — there is no editor or nothing… this motion is timely for us as a region to have regulations governing the social media.”
The debate comes a day after South Sudan passed its new Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, adding to a patchwork of rapidly expanding national laws across the EAC that critics say highlights the urgency of building a coordinated regional framework to protect both safety and digital rights.
