SECTOR 1 in recent years. ‘The fear of retaliation is rampant.’ In general, citizens are less likely to speak freely for fear of reprisals. Taxes seem to have become a repressive tool against discordant voices. According to a panellist, ‘Every time you speak against the government, a tax recovery operation follows almost the next day.’ This fear of a potential tax recovery and the fear of reprisal have, to some extent, undermined the ability of some organisations and individuals to exercise civic oversight of public action. Certain provisions of the Penal Code (which has been voted on but is not yet in force) widen the scope of actions which may be deemed as an offence of affront. This could prevent citizens from expressing themselves freely. State authorities may also use the powers conferred on them by the Intelligence law to target citizens without any due process. This law empowers the state to intercept the phone calls of any citizen for the purpose of investigating national security matters. In this environment, it is difficult to imagine that citizens and journalists enjoy their right to freedom of expression without fear. Some panel members felt that the level of fear, as described, was exaggerated. They pointed out that social media gives people more ways to express themselves and that taxes cannot be used against law-abiding citizens and organisations, especially those that are not in arrears with the tax authorities. Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: ✓ ✓✓✓ ✓✓ ✓✓ ✓ ✓ ✓✓ 2.0 (2007 = 2.0; 2009 = 2.2; 2011 = 2.4; 2014 = 1.7) 1.3 There are no laws or parts of laws restricting freedom of expression such as excessive official secret, libel acts, legal requirements that restrict the entry into the journalistic profession or laws that unreasonably interfere with the functions of media The Information and Communication Code and the law establishing the HAAC contain restrictions on the practise of freedom of expression. Both laws state that freedom of expression may be denied if, among other things, it threatens public order and national security. 11 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER BENIN 2018