​​Comments on legislation and policy

In this page, the UN Special Rapporteur shares all comments provided by the mandate to States on national laws, regulations and policies. The mandate regularly provides comments on the adequacy of normative and policy developments with international standards for the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

See below a list of letters concerning national norms sent since 2011 by the UN special rapporteur and the responses from Government to these communications. 

USA

• 19 March 2020 – concerning the Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies (“EARN IT Act of 2020”) Bill – OL USA 4/2020
  

Pakistan

• 19 March 2020 – concerning the Citizens Protection (Against Online Harm) Rules, 2020 – OL PAK 3/2020
  

NSO

• 20 February 2020 – follow-up communication on the human rights policies of the NSO Group - OL OTH 2/2020

ICANN

• 20 December 2019 – concerning the proposed transfer by the Internet Society (ISOC) of the Public Interest Registry (PIR) to a private equity firm – OTH 60/2019
  

Republic of Korea

• 28 November 2019 – concerning the draft law on alternative military service for conscientious objectors – JOL KOR (4.2019) Government reply: 13 February 2020
  

NSO Group

• 18 October 2019 – on the introduction of human rights policies by the NSO Group - OTH 52/2019
  [Reply from the NSO group: 10 December 2019]
  

Costa Rica

• 7 October 2019 – Draft law on the right to strike - OL CRI 5/2019
  Government reply: 10/10/2019

Togo

• 11 September 2019 – Draft law on the exercise of the right of peaceful assembly - OL TGO 1/2019

Tunisia

• 26 August 2019 – Draft law on state of emergency - OL TUN 4/2019

France

• 20 August 2019 – Draft law on online hate speech (“proposition de loi visant à lutter contre les contenus haineux sur Internet”) – OL FRA 6/2019
  Government reply: 23/08/2019

• 1 May 2019 - Oversight Board for Content Decisions – OL OTH 24/2019

Russian Federation

• 1 May 2019 – Amendments to the law on “Information, Information Technologies and Information Protection” and Amendments to the “Code of Administrative Offenses on the distribution of foreign print media” – OL RUS 4/2019

Singapore

• 24 April 2019 - Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill, OL SGP 3/2019
  Government reply: 24 April 2019 - Annexes:  A-B

Australia

• 4 April 2019 - Amendment to the Criminal Code on Sharing of Abhorrent Violent Content, OL AUS 5/2019
     Government reply: 23 September 2019
  

India

• 14 February 2019 – The Information Technology [Intermediaries Guidelines (Amendment) Rules] 2018 –
  IND 3/2019
  

United States of America

• 14 February – proposed law "S.1—Strengthening America’s Security in the Middle East Act of 2019" –
  USA 2/2019

Malaysia

• 28 December 2018 – Proposed and adopted legislation in the area of sedition, press freedom, defamation, “fake news”, etc. – OL MYS 6/2018

Ireland

• 5 November 2018 – Digital Safety Commissioner Bill – OL IRL 1/2018
  Government reply: 31/12/2018

Ecuador

• 11 January 2019 -  Legislación que modifica la Ley Orgánica de Comunicación– OL ECU 1/2019
  
• 11 December 2018 - Proyecto de Ley Orgánica de Organizaciones sin Fines de Lucro – OL ECU 5/2018

All communications sent since 2011 divided by country

Apple

• 4 August 2017: Removal of VPN applications from Apple Store in China - OTH 16/2017

Azerbaijan

• 10/12/2012 – Amendments to Law on Freedom of Assembly, the Administrative Offences Code and the Criminal Code. -  AZE 5/2012
  Government reply: 16/08/2013

Argentina

• 26 April 2018: proyecto de ley por el que se regula la responsabilidad de los intermediarios de Internet -
  OL ARG 1/2018

Australia

• 04/09/2014 - Draft Workplaces (Protection from Protestors) Bill -  AUS 3/2014
  Government reply: 05/11/2014 and 23/12/2014
  
