SECTOR 1 describes informal communication channels such as street chatter prevalent in African urban centres, has gone silent. ‘In the past, people discussed politics openly outside newsstands or around bus stops. But these days, the subject has changed from politics to football or religion.’ Some panellists said even social media conversations had become well-guarded, especially with new laws that hold the moderators of discussion forums responsible for member-generated content. Some said it had become commonplace to be kicked out of WhatsApp or Facebook groups for comments considered too sensitive, ‘People have learned that there is freedom of expression but no freedom after expression. [The exercise of the right to] freedom of expression depends on what you are talking about and who you are talking about.’ Old provisions of the Penal Code against ‘rogues and vagabonds’, which criminalise loitering and idleness were recently unearthed and have been increasingly enforced. Panellists said similar trends have been observed with the use of the Undesirable Persons Act, an obscure law that survived the colonial repressive regime. In one example provided by a panellist with knowledge of the incident, students of a Tanzanian university were arrested and charged with loitering in 2018, after police found them discussing politics. Panellists said the authorities were using these archaic yet unabandoned laws to mostly prevent young people from ‘sitting in groups’ and potentially discussing political issues. With the space for free expression closing, most Tanzanians are taking their views online. Even then, panellists said, citizens still feel the need to use pseudonyms. As fear spreads to online platforms, panellists said they suspected that both private citizens and authorities were increasingly using automated tools such as computer bots for engagement – on the one hand to remain anonymous and on the other hand, to phish user identities. However, not everyone is afraid to say what they want in a countertrend that can be confusing to the outsider – which one panellist described as stemming from the ‘prevailing culture of double standards’. A few news outlets, such as Tanzanite newspaper, have remained notoriously outspoken. ‘Looking at what they are able to write and get away with, one might think there is freedom of expression in Tanzania,’ said one panellist. Panellists claimed that these organs were operated and sustained by pro-government interests and represent no real threat to the regime. In a nutshell, bad media laws combined with adverse political leadership have profoundly constrained the exercise of the right to freedom of expression in Tanzania both for journalists and members of the public. This has negatively affected not only the ability of journalists and other professionals such as researchers and human rights defenders to work, but also the quality of journalistic and other communication products. Under the prevailing conditions, panellists felt it was absurd to imagine the public, including journalists, as fully enjoying their rights to freedom of expression without fear. Scores: 15 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER TANZANIA 2019