Tanzania ing and discussion platforms in Tanzania where members reveal details about suspected corrupt officials or participate in political dialogues. Since the Cybercrimes Act became operational over two years ago, Section 16 of the Act which prohibits publication of false information, has been used as the main agent of arrests for online users. LOOKING FORWARD TO 2018 A new media legal framework is an important move forward and a big step in the harmonisation of the Tanzanian regulatory framework. It offers a good basis for long awaited reforms in the media sector and other related sectors. Tanzania has recently witnessed the enactment of new laws related to the practices of journalism in Tanzania. These laws, among others, include the Access to Information Act, 2016; the Statistics Act, 2015; the Cybercrime Act, 2015; and the Media Services Act, 2016. These laws have brought many challenges such as hefty registration fees, threats of deregistration of media outlets, and ownership and co-funding complications in the media sector. These challenges illustrate that a lot needs to be done in terms of training, awareness raising and mental (and sometimes physical) support to victims of freedom of expression violations. The public can only get relevant information when the media is free to operate. On 30 January 2017 the TCRA directed AYO TV, Global TV, and Michuzi TV to cease online broadcasting as the authority was still in the process of preparing regulations for digital television. Regulations were set to be established in 2018. According to Section 13(1) of the Electronic and Postal Communications Act (Cap 306), Tanzania’s laws require online content providers to obtain a licence from the TCRA. The stations requested permission to continue providing their services while waiting for the regulations to be put into place. So This is Democracy? 2017 115