• 12/02/2016- Amendments to criminal code « Prevention of Lawful Activity Bill » in the state of Western Australia – AUS 1/2016
  Government reply: 13/04/2016
• 15 February 2018: Submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security’s call for submission on National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Bill 2017 –  AUS 2/2018
• 11 September 2018 - Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment (Assistance and Access) Bill 2018 – OL AUS 5/2018
  Government reply: 21 November 2018

Bahrain

• 14/08/2013 - Amendments on the anti-terrorism Law no. 58 -  BHR 5/2013
  Government reply: 04/09/2013

Bangladesh

• 14 May 2018 – draft Digital Security Act – OL BGD 4/2018  
• 23/10/2012 - Foreign Donations Regulation draft law- BGD 7/2012
  Government reply: 25/10/2012
• 29/10/2013 - Amended Information and Communication Technology Act - BGD 11/2013
  Government reply: 31/10/2013
• 02/07/2014 - Latest version of the draft Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Regulation Act 2014 - BGD 3/2014
  Government reply: 08/07/2014
• 12/12/2014- National Broadcast Policy 2014- BGD 5/2014  
  Government reply : 09/01/2015

Bolivia

• 30/10/2014 - Reglamento parcial 1987 de la Ley 351 de Otorgación de Personalidades Jurídicas - BOL 3/2014
  Government reply: 02/01/2015

Brazil

• 13 April 2017 - The federal "School Without Party Programme" bills, PL 867/2015 and PL 193/2016 - OL BRA 4/2017
  Government reply 12 June 2017
• 28/10/2015 - Draft terrorism legislation, Law  no.101/2015 – BRA 8/2015
  Government Reply: 30/10/2015

Brunei Darussalam

• 25/09/2014 - Shariah Penal Code Order -  BRN 1/2014
  Government reply: 13/11/2014
• 20/04/2016 – Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement  - BRN 1/2016

Burundi

• 18/02/2013 - Draft law modifying Law No. 1/025 (Regulating the press)-  BDI 1/2013

Cambodia

• 3 April 2018 – “Draft minimum wage law” – KHM 3/2018

Cameroun

• 08/01/2014- Law 962 on Counter-terrorism –CMR 2/2014

Canada

• 17 April 2018 - Comments on the telecommunications and entertainment industry coalition’s application to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission pursuant to sections 24, 24.1, 36 and 70(1)(a) of the Telecommunications Act 1993 to "disable on-line access to piracy sites" – CAN 1/2018 
• 24/05/2012 -  Law regarding the settlement of the city of Montreal and law No. 78 -  CAN 1/2012
  Government reply: 23/07/2012, 01/10/2012 and 13/06/2013
• 20/04/2016 – Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement – CAN 1/2016
  Government reply: 02/05/2016  and 14/06/2016

Chile

• 23/01/2012 - Proyecto de Ley que Fortalece el Resguardo del Orden Público - CHL 1/2012
  Government reply: 13/03/2012 and 07/09/2012
• 02/11/2012 - Proyecto de Ley que Fortalece el Resguardo del Orden Público - CHL 5/2012
  Government reply: 07/01/2013
• 20/04/2016- Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement – CHL 2/2016

China

• 12 November 2018 – Regulation on de-extremification – OL CHN 12/11/2018
• 04/08/2015- Draft law on Cyber-Security  – CHN 7/2015
• 16/04/2015 - Draft Law on Overseas NGOs –CHN 2/2015
  Government reply: 21/05/2015

Committee on NGOs of the Economic and Social Council

• 4 January 2018 - Denial of consultative status to non-governmental organization - OTH 29/2017
  ECOSOC reply of 17 January 2018
• 5 April 2017 - Working methods to grant consultative status to non-governmental organizations- OL OTH 5/2017
  

Democratic Republic of Congo 

• 15 November 2017 – Draft bill on the regulation of NGOs – COD 2/2017
  

Ecuador

• 19/07/2012 - Proyecto de Ley Orgánica de Comunicación - ECU 1/2012
  Government reply: 03/09/2012
• 14 octubre 2016: Ley Orgánica de Comunicación de su país, y los efectos adversos a la libertad de expresión y de opinión que resultan de su puesta en práctica - OL ECU (6.2016)

