SECTOR 1 1.8 Public information is easily guaranteed by law, to all citizens. accessible, Media lobbyists and organisations have been fighting in vain for access-toinformation legislation in Cameroon for many years. Secrecy rules in the civil service prevent civil servants from giving out information or talking to the press without prior authorisation. Most administrative documents - especially correspondences between ministers and other top functionaries - are stamped confidential. Journalists can go to jail for obtaining such documents, including documents such as police or judicial investigation reports. Even the staterun media have difficulty gaining access to information, and only get what the government wants published. One panellist simply described the Cameroonian administration as “A silent institution”. 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: 1.3 (2008 = 1.3) 1.9 Websites and blogs are not required to register with, or obtain permission, from state authorities. Presently there is no law requiring websites and blogs to obtain state authorisation in order to become operational. Certain provisions of a 2010 law on Electronic Communication, which requires authorisation in the form of a concession, licence, or accreditation for operators in the electronic communication sector, could, however, remotely apply to websites and blogs. But in practice, no registration with a state authority is required. Several laws on internet and social media are currently being formulated, but the form and direction which they will ultimately take are not immediately apparent. There area about ten highly active internet platforms in Cameroon. Some of these are run within the country, while others operate from abroad. Some of the most popular sites include: www.Camer.be and www.camerounlink.net. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER CAMEROON 2011 73