SECTOR 1 out local arrangements to keep constituents informed. With little legal obligation to honour information requests, public authorities only publish information that serves their specific and usually, narrow interests. However, because of inherent requirements, some public services such as the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) and the TCRA frequently release up to date information to the public. 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: Score of previous years: ✓✓ ✓ ✓ ✓✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 2.2 2006: 1.1; 2008: 1.3; 2010: 1.6; 2012: 2.5; 2015: 1.6 1.8 Websites, blogs and other digital platforms are not required to register with or obtain permission from state authorities Online content services (defined as online radio, online TV, online blogs and other online services) are required to obtain a three-year licence issued by the TCRA. The Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations (2018) sets an initial licence fee for online services of 1 million TZS (US$453), before an annual and a renewal fee of the same amount. Other charges include an application fee of 100,000 TZS15 (US$43). Even when all financial conditions are met, the regulations empower the TCRA to cancel the content service licence ‘where terms and conditions are breached’. The regulations are considered repressive and intended to stifle the available platforms for free expression. They affect online forums and social media users’16 and, according to panellists, Tanzanian bloggers and users living outside of the country. 15 The Second Schedule of the Electronic and Postal Communication (Online Content) Regulations, 2018, also set licensing fees for radios and TVs streaming content on the internet. 16 Dahir, 2018. You have to pay the government over US$900 a year to be a blogger in Tanzania. Available online at https:// qz.com/africa/1248762/tanzania-social-media-and-blogging-regulations-charge-to-operate-online/. Last accessed on 27 May 2019. 21 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER TANZANIA 2019