Egypt

• 12/02/2013 - Two draft laws on associations and on assembly -  EGY 4/2013
• 14/01/2014 - Draft of the new Constitution as approved by the Egyptian Constituent Assembly -  EGY 1/2014
  Government reply: 29/01/2014 and 09/09/2014
• 12/06/2015- Implementation of NGO- Law –EGY 10/2015
  Government reply: 18/08/2015
• 19/08/2015 - Law on censorship of artistic works and on artistic expression –EGY 9/2015
  Government reply: 31/05/2016

• 9 August 2018- Amendments to the Press and Media Law – EGY 13/2018

European Union

• 7 December 2018 - Proposal for a Regulation on preventing the dissemination of terrorist content online – OL OTH 71/2018
• 13 June 2018: draft directive on copyright in the digital single market OTH 41/2018

France

• 03/02/2015- Law no.2014-1353 on counter-terrorism – FRA 1/2015 
  Government reply: 09/04/2015
• 28/12/2015 - Law no.2015/1556 on surveillance of international electronic communication, and law on state of emergency – FRA 7/2015
  Government reply: 26/02/2016
• 28 May 2018 – Draft bills on “fake news” – FRA 5/2018
  Government reply: 26 July 2018

Gambia

• 16/07/2013- Amendments on the Information and Communication Act - GMB 1/2013

Germany

• 1 June 2017 - Social Networks bill (Netzdurchführungsgesetz) - DEU 1/2017
  Government reply 9 August 2017 
• 29/08/2016 - Draft law "Gesetz zur Ausland-Ausland-Fernmeldeaufklärung des Bundesnachrichtendienstes", known as the "BND-law".
  Government reply: 21/10/2016

Guatemala

• 22 March 2018: Iniciativa de Ley 5266 para reformar el Código Penal de Guatemala - GTM 3/2018
• 10/03/2014 -Iniciativa de Ley para la Circulación por Carreteras Libres de Cualquier Tipo de Obstáculos - GTM 1/2014
  Government reply: 08/05/2014

Honduras

• 7 June 2018- iniciativa legal sobre ciberseguridad y medidas de protección ante los actos de odio y discriminación en internet y redes sociales HND 6/2018

Hungary

• 8 March 2018: Draft legislative package on organizations supporting migration - OL HUN 1/2018 
• 9 May 2017 - Bill T/14967 on the Transparency of Organizations Financed from Abroad - OL HUN 2/2017
  Government reply 16 June 2017
• 12 April 2017 - The bill T/14686 amending Act VVIC of 2011 on National Higher Education, signed into law on 11 April 2017 - OL HUN 1/2017
  Government reply - 18 July 2017
• 14/03/2012 - Law Freedom of the Press and the Fundamental Rules on Media Content (Act CIV of 2010) and the Media Services and Mass Media Act (Act CLXXXV of 2010)- HUN 2/2012
  Government reply: 18/05/2012
• 29/02/2012 – New Constitution and related legal provisions for the independence of the judiciary- HUN 1/2012
  Government reply: 14/05/2012 and 07/09/2012

Indonesia

• 31/08/2012 - Bill on Societal Organizations - IDN 11/2012

Ireland

• 5 November 2018 – Digital Safety Commissioner Bill – OL IRL 1/2018

Israel

• 03/03/16 – Draft legislation “Transparency Law” –ISR 1/2016

Italy

• 20 March 2018:  "red button" operational protocol for the « Fight Against the Diffusion of Fake News through the Web », announced on 18 January 2018 - ITA 1/2018
  Government reply – May 2018

Japan

• 19/11/2013 - Draft Special Secrets Bill – JPN 1/2013
  Government reply: 31/01/2014 and 20/06/2014
• 20/04/2016 – Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement – JPN 2/2016

