SECTOR 1 Agents can disclose and provide evidence of all unlawful conduct in the public administration. Except in the case of slander, they do not incur any administrative penalty or disciplinary measure. [Article 73] Other articles set conditions, procedures and restrictions on access to public information, as well as remedies. Even though the Information and Communication Code contains provisions on freedom of information, media and CSOs continue to advocate for a separate freedom of information law. They claim that a new law will better serve the interests of citizens than the current provisions. Even so, the current provisions are hardly respected. State authorities seemingly have a lot to hide. The salaries of ministers, for example, are kept secret (even the Constitutional Court tried to discover these amounts and failed). Holders of public information still emphasise the need to protect official secrets in order to systematically prevent journalists and citizens from accessing information. 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: ✓✓ ✓✓ ✓ ✓✓✓ ✓ ✓✓ ✓ 1.7 (2007 = 1.4; 2009 = 4.8; 2011 = 1.4; 2014 = 1.2) 1.8 Websites, blogs and other digital platforms are not required to register with, or obtain permission from, state authorities According to Article 252 of the Information and Communication Code, multimedia news websites run directly or indirectly in Benin and irrespective of whether they are paid or free must be authorised by the Broadcasting and Communication Authority. However, creating and running blogs are not subject to any prior authorisation. The panellists noted that this requirement violates the principle of ‘internet without borders’. While most ‘daily news’ websites publish their content from within Benin, the panel noted that several news sites are now being hosted outside the country. 15 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER BENIN 2018