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.
Recent communications
NSO Group
- 18 October 2019 – on the introduction of human rights policies by the NSO Group - OTH 52/2019
Costa Rica
Togo
- 11 September 2019 – Draft law on the exercise of the right of peaceful assembly -
OL TGO 1/2019
Tunisia
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
Facebook
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
Australia
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
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
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
Committee on NGOs of the Economic and Social Council
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
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
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
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
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
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
Palestine
Paraguay
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
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
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
The Netherlands
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
United Republic of Tanzania
- 26 October 2018 – Draft amendments to the Statistics Act -
OL TZA 4/2018
United States of America
Venezuela
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