Jordan

• 7 December 2018 - Amendments to Cybercrime law – OL JOR 3/2018

Kazakhstan

• 7 November 2018 – Draft law on distribution of information related to LGTBI – OL KAZ 5/2018
• 6/10/2015 and 15/10/2015- Draft law on activities of Non-Governmental Organizations – KAZ 3/2015 and KAZ 4/2015
  Government reply: 26/10/2015

Kenya

• 26 July 2017 - Guidelines for Prevention of Dissemination of Undesirable Bulk Political SMS and Social Media Content via Electronic Communications Networks - OL KEN 10/2017
• 15/11/2013 –Bill amending two Acts: the Public Benefits Organizations Act and the National Youth Council Act– KEN 8/2013
• 18/12/2014- Draft Security Laws Bill –KEN 7/2014 

Kyrgyz Republic

• 30/09/2013 – Draft law on “Non-commercial organizations fulfilling the role of foreign agents” – KGZ 2/2013
  Government reply: 22/11/2013 
• 06/05/2014 – Draft Bill “On the formation of a positive attitude toward non-traditional forms of sexual relations” – KGZ 1/2014
• 23/09/2014 – Amendments to the laws governing non-profit organizations – KGZ 5/2014

Lao People’s Democratic Republic

• 07/11/2014- Decree No. 327 on Internet-Based Information Control/Management – LAO 1/2014
• 29/05/2015- Draft decree on Associations and Foundations –LAO 1/2015
• 06/05/2016- Decree on Press Activities of Foreign Media, International Organizations and Diplomatic Missions – LAO 2/2016

Latvia

• 15/04/2016 – Draft legislation amending criminal law provisions on national security – LVA 1/2016
  Government reply: 09/06/2016

Libya

• 09/01/2013 – Law no. 65/2012 regulating peaceful protests – LBY 3/2012    

Malaysia

• 01/10/2014- Sedition Act of 1948– MYS 6/2014
  Government reply: 14/10/2014
• 23/12/2014 – Implementation of Sedition Act – MYS 8/2014
  Government reply: 15/03/2016
• 20/04/2016 – Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement – MYS 5/2016
• 3 April 2018 – “Anti-Fake News” Bill – MYS 1/2018
  Government reply – 11 June 2018
• 5 July 2018 – Communications and Multimedia Act and the Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission Act – MYS 2/2018

Maldives

• 26/05/2016 – Draft law on “Protection of Reputation and Good Name and Freedom of Expression Bill” –MDV 1/2016

Mauritania

• 07/08/2015- Adoption of law on associations –MRT 3/2015
• 24 January 2018 - Law against discrimination - MRT 5/2017
• 14 May 2018 – Article 306 of the Penal Code mandating death penalty for blasphemy – MRT 1/2018

Mexico

• 12 November 2018 – Ley de Seguridad Interior – OL MEX 16/2018
• 18/08/2014- Decreto N ° 159 que modifica e introduce nuevas disposiciones a la Ley Orgánica de la Procuraduría General de Justicia – MEX 15/2014
  Government reply: 21/10/2014
• 20/04/2016- Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement – MEX 3/2016

Montenegro

• 02/03/2015- Fast-tracked adoption of revised Public Assembly Act –MNE 1/2015
  Government Reply: 29/04/2015

Mozambique

• 18 September 2018 –  Media Decree 40/2018 - OL MOZ 2/2018

Myanmar

• 18/03/2013- Decree on the Right to Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession – MMR 1/2013
• 19/06/2014- Draft bill on Religious Conversion – MMR 4/2014
  Government reply: 25/07/2014

Nepal

• 24/07/2015- Draft Constitution – NPL 1/2015
• 11 July 2018 -  National Integrity and Ethics Policy 2074 (Policy) – NPL 1/2018

Nigeria

• 13/06/2013- Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill – NGA 4/2014 and NGA 1/2016
• 18/07/2014 and 10/02/2016- Draft Act to Regulate the Acceptance and Utilization of Financial/Material Contribution of Donor Agencies to Voluntary Organizations and for Matters Connected Therewith – NGO 4/2014 and NGA 1/2016

