SECTOR 1 1.8 Websites, blogs and other digital platforms are not required to register with, or obtain permission from, state authorities. In Senegal, websites and blogs are not subject to declaration and prior authorisation. However, the promoters of information sites are now required to display a legal charter in a prominent position on the site, mentioning their identity, their contact details and their national company/association identification number (NINEA).6 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: 4.9 (2010:4.9; 2008:n/a; 2006:n/a) 1.9 The state does not seek to block or filter internet content unless in accordance with laws that provide for restrictions that serve a legitimate interest and are necessary in a democratic society, and which are applied by independent courts. Referring to the freedom of tone displayed by Internet users in the fora following articles posted on sites, on the one hand, and to the abuse sometimes proffered with regard to institutions and the authorities representing them, on the other, one of the panellists concludes that this is proof by contradiction that the state does not seek to block or filter Internet content. He wonders, moreover, whether the state should allow people to insult citizens with impunity. Conversely, another panellist wonders about the coincidence, which he considers disturbing, between the technical problems that most Senegalese information sites experienced on 29 January 2012 and the proclamation by the Constitutional Council, that same day, of the final list of candidates for the presidential election, against a background of political tension. It remains to be proven, however, 6 Numéro d’Identification Nationale des Entreprises et des Associations http://www.minfinances.sn/ninea.html AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER SENEGAL 2013 81