Oman

• 26 March 2018 - Royal Decree No. 7/2018 amending the Penal Code – OMN 1/2018

Pakistan

• 08/07/2016 – “Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act” - PAK 8/2016
• 07/03/2014- Foreign Contributions Bill – PAK 3/2014
• 14/12/2015 - Draft Cyber-Crime Bill – PAK 13/2015
  Government reply: 15/01/2016

Palestine 

• 16 August 2017 - Cybercrime Law - OL PSE 2/2017 

Paraguay  

• 25 September 2017 - Regulación de la Activación del Servicio de Telefonía Móvil - PRY 1/2017

Peru

• 30/07/2015- Adoption of Resolutions no.085-2015 and no.097-2015 modifying directives regulating associations – PER 2/2015 
• 20/04/2016- TPP – PER 2/2016

Poland

• 23 April 2018 – Comments on the the law ‘On specific solutions related to the organization of sessions of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in the Republic of Poland’ - OL POL 3/2018
• 13 February 2018 - Act of 26 January 2018 amending inter alia, the Act on the Institute of National Remembrance - Commission for the Prosecution of Crimes against the Polish Nation - POL 2/2018
  Government reply: 18 April 2018

Republic of Korea

• 7 November 2018 – Decision of the Supreme Court on conscientious objection – OL KOR 4/2018

Republic of Moldova

• 29/07/2013- Law n°117 completing the Contravention Code – MDA 4/2013
  Government reply: 08/11/2013

Russian Federation

• 16/06/2012 – Law introducing amendments to : the Code on Administrative Violations, and Federal Law on Assemblies, Meetings, Demonstrations, Processions and Picketing -  RUS 4/2012
• 11/07/2012 – Draft law on Introducing Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation Regarding the Regulation of Activities of Non-commercial Organizations Performing the Functions of Foreign Agents – RUS 5/2012
  Government reply: 23/07/2012
• 12/12/2012 – Draft federal law No. 44554-6 introducing amendments to the Code on Administrative Offences -  RUS 8/2012
  Government reply: 24/01/2013
• 13/06/2013- Law on Introducing Amendments to Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation ( Regulating Activities of Non-commercial Organizations which Carry Functions of Foreign Agents) -  RUS 3/2013
• 18/12/2013 – Law on Introducing Amendments to Legislative Acts (in part regulating Activities of Non-Commercial Organizations which Carry Functions of Foreign Agents) -  RUS 13/2013
  Government reply: 19/02/2014
• 20/06/2014 – Law on Non-commercial Organizations which Carry Functions of Foreign Agents -  RUS 5/2014 Government reply: 25/08/2014
• 28/07/2016- "Yarovaya Law" - RUS 7/2016
• 5 February 2018: Amendments to Foreign Agents Media Law – RUS 2/2018
  Government reply: 6 April 2018

Sierra Leone

• 22 February 2018: New policy on NGO regulation –  SLE 1/2018

South Sudan

• 04/12/2013 – Non-Governmental Organization Bill – SSD 1/2013  
• 23/10/2014- Non-Governmental Organizations Bill -  SSD 1/2014
• 29/07/2015- Entry into-force of Non-Governmental Organizations Bill – SSD 1/2015

Spain

• 22/10/2013 – Proyecto de Reforma del Código Penal – ESP 3/2013
  Government reply: 12/12/2013
• 30/12/2013 – Ley Orgánica sobre Protección de la Seguridad Ciudadana – ESP 7/2013
  Government reply: 03/04/2014
• 05/02/2015 and 13/02/2015- Law on Protection of Citizen Security – ESP 1/2015 and ESP 4/2015
  Government reply: 03/03/2015 and 19/03/2015
• 17/02/2015- Reform of penal code to include counter-terrorism provisions - ESP 3/2015
  Government reply: 19/03/2015

Sudan

• 15/08/2013- Amendments to the Legislation on the Armed Forces -  SDN 6/2013

Tajikistan

• 03/12/2014-  Amendments to Law on Public Associations - TJK 6/2014  
• 03/05/2016- Law on Public Associations – TJK 2/2016
  Government reply: 23/06/2016

Thailand

• 14/12/2012 – Law on ‘lèse majesté’-  THA 13/2012
  Government reply: 26/12/2012
• 12/11/2014 – Draft Public Assembly Act - THA 12/2014

The Netherlands

• 14 October 2016: Provisions on lese majesty in the Dutch Criminal Code - OL NLD (2/2016)
  Government reply: 18/01/2017

Tunisia

• 21/11/2012 – New constitution -  TUN 5/2012
• 24/07/2015- Draft law no.2015-22 on counter-terrorism  – TUN 1/2015

Twitter

• 10 December 2018-  Action against Twitter users for postings related to Kashmir – OL OTH 70/2018

Uganda

• 15/06/2012 – Public Order Management Bill -  UGA 4/2012
• 21/02/2013 – Draft on (anti) homosexuality legislation- UGA 6/2012
• 17/12/2013- Public Order Management Act-UGA 1/2013
• 04/02/2014 – Revised version of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill -  UGA 1/2014
  Government reply: 21/02/2014

Ukraine

• 09/06/2015- Adoption of Parliament Resolution requesting derogation from certain rights protected by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights – UKR 1/2015
• 16/11/2015- Decree banning journalists and bloggers from reporting in the country on grounds of “threats to national security” – UKR 6/2015

United Arab Emirates

• 04/12/2012 – Federal Legal Decree No. 5/2012, amending the 2006 Cybercrime Law -  ARE 8/2012
• 07/11/2013 – Implementation of the new law on Cyber Crime -  ARE 5/2013

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

• 22/12/2015 -  Draft “Investigatory Powers Bill”  - GBR 4/2015 
  Government reply: 17/02/2016 and 10/03/2016
• 06 October 2016: Joint letter with the OSCE on media freedom in the UK - GBR 3/2016
  Government reply: 17/11/2016
• 28/07/2016 - Detention Services Order 04/2016 "Detainee Access to the Internet" - GBR 2/2016
  Government reply: 12/10/16 and 20/10/16
• 9 January 2017: Digital Economy Bill - 28 April 2017 - OL GBR 1/2017
• 17 July 2018 – Counter Terrorism and Border Security Bill –  GBR 6/2018
  Government reply: 10 September 2018

United Republic of Tanzania

• 26 October 2018 – Draft amendments to the Statistics Act - OL TZA 4/2018

United States of America

• 18 May 2018 - Department of State proposal to require travellers’ social media information - OL USA 9/2018
• 24 August 2017 - Federal Communications Commission's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - OL USA 20/2017
• Government reply 1 November 2017
• 9 May 2017 - Intensified screening of travellers at the US border based on their religious affiliation - OL USA 6/2017
  Government reply - 14 September 2017
• 1 May 2017 - Intensified social media screening of travellers at the US border - OL USA 7/2016
  Government reply - 14 September 2017
• 27 March 2017 - Draft bills on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression - OL USA 3/2017
  Government reply - 11 May 2017
• 30 September 2016: Proposal to request travelers' social media information on immigration forms - USA 9/2016.
• 20/04/2016 – Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement –USA 4/2016

Venezuela

• 1 January 2018 - “Ley contra el Odio, por la Convivencia Pacífica y la Tolerancia” (“Ley contra el Odio”)
• 4/06/2016 - “Decreto No. 2.323 publicado en la Gaceta Oficial No. 6.227 el 13 de Mayo de 2016” - OL VEN 7/2016
• 20/02/2015- Ministerial Resolution 008610 regulating freedom of association – VEN 1/2015
  Government reply : 22/04/2015 and 20/05/2015

Viet Nam

• 01/10/2013 - Decree on the Management, Provision, Use of Internet Services and Information Content Online (known as “Decree 72”) - VNM 7/2013
  Government reply: 10/01/2014
• 20/04/2016 – Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement- VNM 2/2016

20 November 2018

• Joint letter to the United Nations Secretary-General calling for an international investigation of the murder of Jamal Khashoggi